AIM: To define NGF (nerve growth factor) and its high- affinity receptor trkANGF presence and distribution in fibrotic liver and in HCC, and to verify if NGF might have a role in fibrosis and HCC. METHODS: Intracellul...AIM: To define NGF (nerve growth factor) and its high- affinity receptor trkANGF presence and distribution in fibrotic liver and in HCC, and to verify if NGF might have a role in fibrosis and HCC. METHODS: Intracellular distribution of NGF and trkANGF were assessed by immunohistochemistry and immuno- electron microscopy in liver specimens from HCC, cirrhosis or both. ELISA was used to measure circulating NGF levels. RESULTS: NGF and trkANGF were highly expressed in HCC tissue, mainly localized in hepatocytes, endothelial and some Kupffer cells. In the cirrhotic part of the liver they were also markedly expressed in bile ducts epithelial and spindle-shaped cells. Surprisingly, in cirrhotic tissue from patients without HCC, both NGF and trkANGF were negative. NGF serum levels in cirrhotic and/or HCC patient were up to 25-fold higher than in controls. CONCLUSION: NGF was only detected in liver tissue with HCC present. Intracellular distribution suggests paracrine and autocrine mechanisms of action. Better definition of mechanisms may allow for therapeutic and diagnostic/prognostic use of NGF.展开更多
Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide and the most common primary liver cancer (1). Liver resection or liver transplantation is the therapeutic gold standards in patient wi...Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide and the most common primary liver cancer (1). Liver resection or liver transplantation is the therapeutic gold standards in patient with HCC. Due to advanced disease, extrahepatic metastases, or inadequate liver reserve, only 15% to 30% of patients with HCC can undergo to surgery (2). Five-year risk of recurrence of HCC after resection is as high as 70% because the underlying chronic liver disease continues to put the patient at risk for the development of new cancer nodules (3). Starting from the assumption that recurrence may be newly treated with surgery, laparoscopic approach is recommended,展开更多
Hepatic adenoma (HA) is a rare indication for liver transplantation (LTx). So far 20 cases of LTx for HA are reported in PubMed. In rare cases HA presents as multiple hepatic adenomas or recurrent adenoma after initia...Hepatic adenoma (HA) is a rare indication for liver transplantation (LTx). So far 20 cases of LTx for HA are reported in PubMed. In rare cases HA presents as multiple hepatic adenomas or recurrent adenoma after initial liver resection and in such cases LTx is the only potential cure and prevents the risk of bleeding or cancer transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma. We report the case of a 56 years old lady who underwent a left hepatectomy for giant adenoma in 2005 and resection of segment Ⅴ-Ⅵ for recurrence of liver adenoma in 2007. She developed a second recurrence of HA with 3 new lesions in the right liver in 2008. The patient underwent LTx. After 3 years the patient is alive with no evidence of disease. LTx is indicated in patients with HA in which resection is not technically feasible.展开更多
AIM To emphasize the effectiveness and versatility of prosthesis, and good tolerance by patients with incisional hernia(IH). METHODS From December 2001 to February 2016, 270 liver transplantations were performed at Sa...AIM To emphasize the effectiveness and versatility of prosthesis, and good tolerance by patients with incisional hernia(IH). METHODS From December 2001 to February 2016, 270 liver transplantations were performed at San Camillo Hospital. IH occurred in 78 patients(28.8%). IH usually appeared early within the first year post-orthotopic liver transplantation. In the first era, fascial defect was repaired by primary closure for defects smaller than 2.5 cm or with synthetic mesh for greater defects. Recently, we started using biological mesh(Permacol?, Covidien). We present a series of five transplanted patients submitted to surgery for abdominal wall defect correction repaired with biological mesh(Permacol?, Covidien). RESULTS In our cases, the use of biological prosthesis(Permacol?, Covidien) have proven to be effective and versatile in repairing hernia defects of different kinds; patients did not suffer infections of the prosthesis and no recurrence was observed. Furthermore, the prosthesis remains intact even in the years after surgery. CONCLUSION The cases that we presented show that the use of biological mesh(Permacol?, Covidien) in transplanted patients may be safe and effective, being careful in the management of perioperative immunosuppression andrenal and graft function, although the cost of the product itself has been the main limiting factor and there is need for prospective studies for further evaluations.展开更多
Dear Editor,In recent years,criteria based on the combinationof morphology and biology have been proposed forimproving the selection of hepatocellular cancer(HCC)patients waiting for liver transplantation(LT)[1,2].Sin...Dear Editor,In recent years,criteria based on the combinationof morphology and biology have been proposed forimproving the selection of hepatocellular cancer(HCC)patients waiting for liver transplantation(LT)[1,2].Since all the proposed models showed suboptimalresults in predicting the risk of postLT recurrence,aprediction model constructed using artificial intelligence(Al)could be an attractive way to surpass this limit[3,4].Therefore,the Time_Radiological-response_Alpha-fetoproteIN_Artificial-Intelligence(TRAIN-AI)modelwas developed,combining morphology and biology tumorvariables.展开更多
Introduction Representing the prevalent primary hepatic malignancy,hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is concurrently the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third dominant cause of mortality due to cancer(1,2).The p...Introduction Representing the prevalent primary hepatic malignancy,hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is concurrently the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third dominant cause of mortality due to cancer(1,2).The preponderance of such neoplasms is secondary to cirrhosis,primarily induced by viral hepatitis,alcohol abuse or exposure to other hepatotoxins.Over the last decades,however,metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance,have established as key players in the chronic damage of liver parenchyma,eventually contributing to the development of the large spectrum of chronic hepatopathies known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)(3).展开更多
基金Supported by Grant N° RF 01.115 from Ministero della Salute, Ricerca Finalizzata
文摘AIM: To define NGF (nerve growth factor) and its high- affinity receptor trkANGF presence and distribution in fibrotic liver and in HCC, and to verify if NGF might have a role in fibrosis and HCC. METHODS: Intracellular distribution of NGF and trkANGF were assessed by immunohistochemistry and immuno- electron microscopy in liver specimens from HCC, cirrhosis or both. ELISA was used to measure circulating NGF levels. RESULTS: NGF and trkANGF were highly expressed in HCC tissue, mainly localized in hepatocytes, endothelial and some Kupffer cells. In the cirrhotic part of the liver they were also markedly expressed in bile ducts epithelial and spindle-shaped cells. Surprisingly, in cirrhotic tissue from patients without HCC, both NGF and trkANGF were negative. NGF serum levels in cirrhotic and/or HCC patient were up to 25-fold higher than in controls. CONCLUSION: NGF was only detected in liver tissue with HCC present. Intracellular distribution suggests paracrine and autocrine mechanisms of action. Better definition of mechanisms may allow for therapeutic and diagnostic/prognostic use of NGF.
文摘Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide and the most common primary liver cancer (1). Liver resection or liver transplantation is the therapeutic gold standards in patient with HCC. Due to advanced disease, extrahepatic metastases, or inadequate liver reserve, only 15% to 30% of patients with HCC can undergo to surgery (2). Five-year risk of recurrence of HCC after resection is as high as 70% because the underlying chronic liver disease continues to put the patient at risk for the development of new cancer nodules (3). Starting from the assumption that recurrence may be newly treated with surgery, laparoscopic approach is recommended,
文摘Hepatic adenoma (HA) is a rare indication for liver transplantation (LTx). So far 20 cases of LTx for HA are reported in PubMed. In rare cases HA presents as multiple hepatic adenomas or recurrent adenoma after initial liver resection and in such cases LTx is the only potential cure and prevents the risk of bleeding or cancer transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma. We report the case of a 56 years old lady who underwent a left hepatectomy for giant adenoma in 2005 and resection of segment Ⅴ-Ⅵ for recurrence of liver adenoma in 2007. She developed a second recurrence of HA with 3 new lesions in the right liver in 2008. The patient underwent LTx. After 3 years the patient is alive with no evidence of disease. LTx is indicated in patients with HA in which resection is not technically feasible.
文摘AIM To emphasize the effectiveness and versatility of prosthesis, and good tolerance by patients with incisional hernia(IH). METHODS From December 2001 to February 2016, 270 liver transplantations were performed at San Camillo Hospital. IH occurred in 78 patients(28.8%). IH usually appeared early within the first year post-orthotopic liver transplantation. In the first era, fascial defect was repaired by primary closure for defects smaller than 2.5 cm or with synthetic mesh for greater defects. Recently, we started using biological mesh(Permacol?, Covidien). We present a series of five transplanted patients submitted to surgery for abdominal wall defect correction repaired with biological mesh(Permacol?, Covidien). RESULTS In our cases, the use of biological prosthesis(Permacol?, Covidien) have proven to be effective and versatile in repairing hernia defects of different kinds; patients did not suffer infections of the prosthesis and no recurrence was observed. Furthermore, the prosthesis remains intact even in the years after surgery. CONCLUSION The cases that we presented show that the use of biological mesh(Permacol?, Covidien) in transplanted patients may be safe and effective, being careful in the management of perioperative immunosuppression andrenal and graft function, although the cost of the product itself has been the main limiting factor and there is need for prospective studies for further evaluations.
文摘Dear Editor,In recent years,criteria based on the combinationof morphology and biology have been proposed forimproving the selection of hepatocellular cancer(HCC)patients waiting for liver transplantation(LT)[1,2].Since all the proposed models showed suboptimalresults in predicting the risk of postLT recurrence,aprediction model constructed using artificial intelligence(Al)could be an attractive way to surpass this limit[3,4].Therefore,the Time_Radiological-response_Alpha-fetoproteIN_Artificial-Intelligence(TRAIN-AI)modelwas developed,combining morphology and biology tumorvariables.
文摘Introduction Representing the prevalent primary hepatic malignancy,hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is concurrently the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third dominant cause of mortality due to cancer(1,2).The preponderance of such neoplasms is secondary to cirrhosis,primarily induced by viral hepatitis,alcohol abuse or exposure to other hepatotoxins.Over the last decades,however,metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance,have established as key players in the chronic damage of liver parenchyma,eventually contributing to the development of the large spectrum of chronic hepatopathies known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)(3).