A new method to predict venous complications in pediatric liver transplantation: Evaluation of splenic parameters by ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Venous complications after pediatric liver transplantation seriously affect the survival rate of patients and grafts. At present, the diagnostic indicators have not been unified. Venous complications may cause portal hypertension, which may lead to splenomegaly and splenic vein dilatation. Therefore, the changes in spleen may be closely related to the venous complications. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between ultrasonic splenic parameters and venous complications and to study whether these splenic parameters can be used for the diagnosis of venous complications. METHODS: We retrospectively included pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation and collected ultrasonic spleen parameters before, and then 1-3 days, 1-3 weeks, 1-3 months, and 4-12 months after liver transplantation. We observed whether there were portal vein or hepatic vein complications within 1 year after liver transplantation. RESULTS: Among 109 pediatric patients after liver transplantation included in our study, 11 of them suffered from portal vein complications and nine hepatic vein complications. Spleen transverse diameter, spleen longitudinal diameter, spleen portal vein diameter, spleen index, spleen transverse diameter ratio, spleen longitudinal diameter ratio, and spleen index ratio were independent risk factors of venous complications. The accuracy of spleen transverse diameter (AUROC: 0.73), spleen index (AUROC: 0.70), spleen transverse diameter ratio (AUROC: 0.71), and spleen index ratio (AUROC: 0.72) in predicting venous complications were higher than other ones. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic examination is a common follow-up method for pediatric patients after liver transplantation and the application of ultrasonic spleen parameters may be helpful to monitor venous complications.

Experimental study of a modified extraction method of mouse islets / 器官移植

Objective To investigate the improvement and effect of the method of islet extraction in mice. Methods According to different islet extraction methods, all mice were randomly divided into the common bile duct puncture group (n=100) and common bile duct puncture combined with in situ pancreatic injection group (combined injection group, n=100). Common bile duct puncture combined with in situ pancreatic injection was utilized as the modified method. The islets were selected and purified under stereomicroscope. The morphology and purification of islets were identified. The islet yield and success rate of islet extraction were statistically compared between two groups. The survival of islets after 1 week culture in vitro was analyzed, and the insulin secretion function of islets after 24 h and 4 d culture in vitro was evaluated. Results Compared with the common bile duct puncture group, the islet yield in the combined injection group was significantly increased (P < 0.001). The success rate of islet extraction in both groups was 83% with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The islets extracted by common bile duct puncture combined with in situ pancreatic injection had intact morphology, high purity and high activity. The survival rate of newly isolated islets was nearly 100% after 24 h culture in vitro. After 1~5 d culture in vitro, the islet cells survived well. After 6 d culture in vitro, the islets showed central death. After culture in vitro for 24 h and 4 d, the islet function of the mice was normal after high glucose stimulation. Conclusions Common bile duct puncture combined with in situ pancreatic injection can increase the islet yield, and the obtained islet cells have high activity and proper function.