Graft Survival in Liver Transplantation: An Artificial Neuronal Network Assisted Analysis of the Importance of Comorbidities.

OBJECTIVES: Liver transplant represents a widespread therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver failure. Up to now, most of the scores describing the probability of liver graft survival have shown poor predictive performance. With this in mind, the present study seeks to analyze the predictive value of recipient comorbidities on liver graft survival within the first year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included prospectively collected data from patients who received a liver transplant at our center from 2010 to 2021. A predictive model was then developed through an Artificial Neural Network that included the parameters associated with graft loss as identified by the Spanish Liver Transplant Registry report and comorbidities with prevalence >2% present in our study cohort. RESULTS: Most patients in our study were men (75.5%); mean age was 54.8 ± 9.6 years. The main cause of transplant was cirrhosis (86.7%), and 67.4% of patients had some associated comorbidities. Graft loss due to retransplant or death with dysfunction occurred in 14% of cases. Of all the variables analyzed, we found 3 comorbidities associated with graft loss (as shown by informative value and normalized informative value, respectively): antiplatelet and/or anticoagulants treatments (0.124 and 78.4%), previous immunosuppression (0.110 and 69.6%), and portal thrombosis (0.105 and 66.3%). Remarkably, our model showed a C statistic of 0.745 (95% CI, 0.692-0.798; asymptotic P < .001), which was higher than others found in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our model identified key parameters that may influence graft loss, including specific recipient comorbidities. The use of artificial intelligence methods could reveal connections that may be overlooked by conventional statistics.

Analysis of survival and clinicopathological characteristics in patients after liver resection for colorectal liver metastases according to resection margin.

BACKGROUND: Criteria for resectability of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have been expanded over the last decade along with the improvement in chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the differences in several clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) between patients who underwent an R0 (tumour margin > 1 mm) or R1 (margin < 1 mm) resection. METHOD: Retrospective study including 144 patients with CRLM who underwent a potentially curative liver surgery between 2010 and 2018. Patients are classified according to their surgical margin status (R0 or R1). OS and 17 clinicopathological variables are compared. RESULTS: Both groups are similar and comparable in all the studied variables: age (p = 0.158), sex (p = 0.675), ASA (p = 0.502), tumour location (p = 0.793), tumoral stadium (p = 0.280), post-colectomy chemotherapy (p = 0.664), CRLM synchronicity (p = 0.983) and location (p = 0.078), CEA at diagnosis (p = 0.735), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.403), minor/major hepatectomy (p = 0.415), post-operatory complications (p = 0.822) and mortality (p = 0.535), average hospital stay (p = 0.960), post-operative chemotherapy (p = 0.791) and re-hepatectomy (p = 0.530). No significant differences are found in OS a 1, 3 and 5 years (p = 0.160) between patients with R0 and R1 resection. CONCLUSIONS: We consider indicated hepatectomy in any patient with resectable CRLM in whom an R0 resection can be achieved maintaining an adequate hepatic reserve, regardless of the final microscopic resection margin status.

ANTECEDENTES: El avance en oncología ha contribuido a ampliar las indicaciones quirúrgicas de las metástasis hepáticas (MH) del carcinoma colorrectal (CCR). OBJETIVO: Analizar las diferencias en la supervivencia global (SG) y en determinadas características clinicopatológicas entre pacientes con resección R0 (margen tumoral > 1 mm) y R1 (margen < 1 mm). MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo con 144 pacientes con MH de CCR intervenidos con intención curativa entre 2010 y 2018, divididos en dos grupos en función del margen de resección (R0 y R1). Se comparan la SG y 17 características clinicopatológicas. RESULTADOS: Ambos grupos son homogéneos y comparables en todas las variables estudiadas: edad (p = 0.158), sexo (p = 0.675), ASA (p = 0.502), localización del CCR (p = 0.793), estadio tumoral (p = 0.280), quimioterapia (QT) adyuvante poscolectomía (p = 0.664), sincronicidad (p = 0.983) y localización (p = 0.078) de las MH, CEA al diagnóstico (p = 0.735), QT neoadyuvante (p = 0.403), hepatectomía mayor/menor (p = 0.415), complicaciones (p = 0.822) y mortalidad posoperatorias (p = 0.535), estancia media (p = 0.960), QT adyuvante poshepatectomía (p = 0.791) y nueva hepatectomía (p = 0.530). Tampoco se observaron diferencias significativas en la SG a 1, 3 y 5 años (p = 0.160) entre pacientes con resección R0 y R1. CONCLUSIONES: Consideramos indicada la hepatectomía en pacientes con MH resecables con posibilidad de conseguir resecciones R0 manteniendo suficiente remanente hepático, independientemente de la afectación microscópica final del margen tumoral.

Biliary growth of colorectal liver metastasis: case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Intrabiliary growth of colorectal liver metastasis determines their capability of dissemination and relapse. CASE REPORT: 65-year-old woman underwent sigmoidectomy (2011) and left hepatectomy due to liver metastases affecting the bile tract (2014). In 2020 she developed a 2cm tumour in the union of both hepatic ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma was suspected so resection of the main bile duct, the caudate lobe and lymphadenectomy were performed. On immunohistochemical examination, colorectal liver metastasis was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Liver metastases should be considered as the most likely diagnosis when bile duct dilatation or intrabiliary growth is seen in patients with a history of colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El crecimiento biliar de las metástasis hepáticas del cáncer colorrectal (CCR) puede influir en su diseminación y recidiva. CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 65 años con antecedente de CCR (2011) y hepatectomía izquierda (2014) por metástasis hepática con afectación de la vía biliar. En 2020 desarrolló una lesión de 2 cm en la unión de los conductos hepáticos. Sospechando un colangiocarcinoma, se resecaron la vía biliar principal y el lóbulo caudado, asociando linfadenectomía. El estudio inmunohistoquímico confirmó el origen intestinal. CONCLUSIONES: Una imagen de dilatación o crecimiento biliar en pacientes con antecedente de CCR debe orientar a una recidiva, aunque la imagen sugiera colangiocarcinoma.

Effect of Melatonin as an Antioxidant Drug to Reverse Hepatic Steatosis: Experimental Model.

Introduction: The hepatic steatosis of the nonalcoholic origin or NAFLD is increasing at present, particularly in Western countries, parallel to the increase in obesity, constituting one of the most prevalent hepatic processes in the Western society. Melatonin has been successfully tested in experimental models in mice as a drug capable of reversing steatosis. The effect of melatonin on fat metabolism can be summarized as a decrease in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in oxidative stress, biochemical phenomena intimately related to fat deposition in the hepatocyte. There are hardly any studies in large animals. Objective: In this study, we investigate the effects of melatonin administered orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day to reverse established hepatic steatosis induced by a special diet in a porcine animal model. Materials and Methods: We analyze the parameters of oxidative stress: malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxyalkenals (4-HDA), and carbonyls, degree of fat infiltration (analyzed by direct vision by a pathologist and by means of a computer program of image treatment), and serological parameters of lipid metabolism and hepatic damage. These parameters were analyzed in animals to which hepatic steatosis was induced by means of dietary modifications. Results: We have not been able to demonstrate globally a beneficial effect of melatonin in the improvement or reversal of liver steatosis once established, induced by diet in a porcine animal model. However, we have found several signs of improvement at the histological level, at the level of lipid metabolism, and at the level of oxidative stress parameters. We have verified in our study that, in the histological analysis of the liver sample by means of the program image treatment (free of subjectivity) of the animals that continue with the diet, those that consume melatonin do not increase steatosis as much as those that do not consume it significantly (p=0.002). Regarding the parameters of oxidative stress, MDA modifies in a significant manner within the group of animals that continue with the diet and take melatonin (p=0.004). As for lipid metabolism, animals that maintain the steatotic diet and take melatonin lower total and LDL cholesterol levels and increase HDL levels, although these results do not acquire statistical significance. Conclusions: In this study, it has not been possible to demonstrate a beneficial effect of melatonin in the improvement or reversal of liver steatosis once established and induced by diet in the porcine model. It is true that signs of improvement have been found at the histological level, at the level of lipid metabolism, and at the level of oxidative stress phenomena, when comparing animals with established steatosis that are treated with melatonin with those who do not take it. This work is the first study conducted in a large animal model in which the effect of melatonin is studied as a treatment in the reversal of established hepatic steatosis.

[Postoperative intra-abdominal foreign body resemblance to neoplasm. Report of a case and review of the bibliography]. / Cuerpo extraño intra-abdominal postquirúrgico simulador de neoplasia. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

INTRODUCTION: Gossypibomas or textilomas are materials remain in the abdomen after surgery. It is very difficult to assess its impact due to medico-legal implications, hence the interest in the publication of this type of pathology. CLINICAL CASE: Women of 76 years who had undergone a hysterectomy and double anexectomy 6 months before admission to our hospital, apparently without perioperative complications. When she was assessed in our hospital she had a clinical picture simulating a malignancy. In our case, the patient had signs and symptoms of advanced intra-abdominal malignancy, such as chronic anemia, significant weight loss and palpable abdominal mass. The diagnostic procedure combined computed tomography and colonoscopy, aiming to find the signs of intra-abdominal gossypiboma. Three bowel resections were performed to extract the foreign body, with satisfactory postoperative results and remaining asymptomatic to date. CONCLUSION: Intra-abdominal gossypibomas are exceptional, although the diagnosis is made through imaging and, if suspected GI neoplasm, endoscopic studies. The primary differential diagnosis must be made with intra-abdominal malignancies.