CD14 is associated with biliary stricture formation

Multimodal Management for Refractory Biliary Stricture After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Biliary stricture is a common complication of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) is the primary treatment of biliary stricture, which is sometimes refractory. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for biliary stricture after LDLT and present successful management for refractory biliary stricture.

METHODS

Data from 26 patients who underwent LDLT were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the incidence of biliary strictures and clinical variables, including pre/intra/postoperative factors, was assessed.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that ABO incompatibility (P = .037) was a significant risk factor for biliary strictures. Case 1 was a 57-year-old woman who underwent LDLT using a left-lobe graft for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and developed a biliary stricture 1 month after surgery. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) and embolization of the portal vein and hepatic artery were performed. Thereafter, ethanol was injected into the biliary duct, and the intervention was successfully completed. Case 2 was a 54-year-old woman who underwent LDLT using a right-lobe graft and duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction for PBC. Internal plastic stent insertion by ERBD was unsuccessful due to the significantly bending bile duct. After PTCD, the gun-site technique for the posterior branch and dual hepatic vascular embolization of the anterior branch was performed. The patient was followed up without an external fistula tube.

CONCLUSION

ABO incompatibility was a risk factor for refractory biliary stricture. Appropriate procedures should be chosen based on stricture types.

Gut Microbiome: A Potential Modifiable Risk Factor in Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is a fibro-obliterative condition of the biliary tree, presenting in infancy. The bilioenteric conduit formed at Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), achieves restoration of bile flow in approximately 60% of infants. Even if the operation is successful, cirrhosis and its associated complications are, however, common. BA remains the leading cause for liver transplantation (LT) in children. Antibiotic, choleretic, and steroid therapy post-KPE have not convincingly reduced LT rates. Advances in molecular technology have enabled characterisation of the encoded genes of the gut microbiota (gut microbiome). The gut microbiome plays an important role in host metabolism, nutrition, and immune function, with alterations in its diversity and/or composition, known as dysbiosis, being described in disease states, including liver disease. Liver-gut microbiome exploration in adulthood largely focuses on nonalcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis (mainly alcohol- or viral-based aetiology) and cholestatic liver diseases (eg, primary sclerosing cholangitis), with microbial signatures correlating to disease severity. Investigation of the gut microbiota in BA had been limited to culture-based methodology, but molecular studies are emerging, and although in their infancy, highlight a potential pathogenic role for Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus, and a potential beneficial role for Bifidobacteria. Bacterial translocation, and the production of gut microbiome-derived metabolites, are key host-microbiome-mechanistic pathways in liver disease pathogenesis. Microbiome-targeted therapeutics for liver disease are in development, with faecal microbiota transplantation showing promise in cirrhosis. Could the gut microbiome be a novel modifiable risk factor in BA, reducing the need for LT?

Risk Factors of Colorectal Stricture Associated with Developing High-Grade Dysplasia or Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Long-term Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The risk factors of colorectal stricture associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) carcinogenesis in the long-term disease duration remain unclear.

METHODS

This study included all UC patients registered from a prospectively maintained database between June 1986 to July 2018. The demographic data, clinical features, and outcomes in patients with dysplasia and stricture were assessed using univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 246 eligible patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up time was 13.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 9.0 to 16.0). There were 35 cases (14.2%) of colorectal stricture. Patients with stricture had worse clinical outcomes. Stricture formation (odds ratio [OR], 9.350; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.842 to 30.762), inflammatory polyps (OR, 5.464; 95% CI, 1.692 to 17.638), disease duration of more than 10 years (OR, 3.223; 95% CI, 1.040 to 9.985), and age >40 years at diagnosis (OR, 8.499; 95% CI, 1.903 to 37.956) were significantly associated with high-grade dysplasia or colorectal cancer. In addition, disease duration of more than 5 years (OR, 3.211; 95% CI, 1.168 to 8.881), moderated anemia (OR, 3.373; 95% CI, 1.472 to 7.731), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (OR, 5,842; 95% CI, 1.395 to 24.468) were contributing factors for the development of colorectal stricture.

CONCLUSIONS

Colorectal stricture had the highest risk for malignant transformation. Earlier initiation of colonoscopic surveillance in UC patients with risk factors for stricture should be considered to prevent stricture formation and further malignant transformation.

Risk Factors of Colorectal Stricture Associated with Developing High-Grade Dysplasia or Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Long-term Follow-up Study

Background/Aims

The risk factors of colorectal stricture associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) carcinogenesis in the long-term disease duration remain unclear.

Methods

This study included all UC patients registered from a prospectively maintained database between June 1986 to July 2018. The demographic data, clinical features, and outcomes in patients with dysplasia and stricture were assessed using univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 246 eligible patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up time was 13.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 9.0 to 16.0). There were 35 cases (14.2%) of colorectal stricture. Patients with stricture had worse clinical outcomes. Stricture formation (odds ratio [OR], 9.350; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.842 to 30.762), inflammatory polyps (OR, 5.464; 95% CI, 1.692 to 17.638), disease duration of more than 10 years (OR, 3.223; 95% CI, 1.040 to 9.985), and age >40 years at diagnosis (OR, 8.499; 95% CI, 1.903 to 37.956) were significantly associated with high-grade dysplasia or colorectal cancer. In addition, disease duration of more than 5 years (OR, 3.211; 95% CI, 1.168 to 8.881), moderated anemia (OR, 3.373; 95% CI, 1.472 to 7.731), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (OR, 5,842; 95% CI, 1.395 to 24.468) were contributing factors for the development of colorectal stricture.

Conclusions

Colorectal stricture had the highest risk for malignant transformation. Earlier initiation of colonoscopic surveillance in UC patients with risk factors for stricture should be considered to prevent stricture formation and further malignant transformation.

Biliary antibiotics irrigation for E. coli-induced chronic proliferative cholangitis and hepatolithiasis: A pathophysiological study in rabbits

BACKGROUND

The gram-negative bacteria secreted endotoxin, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), plays important roles in the formation and recurrence of hepatolithiasis and chronic biliary inflammation in patients of Southeast Asia. We aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of local antibiotics irrigation on chronic proliferative cholangitis (CPC) and hepatolithiasis.

METHODS

Escherichia coli was injected into rabbit bile ducts to induce CPC. Rabbits were divided into sham operation (SO), povidone-iodine, Metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, ofloxacin, furacillin, Neosporin® G.U., and CPC groups. Local irrigation was performed for 28 days after CPC was established. Residual E. coli and LPS, and the expression of MCP-1, CD14, COX-2, VEGF, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, Fas, TGF-β1, α-SMA, Collagen-I, β-glucuronidase, PKC, C-myc, and Mucin 5AC were assessed in bile duct tissues.

RESULTS

The residual E. coli and LPS, and expression of MCP-1, CD14, COX-2, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, Fas, TGF-β1, α-SMA, β-glucuronidase, PKC, C-myc, and Mucin 5AC in the SO, povidone-iodine, Metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, ofloxacin, and Neosporin® G.U. groups were significantly lower than those in the furacillin and CPC groups (P<0.05). VEGF and Collagen-I levels in the SO, povidone-iodine, metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, and ofloxacin groups were significantly lower than those in the furacillin, Neosporin® G.U., and CPC groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

LPS affects the pathophysiology of E. coli caused chronic proliferative cholangitis and hepatolithiasis recurrence. Local antibiotics irrigation could prevent chronic proliferative cholangitis and stones formation by decreasing LPS-induced proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines release. Povidone iodine, metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, and ofloxacin were more effective than Neosporin® G.U. and furacillin.

Circulating markers of gut barrier function associated with disease severity in primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

One important hypothesis in primary sclerosing cholangitis pathophysiology suggests that bacterial products from an inflamed leaky gut lead to biliary inflammation. We aimed to investigate whether circulating markers of bacterial translocation were associated with survival in a Norwegian primary sclerosing cholangitis cohort.

METHODS

Serum levels of zonulin, intestinal fatty acid binding protein, soluble CD14, lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein were measured in 166 primary sclerosing cholangitis patients and 100 healthy controls.

RESULTS

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and soluble CD14 were elevated in primary sclerosing cholangitis compared with healthy controls (median 13 662 vs 12 339 ng/mL, P = 0.010 and 1657 vs 1196 ng/mL, P < 0.001, respectively). High soluble CD14 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (values >optimal cut-off using receiver operating characteristics) were associated with reduced liver transplantation-free survival (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). The concentration of soluble CD14 was higher in patients with hepatobiliary cancer compared to other primary sclerosing cholangitis patients and healthy controls. Zonulin was lower in primary sclerosing cholangitis than controls, but when excluding primary sclerosing cholangitis patients with increased prothrombin time zonulin concentrations were similar in primary sclerosing cholangitis and healthy controls. Concomitant inflammatory bowel disease did not influence the results, while inflammatory bowel disease patients without primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 40) had lower concentration of soluble CD14. In multivariable Cox regression, high soluble CD14 and high lipopolysaccharide-binding protein were associated with transplantation-free survival, independent from Mayo risk score (HR: 2.26 [95% CI: 1.15-4.43], P = 0.018 and HR: 2.00 [95% CI: 1.17-3.43], P = 0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Primary sclerosing cholangitis patients show increased levels of circulating markers of bacterial translocation. High levels are associated with poor prognosis measured by transplantation-free survival, indicating that ongoing gut leakage could have clinical impact in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Effects of milrinone on inflammatory response-related gene expressions in cultured rat cardiomyocytes

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is defined as a cardiac dysfunction leading to low cardiac output and inadequate tissue perfusion. Intravenous positive inotropes are used to increase myocardial contractility in hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure. Milrinone is a phosphodiesterase Ⅲ inhibitor and used most commonly for inotropic effect. The well-known PROMISE study investigated the effects of milrinone on mortality in patients with severe CHF, and concluded that long-term therapy with milrinone increased morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced CHF. Previous studies have suggested that phosphodiesterase inhibitors can have potential effects on inflammatory pathways. Hence, we hypothesized that milrinone may alter inflammatory gene expressions in cardiomyocytes, thus leading to adverse clinical outcomes. We used rat cardiomyocyte cell line H9C2 and studied the impact of exposing cardiomyocytes to milrinone (10 μmol/L) for 24 hours on inflammatory gene expressions. RNA extracted from cultured cardiomyocytes was used for whole rat genome gene expression assay (41,000 genes). The following changes in inflammatory response-related gene expressions were discovered. Genes with increased expressions included: THBS2 (+9.98), MMP2 (+3.47), DDIT3 (+2.39), and ADORA3 (+3.5). Genes with decreased expressions were: SPP1 (-5.28) and CD14 (-2.05). We found that the above mentioned gene expression changes seem to indicate that milrinone may hinder the inflammatory process which may potentially lead to adverse clinical outcomes. However, further in vivo and clinical investigations will be needed to illustrate the clinical relevance of these gene expression changes induced by milrinone.

Metal, magnet or transplant: options in primary sclerosing cholangitis with stricture

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the biliary tree of unknown etiology leading to stricturing and dilation. There is currently no effective medical therapy for PSC and liver transplantation (LT) remains the ultimate treatment for severe disease defined as repeated episodes of cholangitis, decompensated biliary cirrhosis or in exceptional cases, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Patients often present with a "dominant" stricture and the therapeutic endoscopist plays an important role in management to improve biliary patency using a variety of techniques that involve sampling, balloon dilation and temporary stenting. Newer modalities such as self-expanding metal stents or magnetic compression anastomosis that have been used in other diseases may have a role to play in PSC but should remain investigational. Liver transplantation for PSC is curative in most cases but the optimal timing remains unclear. The lifetime risk of CCA is 10-15% in PSC patients and LT is often not possible at the time of diagnosis. Multiple studies have tried to identify risk factors and to diagnose CCA at an early stage when surgical resection may be possible or LT can be performed. However, deceased donor organs for LT remain in short supply throughout the world so even identifying PSC patients with CCA at an early stage may not be beneficial unless a live donor organ is available.

Variations in CD14 Gene Are Associated With Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases in the Chinese Population

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are chronic organ-specific autoimmune diseases and mainly include Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). CD14 is an important component of the immune system as a receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The genetic polymorphisms of CD14 have been confirmed to be associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases. However, its relationship with AITDs is still unclear. The study was aimed to determine whether four single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2915863, rs2569190, rs2569192, and rs2563298) of CD14 are associated with AITDs and its subgroups of GD and HT. The results showed significant association of rs2915863 and rs2569190 with GD. The frequencies of rs2915863 genotypes and T allele in patients with GD differed significantly from their controls (P = 0.007 and P = 0.021, respectively). For rs2569190, frequencies of genotypes and G allele in GD patients also showed positive P-values (P = 0.038 and P = 0.027, respectively). The correlations between these two loci and GD are more pronounced in female GD patients and patients with a family history. In genetic model analysis, the allele model, recessive model, and homozygous model of rs2569190 and rs2915863 embodied strong correlations with GD after the adjusting of age and gender (P = 0.014, P = 0.015, P = 0.009, and P = 0.014, P = 0.001, P = 0.006, respectively). However, these four sites are not related to HT. We firstly discovered the relationship between CD14 gene polymorphism and GD, and the results indicate that CD14 is an important risk locus for AITD and its SNPs may contribute to host's genetic predisposition to GD.

Pathological features of primary sclerosing cholangitis identified by bile proteomic analysis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown origin. Previous bile proteomic analyses in patients with PSC have revealed changes in disease activity specific to malignant transformation. In this study, we established a reference bile duct-derived bile proteome for PSC that can be used to evaluate biliary pathophysiology. Samples were collected from patients with PSC or with choledocholithiasis (control) (n=6 each). Furthermore, patients with PSC-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and with CC without concomitant PSC were analyzed. None of the patients showed signs of inflammation or infection based on clinical and laboratory examinations. Proteins overexpressed in patients with PSC relative to control patients were detected by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Functional proteomic analysis was performed using STRING software. A total of 101 proteins were overexpressed in the bile fluid of patients with PSC but not in those of controls; the majority of these were predicted to be intracellular and related to the ribosomal and proteasomal pathways. On the other hand, 91 proteins were found only in the bile fluid of controls; most were derived from the extracellular space and were linked to cell adhesion, the complement system, and the coagulation cascade. In addition, proteins associated with inflammation and the innate immune response-e.g., cluster of differentiation 14, annexin-2, and components of the complement system-were upregulated in PSC. The most prominent pathways in PSC/CC-patients were inflammation associated cytokine and chemokine pathways, whereas in CC-patients the Wnt signaling pathway was upregulated. In PSC/CC-patients DIGE-analysis revealed biliary CD14 and Annexin-4 expression, among others, as the most prominent protein that discriminates between both cohorts. Thus, the bile-duct bile proteome of patients with PSC shows disease-specific changes associated with inflammation and the innate immune response even in the absence of obvious clinical signs of cholangitis, malignancy, or inflammation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cholangiocytes in Health and Diseaseedited by Jesus Banales, Marco Marzioni and Peter Jansen.

The role of macrophages in the development of biliary injury in a lipopolysaccharide-aggravated hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion model

INTRODUCTION

Endotoxins, in the form of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), are potent inducers of biliary injury. However the mechanism by which injury develops remains unclear. We hypothesized that hepatic macrophages are pivotal in the development of endotoxin-induced biliary injury and that no injury would occur in their absence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clodronate liposomes were used to deplete macrophages from the liver. Forty-eight rats were equally divided across six study groups: sham operation (sham), liposome treatment and sham operation (liposomes+sham), 1mg/kg LPS i.p. (LPS), liposome treatment and LPS administration (liposomes+LPS), hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury with LPS administration (IRI+LPS) and liposome treatment followed by IRI+LPS (liposomes+IRI+LPS). Following 6h of reperfusion, blood, bile, and liver tissue was collected for further analysis. Small bile duct injury was assessed, serum liver tests were performed and bile composition was evaluated. The permeability of the blood-biliary barrier (BBB) was assessed using intravenously administered horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

RESULTS

The presence of hepatic macrophages was reduced by 90% in LPS and IRI+LPS groups pre-treated with clodronate liposomes (P<0.001). Severe small bile duct injury was not affected by macrophage depletion, and persisted in the liposomes+IRI+LPS group (50% of animals) and liposomes+LPS group (75% of animals). Likewise, BBB impairment persisted following macrophage depletion. LPS-induced elevation of the chemokine Mcp-1 in bile was not affected by macrophage depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Depletion of hepatic macrophages did not prevent development of biliary injury following LPS or LPS-enhanced IRI. Cholangiocyte activation rather than macrophage activation may underlie this injury. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cholangiocytes in Health and Diseaseedited by Jesus Banales, Marco Marzioni, Nicholas LaRusso and Peter Jansen.

Are Dominant Strictures in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis a Risk Factor for Cholangiocarcinoma?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cholangiocarcinoma is a devastating, unpredictable complication of large duct primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which occurs in 5-15% of patients. The aim of this review is to discuss whether dominant strictures (DS) occurring in the larger bile ducts in PSC are a risk factor for the development of cholangiocarcinoma.

RECENT FINDINGS

The development of DS is related to specific genetic polymorphisms affecting the innate immune system and the microbiome. In a recent study, the mean survival of PSC patients with DS was much worse (13.7 years) than for those without a DS (23 years). Survival difference was related to a 26% risk of cholangiocarcinoma, which developed only in those with DS. Half of the patients with cholangiocarcinoma presented within 4 months of the diagnosis of PSC. In another study, the risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma was directly related to the presence of underlying IBD, although this remains controversial. Efforts are being made towards surveying for cholangiocarcinoma including magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic surveillance and serum tumour markers, but so far, an effective surveillance strategy has not been identified. DS should be treated endoscopically in the setting of symptoms, and there is limited evidence to suggest this may impact protectively on progression to cholangiocarcinoma.

SUMMARY

It is established that the presence of symptomatic DS occurring in the larger bile ducts in PSC can be the first presentation of cholangiocarcinoma. There is an increasing body of evidence that even when proven to be benign, dominant biliary strictures predispose to the future development of cholangiocarcinoma. Regular surveillance should be targeted at this selected high-risk group of PSC patients.

Low-Dose Lipopolysaccharide Causes Biliary Injury by Blood Biliary Barrier Impairment in a Rat Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Model

This study explored whether bacterial endotoxins, in the form of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), could have an injurious effect on the biliary tract in conjunction with ischemia. A total of 64 rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: sham operation (sham group), 1 mg/kg LPS intraperitoneal (LPS group), hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR; IR group), and IR combined with LPS (IR+LPS group). Following 1 or 6 hours of reperfusion, serum liver tests, bile duct histology, immunofluorescence microscopy (zonula occludens-1 [ZO-1]), bile composition (bile salts, phospholipids, lactate dehydrogenase), hepatic gene expression (bile salt transporters and inflammatory mediators), as well as serum and biliary cytokine concentrations were quantified and compared between the study groups. In addition, the integrity of the blood biliary barrier (BBB) was assayed in vivo using horseradish peroxidase (HRP). LPS administration induced severe small bile duct injury following 6 hours of reperfusion. Furthermore, total bile salts and bilirubin concentrations in serum were increased in the LPS groups compared with sham controls (LPS, + 3.3-fold and +1.9-fold; IR+LPS, + 3.8-fold and +1.7-fold, respectively). The BBB was impaired in the LPS groups as evidenced by elevated levels of HRP in bile (+4.9-fold), and decreased expression of claudin 1 (-6.7-fold) and claudin 3 (-3.6-fold). LPS was found to be a potent inducer of small bile duct injury following hepatic ischemia and 6 hours of reperfusion. This injury was associated with increased permeability of the BBB and impaired hepatic bile salt clearance. Liver Transplantation 23 194-206 2017 AASLD.

The ascending pathophysiology of cholestatic liver disease

In this review we develop the argument that cholestatic liver diseases, particularly primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), evolve over time with anatomically an ascending course of the disease process. The first and early lesions are in "downstream" bile ducts. This eventually leads to cholestasis, and this causes bile salt (BS)-mediated toxic injury of the "upstream" liver parenchyma. BS are toxic in high concentration. These concentrations are present in the canalicular network, bile ducts, and gallbladder. Leakage of bile from this network and ducts could be an important driver of toxicity. The liver has a great capacity to adapt to cholestasis, and this may contribute to a variable symptom-poor interval that is often observed. Current trials with drugs that target BS toxicity are effective in only about 50%-60% of primary biliary cholangitis patients, with no effective therapy in PSC. This motivated us to develop and propose a new view on the pathophysiology of primary biliary cholangitis and PSC in the hope that these new drugs can be used more effectively. These views may lead to better stratification of these diseases and to recommendations on a more "tailored" use of the new therapeutic agents that are currently tested in clinical trials. Apical sodium-dependent BS transporter inhibitors that reduce intestinal BS absorption lower the BS load and are best used in cholestatic patients. The effectiveness of BS synthesis-suppressing drugs, such as farnesoid X receptor agonists, is greatest when optimal adaptation is not yet established. By the time cytochrome P450 7A1 expression is reduced these drugs may be less effective. Anti-inflammatory agents are probably most effective in early disease, while drugs that antagonize BS toxicity, such as ursodeoxycholic acid and nor-ursodeoxycholic acid, may be effective at all disease stages. Endoscopic stenting in PSC should be reserved for situations of intercurrent cholestasis and cholangitis, not for cholestasis in end-stage disease. These are arguments to consider a step-wise pathophysiology for these diseases, with therapy adjusted to disease stage. An obstacle in such an approach is that disease stage-defining biomarkers are still lacking. This review is meant to serve as a call to prioritize the development of biomarkers that help to obtain a better stratification of these diseases. (Hepatology 2017;65:722-738).

Cutting balloon treatment of anastomotic biliary stenosis after liver transplantation: Report of two cases

Biliary stenosis is a common complication after liver transplantation, and has an incidence rate ranging from 4.7% to 12.5% based on our previous study. Three types of biliary stenosis (anastomotic stenosis, non-anastomotic peripheral stenosis and non-anastomotic central hilar stenosis) have been identified. We report the outcome of two patients with anastomotic stricture after liver transplantation who underwent successful cutting balloon treatment. Case 1 was a 40-year-old male transplanted due to subacute fulminant hepatitis C. Case 2 was a 57-year-old male transplanted due to hepatitis B virus-related end-stage cirrhosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Both patients had similar clinical scenarios: refractory anastomotic stenosis after orthotopic liver transplantation and failure of balloon dilation of the common bile duct to alleviate biliary stricture.

In silico analysis of differential gene expressions in biliary stricture and hepatic carcinoma

In-silico attempt was made to identify the key hub genes which get differentially expressed in biliary stricture and hepatic carcinoma. Gene expression data, GSE34166, was downloaded from the GEO database, which contains 10 biliary stricture samples (4 benign control and 6 malignant carcinoma), for screening of key hub genes associated with the disease. R packages scripts were identified 85 differentially expressed genes. Further these genes were uploaded in WebGestalt database and identified nine key genes. Using STRING database and Gephi software, the protein-protein interaction networks were constructed and also studied gene ontology through WebGestalt. Finally, we identified four key genes (CXCR4, ADH1C, ABCB1 and ADH1A) are associated with liver carcinoma and further cross-validated with Liverome, Protein Atlas database and bibliography. In addition, transcription factors and their binding sites also studied. These identified hub genes and their transcription factors are the probable potential targets for possible future drug design.

The changing faces of cholangitis

A variety of diseases are included under the umbrella term ‘cholangitis’, including hepatobiliary diseases with an autoimmune pathogenesis (such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and IgG4-associated sclerosing cholangitis) and disease processes associated with intraductal stones and infectious etiologies (such as ascending bacterial cholangitis, recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, and liver fluke-associated cholangitis). Recent advances in the pathophysiologic bases of these disorders, particularly with respect to the autoimmune variety, are allowing improved diagnosis and prognostication as well as providing the opportunity to refine and re-imagine treatment modalities. The aim of this review is to highlight selected advances in cholangitis research that point to novel insights into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this diverse array of disorders.