Perioperative remedial antiviral therapy in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma resection:How to achieve a better outcome

BACKGROUND Although the benefits of antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)have been proven,researchers have not con-firmed the differences in patient outcomes between patients who received preoperative antiviral therapy for a period of time(at least 24 wk)and patients who received remedial antiviral therapy just before radical resection for HBV-related HCC.AIM To investigate the efficacy of perioperative remedial antiviral therapy in patients with HBV-related HCC.METHODS A retrospective study of patients who underwent radical resection for HBV-related HCC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 2016 to June 2019 was conducted.Considering the history of antiviral therapy,patients were assigned to remedial antiviral therapy and preoperative antiviral therapy groups.RESULTS Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed significant differences in overall survival(P<0.0001)and disease-free survival(P=0.035)between the two groups.Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a history of preoperative antiviral treatment was independently related to improved survival(hazard ratio=0.27;95%confidence interval:0.08-0.88;P=0.030).CONCLUSION In patients with HBV-related HCC,it is ideal to receive preoperative long-term antiviral therapy,which helps patients tolerate more extensive hepatectomy;however,remedial antiviral therapy,which reduces preoperative HBV-DNA levels to less than 4 Log10 copies DNA/mL,can also result in improved outcomes.

Impact of cigarette smoking on recurrence of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis

AIM To investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on the recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival in patients with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis(HLAP).METHODS A total of 863 patients were admitted to our hospital for acute pancreatitis(AP) from January 2013 to March2016, of whom 88 diagnosed with HLAP were enrolled in this retrospective study. Demographic data, medical history, previous episodes of pancreatitis, consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, as well as biochemical and hematological data were carefully recorded for univariate and multivariate analyses. During followup, the information on current smoking status and recurrent AP was gathered. Recurrence-free survival(RFS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the differences between groups were compared using the log-rank test.RESULTS No significant differences were observed between the three groups in age or medical history of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or AP. The current smokers had a remarkably higher recurrence rate and a greater incidence of repeated episodes of AP(50.0% and 77.8%, respectively) than non-smokers(9.8% and 39.0%), and these two percentages were reduced to 9.1% and 36.4% for patients who gave up smoking. The median follow-up time was 13.5 mo and HLAP recurred after hospital discharge in 23(26.1%) patients. Multivariate analysis identified current smoking(HR = 6.3, P = 0.020) as an independent risk factor contributing to HLAP recurrence. Current smokers had significantly worse RFS than non-smokers(23 mo vs 42 mo), but no significant difference was documented between ex-smokers(34 mo) and non-smokers. The RFS was not significantly different between light and heavy smokers.CONCLUSION Smoking is associated with worse RFS and an increased rate of HLAP recurrence. Continued smoking correlates with a compromised survival and smoking cessation should be recommended.

Hypothermic machine perfusion with metformin-University of Wisconsin solution for ex vivo preservation of standard and marginal liver grafts in a rat model

AIM To compare the effect of University of Wisconsin(UW) solution with or without metformin, an AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) activator, for preserving standard and marginal liver grafts of young and aged rats ex vivo by hypothermic machine perfusion(HMP).METHODS Eighteen young(4 mo old) and 18 aged(17 mo old)healthy male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups: control group, UW solution perfusion group(UWP), and UW solution with metformin perfusion group(MUWP). Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), interleukin-18(IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in the perfused liquid were tested. The expression levels of AMPK and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(e NOS) in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells were also examined.Additionally, microscopic evaluation of the harvested perfused liver tissue samples was done. RESULTS AST, ALT, LDH, IL-18 and TNF-α levels in the young and aged liver-perfused liquid were, respectively,significantly lower in the MUWP group than in the UWP group(P < 0.05), but no significant differences were found between the young and aged MUWP groups.Metformin increased the expression of AMPK and e NOS protein levels, and promoted the extracellular release of nitric oxide through activation of the AMPK-e NOS mediated pathway. Histological examination revealed that in the MUWP group, the extent of liver cells and tissue damage was significantly reduced compared with the UWP group.CONCLUSION The addition of metformin to the UW preservative solution for ex vivo HMP can reduce rat liver injury during cold ischemia, with significant protective effects on livers, especially of aged rats.

Warm ischemia time and elevated serum uric acid are associated with metabolic syndrome after liver transplantation with donation after cardiac death

AIM To describe the prevalence of posttransplant metabolic syndrome(PTMS) after donation after cardiac death(DCD) liver transplantation(LT) and the pre-and postoperative risk factors.METHODS One hundred and forty-seven subjects who underwent DCD LT from January 2012 to February 2016 were enrolled in this study. The demographics and the clinical characteristics of pre-and post-transplantation were collected for both recipients and donors. PTMS was defined according to the 2004 Adult Treatment Panel-Ⅲ criteria. All subjects were followed monthly for the initial 6 mo after discharge, and then, every 3 mo for 2 years. The subjects were followed every 6 mo or as required after 2 years post-LT.RESULTS The prevalence of PTMS after DCD donor orthotopic LT was 20/147(13.6%). Recipient's body mass index(P = 0.024), warm ischemia time(WIT)(P = 0.045), and posttransplant hyperuricemia(P = 0.001) were significantly associated with PTMS. The change in serum uric acid levels in PTMS patients was significantly higher than that in non-PTMS patients(P < 0.001). After the 1 s t mo, the level of serum uric acid of PTMS patients rose continually over a period, while it was unaltered in non-PTMS patients. After transplantation, the level of serum uric acid in PTMS patients was not associated with renal function.CONCLUSION PTMS could occur at early stage after DCD LT with growing morbidity with the passage of time. WIT and post-LT hyperuricemia are associated with the prevalence of PTMS. An increased serum uric acid level is highly associated with PTMS and could act as a serum marker in this disease.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease after liver transplantation:Report of six cases

BACKGROUND Graft-versus-host disease(GVHD)following liver transplantation(LT)is an unpredictable complication with poor outcome.However,consensus regarding the diagnosis and therapeutic regimen for the disease is yet lacking.The present study summarized the clinical experience on the diagnosis and treatment of acute GVHD(aGVHD)following LT and reviewed the pertinent literature.CASE SUMMARY Between January 1^(st),2000 and December 31^(st),2020,a total of 1053 LT were performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University.Six recipients developed aGVHD with clinical symptoms of fever,rash,diarrhea,and pancytopenia.The incidence of aGVHD was 0.57%.The median time from LT to the clinical presentation of aGVHD was 22.17 d.The median time from the beginning of the clinical symptom to histopathological diagnosis was 7.5 d.All six cases underwent treatment of immunosuppressant adjustment,corticosteroids,human normal immunoglobulin,and antithymocyte globulin/IL-2 antagonists.Despite intensive treatment strategies,4 patients were deceased due to sepsis,multiple organ failure,and cerebral hemorrhage.The remaining two cases were discharged as treatment successfully.However,one died because of tuberculosis infection on the 6 th month of follow-up,the other one was alive healthy during 30 mo of follow-up.CONCLUSION The rapid diagnosis of aGVHD is mainly based on the time from the first symptom,histopathological features,and the donor T-lymphocyte chimerism.Our cases report highlights massive corticosteroid therapy and age difference between donors and recipients could accelerate to aGVHD.Moreover,gut microbial interventions and donor-targeted serotherapy may provide novel therapeutics.