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Objective:To establish donor liver quality related risk factors for the loss of function of transplanted liver.Methods:The data of donors and recipients of liver transplantation at the Organ Donation and Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from Nov 2011 to Dec 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to evaluate and screen the data of donors and recipients, in order to balance the covariates.Results:Of the organ donation, there were 70 males and 20 females , aging (40.6±16.3) years. Of the liver transplantation recipients, there were 70 males and 20 females , aging (41.8±20.3) years. Liver dysfunction after transplantation was significantly correlated with the following variables: the donor's CPR time( t=0.429, P=0.000), 15-minute retention rate of indocyanine green ( χ2=67.151, P=0.000), liver function grading ( χ2=54.154, P=0.000), bullae fatty liver grading ( χ2=8.120, P=0.017), vesicular fatty liver grading ( χ2=16.000, P=0.001), ICU stay time ( χ2=14.900, P=0.001)and serum creatinine level ( χ2=44.685, P=0.000). The donor scoring system was established in our studying. For the 90 organ donation cases, the donated liver quality were classified into four levels,which were of good correspondence to the prognosis of the recipients. Conclusion:This donor scoring system and grading standards established by analyzing the high-risk factors of liver dysfunction after transplantation helps evaluate the quality of donor liver in China.
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Myeloid derived suppressor cell (MDSC) is a kind of myogenic stem cells that are induced by tumor-derived cytokines.MDSCs not only have their own immunosuppressive effects,but also can mediate the immunosuppressive effects of T lymphocytes through different mechanisms.Recent studies have shown that MDSCs involved in tumor immune escape,immune tolerance as well as other pathological processes,and played an important role in promoting the generation and development of tumors.The advances of the generation,immunosuppressive effects of MDSCs and their relation with digestive system tumors were summarized in this paper,which would provide evidences for the clinical use of MDSCs in treating digestive system tumors.
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There is increasing recognition of the importance of the quality of life (QOL) since it became an endpoint of clinical practices, a variety of disease-specific quality of life instruments have been developed and used as a means of assessing clinical interventions. Traditional evaluation was performed by researchers who generally ignore the subjective feeling from pa-tiens. At present, many evaluation criteria has paid more attention to the patient's subjective feelings into the scoring system, the assessment tool of patient-reported outcome (PRO) is usually the patient self-rating scale or questionnaire. As a common complica-tions of terminal stages of cancer, the treatment of bone metastases is usually conservative, improving or maintaining the quality of life of patients has been the consensus. Bone metastases trials have employed QLQ-C30 which raised by Europe Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) or other generic health related QOL measurement, such as functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) and the MOS 36-item short from health survey (SF-36). But they lack specificity and accuracy in the assessment. EORTC QLQ-BM22 scale is considered as a bone metastases specific scale which was introducted in 2009, after the reliability, validity, cross-cultural adaptability verification, with the combination of EORTC QLQ-C 30 or used alone, has in-creasingly applied to clinical trials and practice for QOL assessment of bone metastatic cancer patients in recent years. It complete the EORTC evaluation system, which has significant value for assessing efficacy. EORTC QLQ-BM 22 has been translated into sim-plified Chinese and evaluated its utility, could be used in China as an effective questionnaire in evaluating the QOL for patients with bone metastases. In this study, current situation and progress of QOL measuring tools for bone metastases patients is re-viewed, in order to help researchers choose appropriate scale and better assess the efficacy, find the pros and cons to guide the clinical treatment decision.
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There is increasing recognition of the importance of the quality of life (QOL) since it became an endpoint of clinical practices, a variety of disease-specific quality of life instruments have been developed and used as a means of assessing clinical interventions. Traditional evaluation was performed by researchers who generally ignore the subjective feeling from pa-tiens. At present, many evaluation criteria has paid more attention to the patient's subjective feelings into the scoring system, the assessment tool of patient-reported outcome (PRO) is usually the patient self-rating scale or questionnaire. As a common complica-tions of terminal stages of cancer, the treatment of bone metastases is usually conservative, improving or maintaining the quality of life of patients has been the consensus. Bone metastases trials have employed QLQ-C30 which raised by Europe Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) or other generic health related QOL measurement, such as functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) and the MOS 36-item short from health survey (SF-36). But they lack specificity and accuracy in the assessment. EORTC QLQ-BM22 scale is considered as a bone metastases specific scale which was introducted in 2009, after the reliability, validity, cross-cultural adaptability verification, with the combination of EORTC QLQ-C 30 or used alone, has in-creasingly applied to clinical trials and practice for QOL assessment of bone metastatic cancer patients in recent years. It complete the EORTC evaluation system, which has significant value for assessing efficacy. EORTC QLQ-BM 22 has been translated into sim-plified Chinese and evaluated its utility, could be used in China as an effective questionnaire in evaluating the QOL for patients with bone metastases. In this study, current situation and progress of QOL measuring tools for bone metastases patients is re-viewed, in order to help researchers choose appropriate scale and better assess the efficacy, find the pros and cons to guide the clinical treatment decision.
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Objective To investigate the methods and techniques for organ procurement from donation after cardiac death (DCD),and to evaluate post-transplant outcomes.Methods In this retrospective study,clinical data of 26 cases of DCD organ procurements were analyzed through either epigastric multivisceral organ harvesting or solitary organ harvesting.Results Twenty livers,44 kidneys and 2 multivisceral grafts were procured,followed by 24 cases of liver transplantation,42 cases of kidney transplantation,and 2 cases of multivisceral transplantation.The operations were successful and all transplanted organs were satisfactorily recovered with no primary nonfunction or other complications observed.Conclusion Our methods and techniques for organ procurement from DCD donors require experienced surgery skills,while can maximatily shorten donor organ ischemic time,guarantee procurement of high quality of organs and ensure a favourable transplant outcomes.
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Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of the upper abdomen organ transplantation in the treatment of end stage liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods The clinical data of 7 cases receiving liver-duodeno-pancreatic organ cluster transplantation in patients with end-stage liver disease and T2DM were retrospectively analyzed.The pancreas and the whole digestive tract of the recipients were reserved during operation,simple liver excision was executed,and abdominal multiple organs including pancreas,duodenum and part of jejunum were transplanted.The liver and kidney functions,blood glucose,C peptide,infection,rejection,vascular complications,biliary complications and other indicators were monitored postoperatively.Results No insulin was used in all the patients 1-7 days after operations,the blood glucose levels returned to almost normal, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin became normal after 1 week,and C peptide levels reached the normal range in 1 to 2 weeks.Among 7 patients,one died of graft-versus-host disease 1 month after operation,one got acute renal failure,one suffered from pulmonary infection, one had pancreatic leakage but recovered after unobstructed drainage,and no obvious complications were observed in the remaining patients.So far 6 live recipients were followed up for 1-39 months,the functions of the liver and pancreatic grafts were normal without hepatitis B and tumor recurrence, and the quality of life in the patients was satisfactory.Conclusion Liver-duodeno-pancreatic organ cluster transplantation is technically feasible and an effective method for the treatment of end-stage liver disease with T2DM.
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Objective To observe the effects of exogenous interleukin (IL)-6 on survival time and regeneration of liver grafts in an orthotopic liver transplantation model in IL-6 knockout (KO) mice.Methods A model of liver transplantation in C57BL/6 wild type (WT) and IL-6 KO mice with C57BL/6 background was established. Grafts were preserved at 4 ℃ in UW solution before transplantation.Study was divided into 4 groups:IL-6 KO→IL-6 KO control group,IL-6 KO→C57BL/6 WT group,IL-6 KO→IL-6 KO+ rIL-6 group,and IL-6 KO→C57BL/6 WT+ rIL-6 group.Recipient animals were injected subcutaneously with human recombinant IL-6 (1 mg/kg body weight) 1 h before transplantation.Survival of liver grafts after transplantation was followed up.Hepatocyte replication with BrdU uptake after liver transplantation was examined by irnmunohistochemistry.Results A total of 48 liver transplantations were performed.Cold ischemic time was 50 min.The survival time of liver grafts in the control group was 2.2 days,and that was 1.9 days,＞17.6 days and ＞20.4 days in IL-6 KO→C57BL/6 WT group,IL-6 KO+ rIL-6 group and C57BL/6 WT+ rIL-6 group respectively with the the difference being statistically significant among the latter three groups (P＜0.01 ).The liver grafts transplanted in control group recipients showed patchy areas of necrosis and hepatocyte ballooning.Slight increase in BrdU uptake was found at 48 h post-transplantation.Minimal injury and no necrosis were observed in IL-6 treated groups.Mild increase of BrdU uptake was demonstrated at 48 h after liver transplantation. Conclusion Exogenous recombinant IL-6 appears to significantly prolong the survival time of IL-6 KO liver grafts after liver transplantation and enhance the regenerative response after liver transplantation in IL-6 KO mice.
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ObjectiveTo investigate a reasonable perioperative nutrition support therapy for combined ‘en bloc’ liver/pancreas transplants (CLPT).MethodThe clinical data of 10 patients,5 with gastrointestinal malignancy and liver metastasis and the other 5 with end-stage liver cirrhosis complicated with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM),who had undergone CLPT in our center from May 2004 to September 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.All these patients received preioperative nutrition support,including normal food combined with nutrient solution before surgery,and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to parenteral nutrition (PN) +enteral nutrition ( EN ) and to EN after surgery.The intestinal absorption,nutritional status,laboratory test results,and complications were recorded.ResultsAll recipients experienced a smooth recovery from the procedure,with normal or almost normal liver,pancreas,and duodenum graft functions.Three patients suffered from intestinal fistula,and all of them received TPN therapy; two patients died of multiple organ failure and one recovered from the complication.The remaining seven patients had smooth transition from TPN to EN.Of the 5 patients with malignancies,three died of multiple organ failure and 2 died of cancer recurrence.Of the 5 patients with liver cirrhosis and T2DM,four patients survived and 1 patient died of graft-verse-host disease.ConclusionRational perioperative nutrition support is important for the successful recovery after CLPT.
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Objective To explore the effect of different cold ischemia (CI)times on the patterns of intra-graft T cell activation gene-3 (TCA-3) expression early after isogeneic half liver transplantation (PLT)in mice. Methods The models of C57BL/6 full-size(FS) and PLT were established.The CI time was 1,4 and 8 h.Specimen were collected at 4 and 24 h post-reperfusion.Ribonuclease protection assays (RPA)was used to evaluate serial mRNA expression of the TCA-3 chemokine in all mice.Histopathology was used to examine cold ischemia injury in the liver grafts. Results A total of 45 control and 30 PLTs were performed.The survival rate at 7 day after control and PLT was 100％.Quantitative analysis demonstrated the levels of TCA-3 mRNA expression were low at 4 h after reperfusion in control group with 1,4,8 h CI.The levels of TCA-3 significandy increased at 4 h after reperfusion in PLT group with CI of 1,4,8 h and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( F =7.41,P ＜ 0.05 ). TCA-3 mRNA expression significantly decreased at 24 h after reperfusion in two groups. But the difference was not statistically significant ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Histopathology showed severer cold ischemia injury in PLT grafts compared with control grafts. Conclusions The expression of TCA-3 significandy increased early after PLT and played an important role in cold ischemia injury.TCA-3 could be used as the early therapeutic target for reducing ischemia injury in PLT grafts.
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ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) after liver transplantation for patients with diabetes and uremia.MethodsThe clinical data of two patients who received SPK after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.The two male patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus before liver transplantation,and suffered from endstage uremia due to diabetic nephropathy and immunosuppressant-induced toxicity.Rapid technique for combined abdominal multiple viscera procurement was performed.Kidneys,pancreas,duodenum segment and spleen were procured.Renal allograft was placed in the left iliac fossa,whereas pancreas allograft in the right iliac fossa. The pancreatic allograft exocrine secretion was drained into the proximal jejunum via a side-to-side duodenojujunostomy. Quadruple immunosuppressive regime including IL2 receptor monoclonal antibody induction,tacrolimus (Tac),mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroid were used in case 1,and ATG and methylprednisolone were used in case 2.ResultsSPK was successfully applied to these two patients without serious surgical complications such as pancreatitis,graft and pancreatic fistula. The immunosuppressive regimen was based on tacrolimus with ATG induction,MMF and steroids.In the second case,serum creatinine level was decreased to the normal range within 1 week after the operation and then elevated continuously even he received empirical anti rejection treatment,Tac was tampered and rapamycin was used when the renal graft biopsy indicated drug toxicity,and creatinine level was decreased 3 weeks after the operation and recovered to the normal range at 5th week post-transplant. Both of the two patients achieved euglycemia with insulin independence about 10 days after the operation.And now these two patients have been followed up for 36 and 9 months,and the grafts function of the liver,kidney and pancreas was normal. Conclusion Immunologic reaction in patients undergoing simultaneous pancreas and kidneytransplantationafterlivertransplantationseemsmorecomplex, andareasonable immunosuppressive regimen is important to improVe the outcome.
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Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT) after adult liver transplantation.Methods387 consecutive adult patients who underwent liver transplantation from June 2007 to October 2010 by the same surgery team in the Transplant Center,First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively studied.Hepatic arterial blood flow was monitored by color Doppler ultrasound (DUS) daily during the first week after transplantation.Ultrasonic contrast or hepatic artery angiography was performed on recipients with suspected HAT.Results10 patients developed HAT on 7(2-18)d after operation.The incidence of HAT was 2.6％ (10/387).Interventional therapy was performed in 2 patients with one patient who received a stent because of hepatic artery stricture.Three patients underwent emergent hepatic artery revascularization combined with intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis treatment.One developed a rethrombosis and died.The remaining 2 patients received re-transplantation.Three patients died of liver failure and severe infection.The mortality rate was 40％ (10/387).ConclusionsIt is essential to diagnoses HAT by monitoring the artery flow by Doppler ultrasound screening in the early period after operation.Interventional therapy,emergent hepatic artery revascularization and re-transplantation are effective rescue treatments.Prevention of HAT is most important.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract leakage after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-one recipients had digestive tract leakage in early stage after OLT among 1173 cases from January 2000 to December 2010. There were 55 male and 6 female patients, aging from 36 to 61 years, with a median of 45 years. Digestive tract leakage included bile leakage (46 cases), gastric leakage (5 cases), duodenal leakage (1 case), jejunal leakage (4 cases), ileal leakage (1 case) and colon transversum leakage (4 cases). Ten of recipients with gastrointestinal leakage had 1 to 3 times of abdominal surgery before OLT. Abdominal drainage was used in 28 cases with bile leakage, and additionally, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and stenting were performed for 8 of them, and surgical neoplasty for another 18 patients with bile leakage. Simple surgical neoplasty of perforation was performed for 13 patients with gastrointestinal leakage, and diverticulectomy and neoplasty for 1 case with duodenal leakage, and partial jejunostomy for one severe jejunal leakage. Nutritional support was administered for all of cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence rate of digestive tract leakage in early stage after OLT was 5.20% (61/1173). Intra-operative iatrogenic injury of gastrointestinal tract was occurred in 6 cases with gastrointestinal leakage. After treatment, 11 cases died of multiple organ failure resulted from severe infection, with mortality of 18.0% (11/61), including 4 cases with bile leakage, with the mortality of 8.6% (4/46), and 7 cases with gastrointestinal tract leakage, with the mortality of 46.6% (7/15). The remanent 50 cases through comprehensive treatment with a span of 1 to 3 months recovered and discharged healthily. No digestive tract leakage reoccurred in the follow-up of 6 to 84 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The morbidity of digestive tract leakage in early stage after OLT is low, but its mortality is high, especially for gastrointestinal tract leakage. High dose corticosteroids therapy, history of abdominal operation and intra-operative iatrogenic injury may be high risk factor. Comprehensive treatment is crucial for improving prognosis.</p>
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Digestive System Fistula , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Drainage , Liver Transplantation , Postoperative Complications , Diagnosis , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Campath-1H induction on immunosuppression in small intestine transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of a patient who underwent small intestine transplantation were retrospectively summarized.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intraoperative Campath-1H induction by intravenous injection was administered. Triple immunosuppression(FK506, MMF and methylprednisolone) was used postoperatively. The lymphocyte and leukocyte decreased significantly following Campath-1H induction, and returned to normal after adjusting the dose of immunosuppressant and use of colony stimulating factor. There were no acute rejection, graft versus host disease, or severe infection during the immediate postoperative period. The patient recovered and discharged.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intraoperative Campath-1H induction and postoperative triple immunosuppression using FK506, MMF, and methylprednisolone may prevent rejection and graft versus host disease in the early stage after small intestine transplantation.</p>
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Adult , Humans , Male , Alemtuzumab , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Therapeutic Uses , Graft Rejection , Immunosuppression Therapy , Immunosuppressive Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Intestine, Small , Transplantation , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the treatment outcomes after combined en bloc liver and pancreas transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five patients with end-stage liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus received combined en bloc liver and pancreas transplantation after hepatectomy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five operations were performed successfully. The operative time ranged from 9 to 16 hours and blood loss from 1600 to 3000 ml. Postoperatively, one patients developed pulmonary infection, one died of graft-versus-host disease(GVHD), and one experienced acute renal failure. No intestinal fistula, anastomotic leakage, biliary complications, chronic and acute rejection and pancreatitis were seen. Liver function index including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin returned to normal levels a week after surgery, while levels of C peptide and blood glucose resumed within 1 to 2 weeks. Apart from 1 case died of GVHD, the other 4 maintained normal liver function during the follow up ranging from 2 to 23 months and no insulin was required for the diabetes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined en bloc liver and pancreas transplantation is technically feasible and an effective treatment for multi-organ diseases.</p>
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , General Surgery , Liver Failure , General Surgery , Liver Transplantation , Pancreas Transplantation , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Objective To explore the causes and management of intra-abdominal hemorrhage after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods Clinical data of 638 OLT patients were analyzed retrospectively from January 2004 to December 2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University. The diagnosis and treatment of postoperative intra-abdominal hemorrhage after OLT were reviewed. Results Among the 638 patients, 53 suffered from posttransplant intra-abdominal hemorrhage,the morbidity was 8. 3% (53/638). Thirty-one cases suffering from bleeding on raw surfaces or around the liver due to impairment of coagulation function were treated by non-surgery methods, 22 cases who suffered from active postoperative intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to surgical factors underwent laparotomy and bleeding control operation after failure of anti-shock treatments such as hemostatic drugs, blood reperfusion.Among the 53 patients who suffered from intra-abdominal hemorrhage, 12 patients died, and the main causes were serious infections and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The mortality associated with intraabdominal hemorrhage was 22. 6%. Conclusions Intra-abdominal hemorrhage at different locations were found after OLT, and the fatal rate is quite high. Timely and appropriate treatments especially laparotomy may improve the prosnosis of these patients.
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BACKGROUND: Tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients greatly affects prognosis of liver transplantation with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to prevent tumor recurrence has aroused increasing attention. Arsenious acid chemotherapy is considered effective on treating moderate or advanced liver cancer, but its utilization following liver transplantation remains few. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of arsenious acid on tumor recurrence in liver transplant patients with primary HCC extending Milan criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were routinely followed up for 3-32 months. Thirty recipients were presented with tumor recurrence, 16 in the chemotherapy group and 14 in the non-chemotherapy group. Tumor recurred in lung, liver graft and bones in most cases. The total recurrence rate was similar in these two groups, but chemotherapy could delay recurrence after transplantation (P=0.026). There was no significance in 6-month, 1-year survival rate between two groups, but the 2-year survival in the chemotherapy group was higher (P=0.037); 6-month tumor-free survival rates in the two groups had no significance, 1-year and 2-year tumor-free in the chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the non-chemotherapy group (P=0.030, 0.023). Intravenous arsenious acid chemotherapy can delay tumor recurrence and prolong survival in liver transplant patients with HCC extending Milan criteria.
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Objective To summarize the experience with salvage liver transplantation for patients with recurrent hetaptocellular carcinoma(HCC)after primary liver resection.Methods From 2004 to 2008,376 patients with HCC received liver transplantation in our single center.Among these patients,36 (9.6 %)underwent salvage liver transplantation after primary liver curative resection due to intrahepatic recurrence.There were 29 males and 7 females with the mean age of 46 years old.Sixteen received right lobectomy,10 received left lobectomy and the others received sectionectomy or segmentectomy.As a control group for comparison,we used clinical data of the 147 patients who underwent primary OLT for HCC within Milan Criteria.Results The mean interval between initial liver resection and salvage transplantation was 34.9±16.2 months(1-63 months).Intraoperative bleeding volume,transfusion volume and operative time in the salvage group were significantly different from those in control group (P0.05).Conclusion In comparison with primary OLT,although salvage liver transplantation would increase the operation difficulties,it still remains a good option for patients with HCC recurrence after curative resection.
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Objective To compare the effects of combined ‘en bloc' liver-pancreas transplantation (LPT) with portal vein drainage and simultaneous combined kidney-pancreas transplantation (KPT) with systemic venous drainage on the pancreatic endocrine function and related metabolism.Methods Four LPT patients and 6 KPT ones with normal hepato-renal function, good quality of life and periodic follow-up received measurement of serum insulin, insulin provocation test, fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, triglyceride and total cholesterol; and their laboratory test parameters were compared and analyzed.Results In KPT group, 2-h insulin level, C-peptide level and total cholesterol level were significantly higher at 6th month, 3rd and 6th month postoperation (all P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in other parameters between the two groups at 6th month after operation.Conclusion Either KPT or LPT can achieve excellent endocrine function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; and the results show that portal venous drainage does not offer major metabolic advantages within 6 months after operation.
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Objective Modified upper abdominal cluster transplantation (MCT), which was inspired by the classical cluster transplant technique, has been proven more effective and feasible in the treatment of patients with end stage liver diseases associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) than orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) alone. In this study, we summarized our experience with MCT in 5 consecutive patients suffering from end stage liver diseases associated with insulin-dependent type 2 DM in our single center.Methods Five patients with hepatitis B-related chronic liver cirrhosis and insulin dependent type 2 DM received MCT in our single center. The biliary and exocrine pancreatic drainage reconstructions were achieved by a Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy or a side-to-side duodenojejunostomy. A quadruple immunosuppressive regimen based on tacrolimus including Basiliximab induction, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroids was used in the early stage post-transplant, and then converted to tacrolimus monotherapy.Results All of the patients experienced an uneventful post-operative recovery. They were rendered independent from insulin therapy shortly after transplantation. The fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were within normal range. In addition, the fasting C-peptide value was increased from much lower than the normal range pre-transplant to within normal range post-transplant and maintained stable since then. However, the third patient suffered from graft verse host disease (GVHD) 20 days post-operatively and died from severe infection on the post-operative 47 days. The other 4 patients had returned to work and a normal lifestyle over 22, 15, 5 and 4 months of follow-up.Conclusion MCT is an effective method in treating patients suffering from end stage liver diseases combined with insulin-dependent type 2 DM. Whether a cluster graft would increase the risk of GVHD needs further investigation.
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BACKGROUND: Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) has been considered an effective therapeutic means of diabetes mellitus (including type 1 and type 2) combined with end stage uremia. Because the pancreas possesses high immunogenicity, so a feasible immunosuppressive regimen is a key to successful pancreas transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasible immunosuppressive regimen after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK). METHODS: From January 2005 to June 2009, 9 patients with diabetic nephropathy and end stage uremia, consisting of 5 males and 4 females, received SPK. The pancreatic allograft exocrine secretion was drained into the proximal jejunum via a side-to-side duodenojujunostomy. Quadruple immunosuppressive regimen including induction of interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroid, and gradual tacrolimus monotherapy. The clinical data of the 9 patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SPK was successfully applied to all patients without serious surgical complications such as pancreatitis, graft dysfunction and pancreatic fistula. One patient died of cardiovascular accident in the early stage after SPK. The other 8 patients were followed up for 4-50 months. Serum creatinine decreased to normal range within 1 week after surgery. The 8 patients achieved euglycemia during early postoperative stage with insulin independence time (11.5±3.5) days and with fasting blood glucose recovery time (15.4±6.3) days. Acute rejection of the renal graft occurred in 4 patients, 1 patient died of cardiovascular accident and the other 3 recovered after antihuman thymocyte globulin or steroids bolus treatment. No rejection was noted in pancreatic grafts. These findings indicate that SPK is an effective treatment for patients with diabetes mellitus-related middle- and end-stage uremia．Quadruple immunosuppressive regime including interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody induction is feasible after SPK, and such a regimen can be safely converted to tacrolimus monotherapy.