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Donor hepatectomy is one of the most important procedures in LDLT because it affects the safety of donors and the outcome of the recipients. We standardized a method of securing the important vessels at the hepatic hilum while advancing the dissection toward the central direction. This research introduces our technique of handling hilar vasculature in living donor hepatectomy, using the extrahepatic Glissonean approach, and discusses its efficacy. At first, after the extrahepatic right Glissonean approach, the resected hepatic artery and portal vein are secured on the same line as with the secured Glisson. The resected hepatic artery and portal vein are followed in the central direction, and the surrounding area is dissected. The dissection is continued up to the main brunch of the hepatic artery and portal vein. The bile duct can be secured by subtracting the hepatic artery and portal vein from the tape that secured the Glissonean pedicle. The bile duct, hepatic artery, and the portal vein are dissected in this order, before dissecting the right hepatic vein, completing the surgery. This method of dissection approaching the extrahepatic Glisson carried out toward the central direction suggests to acquire minimal tissue removal and to shorten operative time. This could result in adequate perfusion to the remaining liver and donor safety, taken together effective results on the recipient.

The precise role of downstaging or bridge therapy for cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond or within the Milan criteria (MC) before living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remains undefined. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 40 cirrhotic patients with HCC who underwent LDLT from 2000 to 2018. Dynamic computed tomography images at the initial presentation and immediately before LDLT as well as the final histopathological findings were reviewed to determine whether they met or exceeded MC. Overall, 29 patients underwent various pre-transplant HCC treatments, including ablation and embolization (bridge therapy, n = 20; downstaging, n = 9). Of the 9 patients who were initially beyond the MC, 4 (44.4%) were successfully downstaged to within the MC. Five patients beyond the MC immediately before LDLT demonstrated a significantly worse 5-year overall survival rate than patients within the MC (16.7% vs. 82.2%, P = 0.004), regardless of the radiological HCC stage at presentation or the final pathological tumor status. All 3 recurrent patients had HCC beyond the MC immediately before transplant and died of their disease at 13, 24, and 50 months after transplantation. Successful downstaging for HCC cases beyond the MC provides similar outcomes to those within the MC at presentation, regardless of the histopathological findings.

A 78-year-old man was diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer, and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy was performed. On pathological examination, he was diagnosed with RAS-wild type sigmoid colon cancer with regional lymph node metastasis (T3, N1, M0, Stage ⅢB[Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition]). Computed tomography revealed S8 and S7 liver metastasis, 3 months after the initial surgery. The location of the S8 tumor was close to the inferior vena cava(IVC), right hepatic vein(RHV)and segment Ⅷ hepatic vein(V8). He was administered cetuximab plus modified FOLFOX6. After 6 courses of chemotherapy, the S8 and S7 liver tumor shrank. S8 plus 4 plus 1 and S7 partial hepatectomy was performed and R0 resection was achieved. The RHV and V8 were resected, while right superficial and middle hepatic veins were preserved. An IVC invasion was not observed. He was administered 12 courses of adjuvant modified FOLFOX6. After the partial hepatectomy, he has been followed up for 1.5 years with no recurrence.

Nutritional support after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PpPD) is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of enteral nutrition (EN) via the double elementary diet (W-ED) tube after PpPD. One hundred two patients who received EN by the W-ED tube were compared with 52 patients who received total parental nutrition (TPN) previously. Clinicopatho-logical and postoperative features were analyzed among the two groups. Patients with EN by the W-ED tube after PpPD had a lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula than those with TPN. The total protein and albumin levels on discharge in the EN group were significantly higher than those in the TPN group. In the case without complication, decreasing rate of the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle area was significantly lower in the EN group. In the cases of soft pancreas, drainage volume by the W-ED tube until four postoperative day was significantly larger in the case without postoperative pancreatic fistula. The W-ED tube offers the advantages of reducing gastrointestinal pressure and enabling reduction of complications after PpPD surgery.

Background The portal vein is occasionally invaded by advanced malignant tumors in the pancreatic head region. However, pancreatic cancer rarely has portal vein tumor thrombi. We report a case of pancreatic cancer with a massive portal vein tumor thrombus undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with combined resection of the portal vein. Case presentation A 71-year-old man visited a clinic with complaints of abdominal discomfort and vomiting. Gastroscopy showed a massive tumor in the duodenum. He was referred to our hospital for further examinations and treatment. The CT showed a low-density tumor with a maximum diameter of 10 cm located on the pancreas head. A tumor widely invaded the duodenum and had a 6-cm portal vein tumor thrombus. MRCP did not show obvious stenosis of the pancreatic duct due to tumor invasion. There were no findings suggesting distant metastases. Biopsy of the duodenum revealed adenocarcinoma. He was diagnosed with primary pancreatic cancer or duodenal cancer with portal vein tumor thrombus and underwent pancreatoduodectomy with resection and reconstruction of the portal vein. He suffered no postoperative complications and was discharged 2 months after surgery. The final histopathological diagnosis was pancreatic colloid carcinoma. He received adjuvant chemotherapy, but died 16 months after surgery. Conclusions Colloid carcinoma of the pancreas is rare, and pancreatic carcinoma seldom forms a portal vein tumor thrombus. We experienced a very rare case of pancreatic colloid carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus and performed radical resection of the pancreas and portal vein.

Various approaches to hepatectomy have been proposed for cT2 gallbladder cancers (GBC), but the optimal management strategy remains unclear. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using an indocyanine green (ICG)-based intraoperative navigation system during hepatic resection for cT2 GBC. From September 2007 to December 2017, 24 consecutive patients diagnosed with cT2 GBC underwent hepatic resection using ICG navigation. After cannulation of the cholecystic artery, ICG diluted with dissolution liquid was injected and ICG fluorescence illumination was visualized with the HyperEye Medical System. And additional histopathological examination was performed on the most recent 15 of the 24 patients for detection of microscopic liver metastasis. For all patients, the disease-free survival rate was 59.1% at 5 years and overall survival rate was 86.2% at 5 years. Microscopic liver metastasis was detected in the resected liver in 3 (20%) of 15 patients, whose site of liver was S6, S5, and S5, respectively. The weight of the liver resected using ICG navigation was significantly smaller than that of S4a/S5 segmentectomy (P

Postoperative superficial surgical site infection is a major complication in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. We aimed to compare the efficacy of subcuticular sutures versus staples for skin closure in preventing superficial surgical site infection in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. Consecutive patients who underwent hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery at our hospital from October 2006 to March 2011 and from April 2012 to March 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Superficial surgical site infection incidence was evaluated in patients who received subcuticular sutures and those who received staples for skin closure. Propensity score matching analysis was used to adjust bias from confounding factors. A total of 691 patients were included. Patients with skin staple closures (n = 346) were compared with patients with subcuticular suture closures (n = 345). After a propensity score matching analysis, a significant difference in superficial surgical site infection incidence was found between the skin stapler group (11.3%) and subcuticular sutures group (2.6%). The same comparison was performed by a subgroup analysis and supported this finding in patients after hepatectomy without biliary reconstruction, pancreatoduodenectomy, or open laparotomy surgeries and in patients with body mass index

Recent advances in modern chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and expanded indications of hepatectomy have improved overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) after hepatectomy of colorectal liver metastases (CLM). This chapter describes our experiences and strategy for CLM and the surgical outcomes of our patients. Consecutive 141 patients with CLM managed in our department were reviewed in this study. The 5-year OS and DFS achieved in this study were 51.1% and 26.7%, respectively. Only synchronous CLM and lymph node positivity in the primary lesion predicted adverse DFS. Conversion hepatectomy for initially unresectable CLM was notably effective, with similar OS and DFS as in initially resectable CLM. Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) seemed effective for the challenging resection of advanced CLM.

Deceased organ donations are rare in Japan, with most kidney transplants performed from a limited number of living donors. Researchers have thus developed highly successful ABO-incompatible transplantation procedures, emphasizing preoperative desensitization and postoperative immunosuppression. A recent open-label, single-arm, multicenter clinical study prospectively examined the efficacy and safety of rituximab/mycophenolate mofetil desensitization in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation without splenectomy. Mycophenolate mofetil and low dose steroid were started 28 days pretransplant, followed by two doses of rituximab 375 mg/m2 at day −14 and day −1, and postoperative immunosuppression with tacrolimus or ciclosporin and basiliximab. The primary endpoint was the non-occurrence rate of acute antibody-mediated rejection. Patient survival and graft survival were monitored for 1 year posttransplant. Eighteen patients received rituximab and underwent ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. CD19-positive peripheral B cell count decreased rapidly after the first rituximab infusion and recovered gradually after week 36. The desensitization protocol was tolerable, and most rituximab-related infusion reactions were mild. No anti-A/B antibody-mediated rejection occurred with this series. One patient developed anti-HLA antibody-mediated rejection (Banff 07 type II) on day 2, which was successfully managed. Patient and graft survival were both 100 % after 1 year. Our desensitization protocol was confirmed to be clinically effective and with acceptable toxicities for ABO-I-KTx (University Hospital Medical Information Network Registration Number: UMIN000006635).

The patient was a 45-year-old man with underlying alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Two years prior, he was repeatedly hospitalized for liver failure symptoms and requested a living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) because of end-stage cirrhosis. A pretransplantation blood test revealed a high 1,3-beta-d-glucan (BDG) value of 102.0 pg/mL (reference value

Detection of pancreatic cancer (PC) at a resectable stage is still difficult because of the lack of accurate detection tests. The development of accurate biomarkers in low or non-invasive biofluids is essential to enable frequent tests, which would help increase the opportunity of PC detection in early stages. Polyamines have been reported as possible biomarkers in urine and saliva samples in various cancers. Here, we analyzed salivary metabolites, including polyamines, using capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. Salivary samples were collected from patients with PC (n = 39), those with chronic pancreatitis (CP, n = 14), and controls (C, n = 26). Polyamines, such as spermine, N1-acetylspermidine, and N1-acetylspermine, showed a significant difference between patients with PC and those with C, and the combination of four metabolites including N1-acetylspermidine showed high accuracy in discriminating PC from the other two groups. These data show the potential of saliva as a source for tests screening for PC.

Aim Recent randomized trials have failed to prove the benefit of steroid-free immunosuppression in liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. Furthermore, there is a lack of data on the use of basiliximab in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This pilot study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a steroid minimization protocol using basiliximab compared with standard immunosuppression. Methods A single center, prospective cohort analysis was conducted to compare two immunosuppression regimens in adult recipients who underwent LDLT for HCV since 2004: calcineurin inhibitor/mizoribine/basiliximab (the St− group) and calcineurin inhibitor/mizoribine/steroid (the St+ group). Study end-points were rejection rates, recurrent HCV, patient survival and other adverse events up to 2 years after transplantation. Results A total of 27 consecutive patients were enrolled. Transplantation characteristics were similar between the two groups (14 St− and 13 St+) except ABO incompatible cases being more common in the St+ group. Rejection rates, recurrent HCV, patient survival, fibrosis stage and new-onset diabetes mellitus at 2 years were comparable between the two groups. ABO incompatibility did not affect short- and long-term outcomes. Nine St− and seven St+ recipients underwent interferon and ribavirin therapy for recurrent HCV, with a sustained virological response rate of 33% and 29%, respectively. Conclusion A steroid minimization protocol with basiliximab in adult LDLT for HCV is safe and affords equivalent rejection rates compared with standard immunosuppression. However, no significant differences are observed with respect to recurrent HCV, patient survival and metabolic complications.

Background In this retrospective study, we analyzed histologic changes identified through protocol biopsy (PB) at 1 year after kidney transplantation (KT). We focused on the pathologic changes observed in patients with a history of treatment for graft rejection within 1 year of transplantation. Methods Between January 2008 and December 2011, 56 patients underwent KT at our center. We assessed the histologic findings observed at 1 year after renal transplantation using the Banff 2007 classification. At our center, PBs are performed immediately after or at 1 hour after transplantation, and at 1 year after KT. PBs were performed in 39 patients; PBs could not be performed in 17 patients because of various causes. Of the 39 patients, 29 stabilized without clinical rejection and without treatment (the NTx group); 10 patients showed pathologic changes or clinical rejection after steroid pulse therapy within 1 year (the Tx group). We compared these 2 groups with respect to baseline data, renal function, and pathologic scores. Results The interstitial fibrosis (“ci”) score, according to the Banff classification, was significantly greater in the NTx group (0.89) than in the Tx group (0.50) at 1 year after transplantation. Conclusions The currently applied early steroid withdrawal regimen may be not be ideal for preventing pathologic changes occurring after KT. In addition to the PB performed 1 year after KT, PB should be performed within 1 year of renal transplantation to identify early signs of rejection and to provide access to appropriate treatment regimes.

BACKGROUND Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a severe life-threatening complication associated with solid organ transplantation. We retrospectively investigated the incidence, risk factors, and appropriate treatment of TMA following adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MATERIAL AND METHODS The subjects were 129 adult patients who underwent LDLT in our department from 1997 to 2014. Patients with TMA were identified retrospectively based on diagnostic criteria. We calculated the incidence of TMA and performed a risk factor analysis for TMA occurrence. We also assessed our past treatments for TMA and sought to identify the most appropriate form of treatment. RESULTS Thirteen patients were identified as having TMA. The incidence of TMA in the study cohort was 10.1% but was especially high (37.9%) among ABO-incompatible cases. A univariate analysis revealed that ABO incompatibility, usage of tacrolimus, usage of rituximab, and cold ischemic time ≥50 minutes are risk factors for occurrence of TMA (p

BACKGROUND: We undertook a retrospective assessment of risk factors for biliary stricture after adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and evaluated risk reduction following the implementation of modified surgical procedures. METHODS: Between June 1997 and December 2009, 85 adult patients underwent LDLT. Up to September 2006, we performed duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy (D-D) in 38 patients and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (R-Y) in 24 patients. Risk factors for biliary stricture were analyzed for these patients. We then performed D-D in 23 patients using modified procedures and assessed the resultant outcomes. RESULTS: D-D was a significant risk factor in the 62 patients who underwent LDLT before September 2006. Despite this result, we decided to employ only D-D for subsequent cases. Since the presence of multiple graft bile duct orifices was a significant risk factor in the 38 patients who underwent D-D, we used modified procedures after October 2006 to address grafts with multiple bile duct orifices. The procedures included: 1) inserting a biliary tube from the common bile duct; 2) placing the tip of tube beyond the anastomosis; 3) inserting the tubes in all the anastomoses if multiple; and 4) maintaining the tube for 6 months postoperatively. The incidence of biliary stricture after D-D was significantly less frequent with the use of these procedures (before: 36%; after: 13%). CONCLUSIONS: In our early experience, D-D was a significant risk factor for biliary stricture after adult LDLT. Although we are now employing only D-D, our procedural modifications seem promising for preventing biliary stricture after D-D.

症例は69歳の男性で，直腸癌に対し腹腔鏡補助下前方切除術施行した．体位は砕石位で下肢の固定にはブーツタイプの固定具を用い，術中は右側に傾斜したTrendelenburg体位を保持した．覚醒直後より左腓腹部の自発痛と腫脹を認めた．翌朝には症状はさらに強くなり，踵部の知覚障害，足関節背屈障害がみられた．下肢造影CTでは左腓腹部に低吸収域がみられ，血清CKは56,604U/lと著明に上昇，コンパートメント圧は110mmHgと上昇を認め，左腓腹部コンパートメント症候群と診断した．同日筋膜切開を施行したが軽度の知覚障害が残存した．腹腔鏡補助下大腸手術は砕石位で行なわれることが多く，下腿圧迫により生じるコンパートメント症候群はまれであるが，重篤な機能障害を残す可能性のある合併症である．予防策を十分に行なうとともに発症した際には早期に適切な対処を行なう必要があるので若干の文献的考察を加え報告する．

N-aspartylchlorin e6 (talaporfin) concentrations in cancer cells, mouse liver tissues, and human plasma specimens were determined with fluorescence microtiter plate analysis. Talaporfin standard curves were obtained in each of the sample specimens of cells, mouse tissues, or human plasma including serial concentration of talaporfin. The correlation co-efficiencies (r2) of talaporfin standard curves were 0.99-1.00, and the CV less than 5%. Talaporfin incorporation into cells of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 after incubating with 25 μg/mL talaporfin for up to 24 h revealed that the t-max of the drug incorporation was approximately 5 h, and the maximum drug concentration incorporated was 25 μg/107 cells. Talaporfin incorporation into MCF-7 cells was significantly decreased in the presence of 3 μg/mL cyc-losporine (p < 0.05). Balb/c nu/nu mice implanted human cholangiocarcinoma NOZ cells in liver were administered intravenously 5mg/mouse of talaporfin, and the tissues of normal liver and tumor, as well as plasma specimens, were analyzed for talaporfin concentrations. The mean (SD) of talaporfin concentration in plasma after 30 min of administration was 41.6 (2.3) μg/mL, while the level decreased to undetectable concentrations 2 h after administration. In contrast, the talaporfin concentrations in normal and tumor tissues after 30 min of administration were 1.1-7.8 μg/g tissue, and the level slightly increased or was almost maintained for up to 2-4 h after administration. The heparinized blood of the healthy subjects was incubated with 25 μg/mL talaporfin for up to 24 h. The plasma talaporfin concentration did not significantly change during the incubation, and thus talaporfin appears not to be incorporated into the blood cells. We established rapid and simple analysis procedures of talaporfin in biological specimens using a fluorescence microtiter plate assay. Using this assay procedure, the unique pattern of talaporfin disposition and pharmacokinetics were revealed in human cancer cells, liver tissues of tumor bearing mice, and human blood.

Background Graceptor is a new modified-release once-daily formulation of tacrolimus with an efficacy and safety profile similar to twice-daily tacrolimus (Prograf), as identified by clinical trials, offering a more convenient dosing regimen to improve adherence. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety of a 1:1 dose conversion from twice-daily Prograf to once-daily Graceptor in stable kidney transplant recipients. Methods We switched 33 Japanese patients who had undergone kidney transplantation ≥1 years before from twice-daily Prograf to once-daily Graceptor. The dose conversion ratio between Prograf and Graceptor was 1:1. We compared the following parameters: minimum tacrolimus concentration (C min ); concentration dose per weight (CDW); serum creatinine (sCr); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); total cholesterol (TC); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); uric acid (UA); fasting blood sugar (FBS). Time points for measurements were 1 month before study start and 1 and 2 months afterward. Results The mean age of the subjects in this study was 46.5 ± 13.1 years. Mean C min decreased from 4.55 ± 1.79 to 3.20 ± 1.22 ng/dL. The mean CDW also decreased, from 99.8 ± 69.5 to 75.0 ± 55.1 mg/dL/kg over the 2 months. There were no significant changes in sCR, BUN, UA, and FBS. Mean TC increased from 187.5 ± 51.4 to 194.3 ± 43.4 mg/dL, and mean HDL-C changed from 53.7 ± 12.0 to 56.1 ± 11 mg/dL. There were no episodes of rejection or infection. Conclusions We conclude that switching from Prograf to Graceptor is safe and has the advantage of improving adherence. It could also have a beneficial effect in controlling glycemic levels and the adverse effects of tacrolimus. In many cases (25%–30%), the minimum concentration of tacrolimus decreased after changing tablets. With Graceptor, the ratio of area under trough level to area under the curve (AUC) is low compared with Prograf, resulting in low C min values of 1–2 ng/mL, and the AUC for Graceptor is very similar to that for Prograf.

The mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) is considered to be a major cause of cell death under a variety of pathophysiological conditions of the central nervous system (CNS) and other organs. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic knockout of the matrix protein cyclophilin D (CypD) prevents mPT and cell degeneration in several models of brain injury. If these findings in animal models are translatable to human disease, pharmacological inhibition of mPT offers a promising therapeutic target. The objective of this study was to validate the presence of a CypD-sensitive mPT in adult human brain and liver mitochondria. In order to perform functional characterization of human mitochondria, fresh tissue samples were obtained during hemorrhage or tumor surgery and mitochondria were rapidly isolated. Mitochondrial calcium retention capacity, a quantitative assay for mPT, was significantly increased by the CypD inhibitor cyclosporin A in both human brain and liver mitochondria, whereas thiol-reactive compounds and oxidants sensitized mitochondria to calcium-induced mPT. Brain mitochondria underwent swelling upon calcium overload, which was reversible upon calcium removal. To further explore mPT of human mitochondria, liver mitochondria were demonstrated to exhibit several classical features of the mPT phenomenon, such as calcium-induced loss of membrane potential and respiratory coupling, as well as release of the pro-apoptotic protein cytochrome c. We concluded that adult viable human brain and liver mitochondria possess an active CypD-sensitive mPT. Our findings support the rationale of CypD and mPT inhibition as pharmacological targets in acute and chronic neurodegeneration.

For hepatic tumors that cannot be identified on routine ultrasonography (US), we marked the target area using real-time virtual sonography (RVS) with indocyanine green (ICG)-ethanol (1:100) during surgery, and performed hepatic resection while observing the fluorescence.An ICG-ethanol mixture locally injected into mouse liver was retained in the same area for more than 4 h. The same mixture locally injected into pig liver at a depth of 3 cm could be observed using an infrared camera.An ICG-ethanol mixture (500 μl) was locally injected under RVS guidance into a metastatic hepatic tumor that was visible only on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and hepatic resection was performed while Photodynamic Eye (PDE) images were being observed. The metastatic lesion (3 mm in diameter in a pathological specimen) could be successfully resected.This method was useful for resecting US-invisible hepatic tumors.

We report a patient with Castleman's disease arising from the gallbladder neck, which caused difficulty in making the differential diagnosis against gallbladder malignancies. A 50-year-old woman presented to our institution with epigastric pain. An abdominal computed tomography scan (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) study showed a 20-mm tumor located in the gallbladder neck for which malignancy could not be completely ruled out. For the definitive diagnosis and treatment, cholecystectomy was performed. In the operation, the main tumor and resection margins of the cystic duct were submitted for frozen section. The tumor was composed of a proliferation of lymphoid tissue with no signs of dysplasia. The ductal margin was free of tumor. The final histopathological diagnosis was unicentric Castleman's disease, a hyaline vascular variant that developed in the gallbladder. The patient is currently in good condition without any signs of recurrence 28 months after the operation. This is the first detailed report of Castleman's disease of the gallbladder. Making a correct diagnosis was very difficult before the operation, and only a surgical approach enabled confirmation of the diagnosis for this patient.

Recently, a second-generation photosensory agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT), mono-L: -aspartyl chlorine e6 (NPe6), which degrades rapidly in vivo, has been developed. We evaluated its feasibility and efficacy for treatment in biliary tract carcinoma.A transmittance of semiconductor laser light (664 nm), sensitivity of a human biliary tract carcinoma cell line, and disorder to normal tissue including Glissonian constructs and adjacent hepatocytes were investigated.The transmittance of the laser was 85-91% through yellow clear bile and that of the bile including 50 microg/ml NPe6 was 17-48%. The effective concentration of NPe6 which showed LD50 for a cell line was 12.5 microg/ml, and that of LD95 was 25 microg/ml. NPe6 in the supernatant reduced laser transmissiveness, but it had little influence on the antitumor effect in supernatant with or without NPe6. The NOZ cell-tumor volume was reduced significantly 14 days after irradiation in the PDT group (PDT 69.9 +/- 44.6 mm(3) vs control 296.3 +/- 239.9 mm(3) P0.05). No severe hepatic disorder including Glisson components was observed by the histological findings.NPe6 PDT was effective in carcinomas even in the presence of bile, and causes no serious complication for the liver and Glisson structure. Therefore, NPe6 PDT will be a useful candidate as a new therapy for biliary tract carcinomas.

目的:stageII大腸癌の再発危険因子を明らかにし，術後補助化学療法の適格症例を検討する．対象と方法:1993年1月～2005年12月の間に手術が行われ組織学的に根治度Aと診断されたstageII大腸癌195例を対象とした．再発の有無について各臨床病理学的因子を用い単変量解析を行い，多変量解析により再発危険因子を選択し，生存率解析を行った．結果:再発に寄与する因子は単変量解析で性，年齢，深達度，ly，vで有意差を認め，多変量解析でly，性，v，深達度が再発危険因子に選択された．これらの再発危険因子を2つ以上有する症例は再発率27.9％以上，累積無再発5年生存率61.2％であり再発高リスクstageIIと考えられた．再発高リスクstageIIにおいては術後補助化学療法の有無別で累積無再発5年生存率に有意差（p=0.53）を認めなかった．考察:再発危険因子はly，性，v，深達度であり，これらの再発危険因子を2つ以上有する症例は再発高リスクstageIIと考えられた．術後補助化学療法の効果についてはrandomized controlled trialが必要と考えられた．

Inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) has emerged as a promising approach for neuroprotection and development of well-tolerated mPT inhibitors with favorable blood-brain barrier penetration is highly warranted. In a recent study, 28 clinically available drugs with a common heterocyclic structure were identified as mPT inhibitors e.g. trifluoperazine, promethazine and nortriptyline. In addition, neuroprotection by structurally unrelated drugs e.g. neurosteroids, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and trimetazidine has been attributed to direct inhibition of mPT. The regulation of mPT is complex and highly dependent on the prevailing experimental conditions. Several features of mPT, such as swelling, depolarization or NADH oxidation, can also occur independently of the mPT phenomenon. Here, in isolated rodent brain-derived and human liver mitochondria, we re-evaluate drugs promoted as potent mPT inhibitors. We address the definition of an mPT inhibitor and present strategies to reliably detect mPT inhibition in vitro. Surprisingly, none of the 12 compounds tested displayed convincing mPT inhibition or effects comparable to cyclophilin D inhibition by the non-immunosuppressive cyclophilin inhibitor D-MeAla(3)-EtVal(4)-Cyclosporin (Debio 025). Propofol and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) inhibited swelling in de-energized mitochondria but did not increase calcium retention capacity (CRC). Progesterone, trifluoperazine, allopregnanolone and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen dose-dependently reduced CRC and respiratory control and were thus toxic rather than beneficial to mitochondrial function. Interestingly, topiramate increased CRC at high concentrations likely by a mechanism separate from direct mPT inhibition. We conclude that a clinically relevant mPT inhibitor should have a mitochondrial target and increase mitochondrial calcium retention at concentrations which can be translated to human use.

We have accumulated over 170 patients since 1995 who underwent laparoscopic partial liver resection, laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy, and laparoscopy-assisted hepatectomy. Bleeding control, which is a basic element of liver resection, needs to be better managed by methods suitable for safer laparoscopic liver resection. The aim of this study was to standardize the basic skills and to establish safer techniques for laparoscopic liver surgery in order to perform safe laparoscopic donor hepatectomy. We analyzed initial results from the viewpoint of operative techniques of laparoscopic liver resection in our series. Laparoscopic liver resections have been successfully performed by the application of automatic suturing devices and the radiofrequency method. We have performed 105 laparoscopic partial liver resections, 26 laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomies, and 45 laparoscopy-assisted major hepatectomies. A total of 176 patients underwent minimally invasive liver resections. For safer laparoscopic liver resection, efficient bleeding control techniques, such as radiofrequency pre-coagulation and the liver hanging maneuver, are needed during parenchymal transection of the liver. Laparoscopy-assisted donor hepatectomy can be safely performed without increasing operative risks with mini-laparotomy.

In living donor liver transplantation, the safety of the donor operation is the highest priority. The introduction of the right lobe graft was late because of concerns about donor safety. We investigated donor liver regeneration by the types of resected segments as well as recipients to assess that appropriate regeneration was occurring. Eighty-seven donors were classified into 3 groups: left lateral section donors, left lobe donors, and right lobe donors. Forty-seven adult recipients were classified as either left or right lobe grafted recipients. Volumetry was retrospectively performed at 1 week, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months, and 1 year after the operation. In the right lobe donor group, the remnant liver volume was 45.4%, and it rapidly increased to 68.9% at 1 month and 89.8% at 6 months. At 6 months, the regeneration ratios were almost the same in all donor groups. The recipient liver volume increased rapidly until 2 months, exceeding the standard liver volume, and then gradually decreased to 90% of the standard liver volume. Livers of the right lobe donor group regenerated fastest in the donor groups, and the recipient liver regenerated faster than the donor liver. Analyzing liver regeneration many times with a large number of donors enabled us to understand the normal liver regeneration pattern. Although the donor livers did not reach their initial volume, the donors showed normal liver function at 1 year. The donors have returned to their normal daily activities. Donor hepatectomy, even right hepatectomy, can be safely performed with accurate preoperative volumetry and careful decision-making concerning graft-type selection.

Background We evaluated the importance and mechanism of graft and host accommodation in hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation models. Methods To evaluate graft accommodation, accommodated hamster grafts (Group 2) were transplanted to naive host rats treated with FK506, and compared with naive hamster grafts (Group 1). To evaluate host accommodation, three groups were evaluated: naive hamster hearts were transplanted to naive hosts treated with FK506 (Group 3: 0.5 mg/kg, Group 4: 1.0 mg/kg) and splenectomy, and compared with accommodating hosts (Group 5) with FK506 0.5 mg/kg and splenectomy. We examined graft survival, histopathology, antihamster antibodies and B-1 cells in blood. Results Graft survival in Group 2 (3.4+/-0.9 days) was not significantly different from that in Group 1 (2.8+/-0.4 days). Graft survival in Groups 4 and 5 (>30 days) was significantly prolonged compared with that in Group 3 (6.0+/-0.7 days). Histopathology of Groups 1-3 showed humoral rejection, whereas Groups 4 and 5 showed normal histology and expression of protective genes. In Groups 1-3, antihamster immunoglobulin (Ig) M and B-1 cells increased significantly compared to Groups 4 and 5, where IgM and B-1 cells remained low or were reduced. Conclusions Host accommodation was more important than graft accommodation. Accommodating grafts expressing protective genes were rejected with an elevation of both IgM and B-1 cells. In accommodated hosts, both IgM and B-1 cells decreased, suggesting that B-1 cells may be responsible for the production of antihamster antibodies. These results suggest that sufficient suppression of B-1 cells, resulting in decreased titers of antihamster antibodies, may play an important role in host accommodation.

Surgical outcomes for locally advanced pancreatic cancer with severe vascular invasion are generally poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT) could improve the survival of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer without distant metastasis.Between 2010 and 2014, a total of 20 consecutive patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer without distant metastasis were treated with NACRT. These patients included borderline resectable (BR) and unresectable (UR) pancreatic cancer patients according to the NCCN guidelines. All patients were treated with 2 courses of low-dose gemcitabine plus S-1 combination (GS) chemotherapy and 50.4 Gy of radiation therapy. Restaging was performed 4-6 weeks after completion of NACRT, and curative resection was performed if local control was achieved and distant metastasis was absent.Of the 20 patients, 7 (35.0%) underwent curative resection after NACRT. R0 resections were achieved in 6 patients (85.6%), and R1 resection was achieved in only 1 patient. Curative operation could not be performed in 13 patients (65.0%), because 3 patients refused surgery, 3 patients were diagnosed with dissemination on probe laparotomy or laparoscopy, and 7 patients had progressive disease with liver metastasis or dissemination on CT or MRI. Patients with a curative operation had a median disease-free survival (DFS) of 16.3 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 25.2 months. All of the patients without curative operation were treated with full-dose GS chemotherapy after NACRT. These patients had a median OS of 11.3 months.Our strategy for treating BR or UR pancreatic cancer patients seems to be effective and there might be survival benefits if curative operations can be performed after NACRT.

Background Regeneration of partial liver grafts is critical for successful living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), especially in adult recipients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the intraoperative hemodynamic changes in partial liver grafts and characterize their potential impact on post-transplant liver regeneration in LDLT. Methods We examined the portal venous flow (PVF) and hepatic arterial flow (HAF) to partial liver grafts by means of ultrasonic transit time flowmeter of donors immediately before graft retrieval and of the corresponding recipients after vascular reconstruction in 48 LDLT cases. We evaluated post-transplant liver regeneration according to the changes in graft liver volume between the time of transplantation and the 7th post-transplant day. Results There was a significant increase in PVF to the partial liver grafts in recipients (rPVF) compared with that in donors. In contrast, graft HAF in recipients significantly decreased compared with that in donors. The rPVF inversely correlated with graft weight (GW)–recipient body weight ratio (GRWR), whereas HAF volume showed no significant correlation. The rPVF/GW positively correlated with the rate of liver regeneration (GRR), which inversely correlated with GRWR. The rPVF/GW was significantly higher, and GRR tended to be larger in the small graft group than in the non-small graft group. Conclusions Intraoperative portal hemodynamic changes in partial liver grafts strongly affect their post-transplant regeneration. In particular, in small liver grafts, an immediate and remarkable increase in graft PVF may contribute to rapid liver regeneration after LDLT if the increased PVF remains within a safe range.

Introduction: In pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the single most important cause of morbidity. We present a modification for duct to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy. Materials and Methods: Total 134 patients, who had undergone PD or pylorus preserving PD (PPPD) between November 2007 and October 2013 at our institution, were analyzed. From April 2012 to December 2014, 53 consecutive patients underwent PD or PPPD by the new modified technique and 81 patients by the former technique before March 2012. The preoperative demographics and clinical information were retrospectively obtained from both groups and were analyzed along with risk factors of POPF. Moreover, risk factors for POPF grade B/C were analysed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Operation procedures were pylorus preserving PD in 119 and PD in 15. Incidence of POPF grade B/C was 11% in the new method, which was significantly lower than in the former method (38%) (p=0.0135). Moreover, risk factors for POPF grade B/C in univariate analysis were texture of pancreas (p=0.0004), dilatation of pancreatic duct (p=0.0100), and anastomosis method (p=0.0135). In multivariate analysis, risk factors were texture of pancreas (p=0.0010) and anastomosis method (p=0.053). Conclusions: The new technique in pancreticojejunostomy was safe and reliable with low POPF grade B/C rate.

Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment known to date for end-stage liver disease occurring as a result of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Here, we report a case in which living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for PSC was cancelled because of histological abnormalities in intraoperative biopsy of the donor liver. The donor was the mother of the recipient, and her preoperative evaluation revealed no abnormalities. In the donor operation, the donor liver biopsy revealed expansion of the portal zone with lymphocytic infiltration and dense concentric fibrosis developed around a bile duct. These histological findings were identical to those of early-stage PSC; therefore, the LDLT was called off. The experience in this case suggests that preoperative liver biopsy may be useful to exclude first-degree relative donors with potential PSC prior to LDLT for PSC.