Development of a model to predict the risk of early graft failure after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation: An ELTR study.

Graft survival is a critical end point in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT), where graft procurement endangers the lives of healthy individuals. Therefore, ALDLT must be responsibly performed in the perspective of a positive harm-to-benefit ratio. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for early (3 months) graft failure (EGF) following ALDLT. Donor and recipient factors associated with EGF in ALDLT were studied using data from the European Liver Transplant Registry. An artificial neural network classification algorithm was trained on a set of 2073 ALDLTs, validated using cross-validation, tested on an independent random-split sample (n=518), and externally validated on United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research data. Model performance was assessed using the AUC, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Graft type, graft weight, level of hospitalization, and the severity of liver disease were associated with EGF. The model ( http://ldlt.shinyapps.io/eltr_app ) presented AUC values at cross-validation, in the independent test set, and at external validation of 0.69, 0.70, and 0.68, respectively. Model calibration was fair. The decision curve analysis indicated a positive net benefit of the model, with an estimated net reduction of 5-15 EGF per 100 ALDLTs. Estimated risks>40% and<5% had a specificity of 0.96 and sensitivity of 0.99 in predicting and excluding EGF, respectively. The model also stratified long-term graft survival ( p <0.001), which ranged from 87% in the low-risk group to 60% in the high-risk group. In conclusion, based on a panel of donor and recipient variables, an artificial neural network can contribute to decision-making in ALDLT by predicting EGF risk.

Determinants and characteristics of tuberculosis in liver transplant recipients

Background/aim: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients have increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and features of TB in liver transplant (LT) recipients at our transplantation canter. Materials and methods: All patients who underwent LT between January 2004 and December 2013 and whose data were accessible were included in the study. Demographic features, tuberculin skin test (TST) results, and TB prevalence were recorded. Characteristics of LT recipients who developed TB were evaluated. Results: A total of 403 patients underwent LT during this period. Mean age was 47.27 ± 11.04 years; 280 (69.47%) were males. The TST was administered to 108 (25.91%) and the QuantiFERON-TB test to 1 patient. TST positivity was determined in 28 (25.93%). Latent TB infection (LTBI) treatment was not recommended to any of the LT candidates. In the posttransplant period, 5 patients (1.24%) developed TB over a median duration of 14 (min: 7, max: 84) months, 2 of whom were found to have had LTBI in the pretransplant period. Conclusion: The prevalence of TB in LT recipients at our center was similar to that in the current literature. LTBI screening, including risk factor assessment and TST/QuantiFERON-TB testing, is necessary in the early diagnostic workup for TB in LT recipients.

Pediatric liver transplant patients' transition to adulthood: Patient and parent experiences.

This qualitative research study describes the experiences of child and adolescent liver transplant recipients and their parents during the patients' transition to adulthood. Data were collected from pediatric liver transplant recipients and their parents during individual interviews, and these were later analyzed using conventional content analysis. Seven main themes emerged: coping, self-management, body image, social relationships, academic life, work life, and live donors. Study results revealed that the patients who received liver transplants during their childhood and adolescence used both effective and ineffective strategies to cope with the difficulties they faced during the transition period into adulthood. The parents experienced many problems: on learning of their child's need for a transplant, parents were advised that they should consider becoming a live donor. This very difficult decision was a source of great stress and required serious consideration. After transplantation the parents wanted their children to have autonomy but could not encourage them because of concerns for their health.

Health Locus of Control and Physical Activity in Liver Transplant Recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Health locus of control has the potential to influence health behavior among individuals with chronic diseases. However, little is known regarding the relationship between locus of control and physical activity in transplant recipients. The aim of the study was to investigate health locus of control and physical activity in liver transplant recipients. METHODS: Seventy-six liver transplant recipients were enrolled. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control - Form C, including internal, chance, doctors, and powerful others subdimensions, was used to evaluate the health locus of control. Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form. RESULTS: The median internal health locus of control score was 28.54. Thirty-six participants had low, 35 participants had moderate, and five participants had high physical activity. Internal health locus of control was higher in patients having moderate activity compared to patients with low activity (p=0.04). "Doctors" subdimension of health locus of control was negatively correlated with walking (r=-0.38, p=0.02) and total activity scores among patients with low activity (r=-0.37, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Liver transplant recipients with moderate activity present higher internal health locus of control scores, suggesting a possible influence of physically active behavior on the beliefs of one's own control over disease management. As the activity level increases, the belief that health outcomes are largely the responsibility of health professionals decreases among liver transplant recipients with low activity. Promoting physical activity will help develop the control of one's own actions on health after liver transplantation.

Manual and semi-automated computed tomography volumetry significantly overestimates the right liver lobe graft weight: a single-center study with adult living liver donors.

PURPOSE: Preoperative evaluation of donor liver volume is indispensable in living donor liver transplantation to ensure sufficient residual liver and graft-to-recipient weight ratio. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of two computed tomography (CT) volumetry programs, an interactive manual and a semi-automated one, in the preoperative estimation of the right lobe graft weight. METHODS: One hundred and nine right liver lobe living donors between January 2008 and January 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Two radiologists measured the liver graft volumes independently using manual and semi-automated CT volumetry, and the interaction time was recorded. Actual graft weight (AGW) measured intraoperatively served as the reference standard. The paired samples t-test was used to compare the estimated graft weight (EGW) and the AGW. Inter-user and inter-method agreements were assessed with Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: Both manual and semi-automated CT volumetry significantly overestimated the graft weight (EGW manual: 893 ± 155 mL vs. AGW manual: 787 ± 128 g, P < 0.001, EGW semi-automated: 879 ± 143 mL vs. AGW semi-automated, P < 0.001). The junior radiologist measured higher volumes than the senior radiologist with either method (P < 0.001). The Bland-Altman analysis revealed mean difference and standard deviation for inter-method agreement of 7 ± 48 cc for the senior radiologist, and 34 ± 54 cc for the junior radiologist. The mean difference and standard deviation for inter-method agreement was 63 ± 59 cc in manual volumetry and 22 ± 38 cc in semi-automated volumetry. The mean interaction time was 27.3 ± 14.2 min for manual volumetry and 6.8 ± 1.4 min for semi-automated volumetry (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both manual and semi-automated CT volumetry significantly overestimated the right liver graft weight, while semi-automated volumetry significantly reduced the interaction time.

lncRNA XIST Interacts with Regulatory T Cells within the Tumor Microenvironment in Chronic Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Alterations in the expression of several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown in chronic hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (CHB-HCC). Here, we aimed to investigate the association between the expression of inflammation-associated lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) and the type of inflammatory cells within the tumor microenvironment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive cirrhotic patients with CHB-HCC were included. XIST expression levels were investigated on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumoral and peritumoral tissue samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD163, CTLA4, and PD-1 were performed. The findings were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 21 cases, 11 (52.4%) had tumoral and 10 (47.6%) had peritumoral XIST expression. No significant association was found between the degree of inflammation and XIST expression. The number of intratumoral CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD20 positive cells was higher in XIST-expressing tumors, albeit without statistical significance. Tumoral and peritumoral XIST expression tended to be more common in patients with tumoral and peritumoral CD4high inflammation. The number of intratumoral CD25 positive cells was significantly higher in XIST-expressing tumors (p=0.01). Tumoral XIST expression was significantly more common in intratumoral CD25high cases (p=0.04). Peritumoral XIST expression was also more common among patients with CD25high peritumoral inflammation, albeit without statistical significance (p=0.19). CONCLUSION: lncRNA XIST is expressed in CHB-HCC and its expression is significantly associated with the inflammatory tumor microenvironment, particularly with the presence and number of CD25 (+) regulatory T cells. In vitro studies are needed to explore the detailed mechanism.

The prognostic value of detecting symptomatic or asymptomatic recurrence in patients with gastric cancer after a curative gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although studies have investigated whether a routine follow-up should be performed after a gastrectomy, no consensus has been reached on the significance of the follow-up or the optimal surveillance protocol. In the present study, we evaluated the significance of the presence or absence of symptoms in the detection of recurrences after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 173 patients with recurrent gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy. We evaluated the prognostic significance of the presence of cancer-related symptoms at the diagnosis of recurrence, and the relationship between the presence of symptoms and other clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: We detected a symptomatic recurrence in 42.2% of patients. The presence of symptoms were significantly correlated with tumor size, pT stage, pN stage, pathologic stage, and short disease-free interval (<12 mo). The median disease-free survival (DFS), post-recurrence survival (PRS), and overall survival (OS) times for patients with asymptomatic recurrence were significantly longer than those of patients with symptomatic recurrence (disease-free survival was corrected as DFS, 11.1 versus 9.3 mo, P < 0.001; PRS, 4.9 versus 3.1 mo, P = 0.02; OS, 18.3 versus 12.3 mo, P = 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of cancer-related symptoms (P = 0.033; hazard ratio [HR], 0.81) was an independent prognostic factor for PRS, as were short disease-free intervals (P < 0.001; HR, 2.42), age (P = 0.02; HR, 1.53), and the presence of chemotherapy in recurrence (P = 0.001; HR, 0.49). In addition, multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of symptoms, short disease-free interval, and age were also independent prognostic indicators for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that symptomatic recurrence is an important prognostic factor for PRS of patients with gastric cancer after a curative gastrectomy. The presence of symptomatic recurrence may be a new and beneficial prognostic marker to evaluate biologic aggressiveness, which is an important determinant of survival at the time of recurrence diagnosis during a follow-up for gastric cancer.

CD40 expression in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: CD40, a tumor necrosis factor receptor family member, is expressed in a variety of cell types. This widespread expression suggests that CD40 may play an important role in normal physiology and disease pathogenesis. The objective of the current study was to investigate the expression of CD40, and its association with clinicopathological features and survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. METHODOLOGY: CD40 expression was assessed in 53 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma surgical specimens by immunohistochemistry, and expression was correlated with patient clinicopathological parameters and outcome. RESULTS: Among 53 pancreatic cancer specimens, CD40 expression was detected in 13 specimens (24.5%), and peritumoral lymphocytes were present in 45 specimens (84.9%). Patients with CD40-positive tumors exhibited prolonged median disease-free survival (DFS) compared with patients with CD40-negative tumors (15.60 +/- 3.87 versus 10.03 +/- 1.92); however, this was not significant (p = 0.845). Patients with peritumoral lymphocytic reaction exhibited prolonged median DFS compared with patients without peritumoral lymphocytes (10.96 +/- 1.40 vs. 7.60 +/- 0.47); however, this was not significant (p = 0.624). Patients with peritumoral lymphocytic reaction exhibited higher median overall survival compared with patients without peritumoral lymphocytes (15.20 +/- 1.78 vs. 10.13 +/- 1.39); however, again this was not significant (p = 0.100). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CD40 expression on pancreatic cancer cells and peritumoral lymphocytic reaction may serve as prognostic markers.

Retrospective analysis of risk factors affecting pacreatic fistula formation after the closure of the pancreatic stump with sutures in distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Development of pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy is still a major problem. Various methods have been defined to prevent the development of the fistula. In this study, the results of suture closure of pancreatic duct and closure of pancreatic stump with "U" sutures passing through each other and the risk factors affecting the development of fistula are studied. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-one patients with prospectively collected data were included in the study. In all patients, pancreatic stump was closed with the same surgical technique. Risk factors that may affect fistula formation were studied between groups with and without fistula. Pancreatic fistula definition was made according to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistulas classification. RESULTS: Eight (15.7%) of the 51 patients had fistula. Clinically significant fistula ratio was 9.8% (according to ISGPF B and C). Additional organ resections were performed in 18 patients (35.3%). In multivariate analysis, the soft texture of pancreatic parenchyma (OR: 12.420, p = 0.048) and over 150 mL of blood loss (OR: 1.003, p = 0.043) were found as risk factors for the development of fistula. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of pancreatic stump after distal pancreatectomy with "U" shaped sutures passing through each other is a method that can be performed safely.

Fusarium solani species complex infection treated with posaconazole in a liver transplantation patient; a case report.

Although Fusarium spp. rarely cause infections in healthy people, they can cause fusariosis, particularly in neutropenic hematological malignancies, bone marrow transplant patients, and immunocompromised patients, such as those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and rarely in solid organ transplant recipients. Here, we present a case of a liver transplant recipient with F. solani species complex (FSSC) infection treated with posaconazole. A 61-year-old man presented with multiple itchy, painful, palpable, irregular, subcutaneous nodules on the right leg and total dystrophic onychomycosis in the right toenails. Incisional skin biopsies of the lesions were performed, and the samples were sent to the pathology and mycology laboratories for analysis. The clinical isolate was identified as FSSC using phenotypic, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and genotypic methods. Liposomal amphotericin B could not be administered owing to the development of side effects; hence, the patient was treated with posaconazole for 4 months. While some nodular lesions disappeared completely under this treatment, the others showed dimensional regression. This is the first case of FSSC infection with skin and nail involvement in a non-neutropenic, liver transplant patient in Turkey. Fusariosis may develop with rare species, such as FSSC, as first reported in this case of a liver transplant patient. Regardless of the species, amphotericin B is the first choice for treating fusariosis; however, posaconazole is an effective and safe alternative to amphotericin B.

Vascular Complications After Liver Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Vascular complications after liver transplant can be lethal. High levels of suspicion and aggressive use of diagnostic tools may help with early diagnosis and treatment. Here, we share our experiences regarding this topic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult and pediatric patients who had liver transplant between February 1997 and June 2018 in our clinic were included in the study. Patients were grouped according to age (pediatric patients were those under 18 years old), male versus female, indication for transplant, type of liver transplant, type of vascular complication, treatment, and survival aftertreatment.We analyzed the statistical incidence of vascular complications according to age, male versus female, and type of liver transplant. RESULTS: Our analyses included 607 liver transplant procedures, including 7 retransplants, with 349 (57.4%) from living donors and 258 (42.6%) from deceased donors. Of total patients, 539 were adults (89.8%) and 61 were children (10.2%). Vascular complications occurred in 25 patients (4.1%), with hepatic artery complications seen in 13 patients (2.1%) (10 adults [1.8%] and 3 children [4.9%]), portal vein complications seen in 9 patients (1.5%) (6 adults [1.1%] and 3 children [4.9%]), and hepatic vein complications seen in 3 patients (0.5%) (2 adults [0.36%] and 1 child [1.6%]). Rate of vascular complications was statistically higher in pediatric patients (11.4% vs 3.3%; P = .007) and higher but not statistically in recipients of livers from living donors (5.2% vs 2.7%; P = .19). Twelve patients (48.8%) were treated with endovascular approach, and 11 (0.44%)required surgicaltreatment. Two patients underwent immediate retransplant due to hepatic artery thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Because vascular complications are the most severe complications afterlivertransplant,there must be close follow-up of vascular anastomoses, particularly early postoperatively, with radiologic methods. In cases of vascular complications, emergent treatment, including endovascular interventions, surgery, and retransplant, must be performed.

COVID-19 in Liver Transplant Patients: A University Hospital Experience.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the comorbidity, disease progress, and vaccination status of liver transplant patients followed up in our hospital who had COVID-19. METHODS: Liver transplant patients with COVID-19 were included between 11 March 2020 and 15 September 2022. Demographic data, disease progress, and COVID-19 vaccines were recorded. The SPSS 24.0 (IBM SPSS, Inc, Armonk, NY, United States) program was used for analysis. The data were analyzed using the χ2 test. P values < .05 were considered clinically significant. RESULTS: Sixteen SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (+) patients were detected. Twelve (75.0%) patients were male; the mean age was 49.56 ± 14.0 years (24-76 years). The mean transplant time was 156.69 ± 54.05 months. Four (25.0%) of the 5 (31.3%) patients with comorbidities had hypertension, and 1 (6.3%) had diabetes. None of the patients had an underlying lung disease. All the patients received immunosuppressive therapy, and the most common combination was antimetabolite and calcineurin inhibitor (9 patients [69.2%]). Nine patients (56.3%) had a fever, whereas 6 (37.5%) had respiratory symptoms. Two (33.3%) had pneumonia. Five (31.4%) patients were hospitalized, and 1 (20%) was admitted to the intensive care unit due to non-invasive mechanical ventilation needs. No patient died due to COVID-19. A statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of fever, respiratory symptoms, and hospitalization (P < .05). Of those vaccinated, 10 (66.7%) were infected before the COVID-19 vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The course of COVID-19 in liver recipients without any underlying disease other than transplantation is not different from that in the healthy population. Immunosuppressive therapy was continued in patients with the disease, and two-thirds did not require hospitalization.

Evaluation of the Effects of Immunosuppressive Drugs Following Liver Transplantation on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantations can be safely performed in women of reproductive age. Women with chronic liver disease may have infertility for various reasons, although fertility returns after recovering >90% of sexual disorders following liver transplantation. The present study examined the effects of immunosuppressive drugs used by women of reproductive age undergoing liver transplantation in our clinic on pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes and evaluated mortality and morbidity in this patient population. METHODS: Among the patients undergoing liver transplantation in our clinic between 1997 and 2020, those conceiving after liver transplantation were evaluated in the present study. Demographic data on maternal and newborn health, as well as mortality and morbidity, were recorded. Maternal transplant indications, graft type, the interval between transplantation and pregnancy, maternal age at pregnancy and the number of pregnancies, the number of living children, complications, delivery mode, immunosuppressive drugs, and blood levels were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 615 liver transplantations (353 from a living donor, 262 from a cadaveric donor) were performed in our clinic. Furthermore, 33 pregnancies occurred in 22 women following transplantation (17 living donor liver transplantations, 5 deceased donor liver transplantations), and the data of these patients were recorded. Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil were used as immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantations can be safely performed in women of reproductive age if indicated, and these patients can be safely followed up throughout the pregnancy and during labor by a multidisciplinary team.

Association of Serum Hepatocyte Growth Factor Level with Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Pancreatobiliary Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor is a cytokine secreted by the stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment. There is little information about the clinical significance of serum hepatocyte growth factor level in patients diagnosed with pancreatobiliary cancer. The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between serum hepatocyte growth factor level with inflammation markers and the clinical features of patients with pancreatobiliary cancer. METHODS: A total of 62 patients with pancreatobiliary cancer were included in this study. Serum hepatocyte growth factor concentrations were evaluated utilizing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The median serum hepatocyte growth factor level was 329.1 ng/mL (1.4-1051.1). The patients were categorized into 2 groups as those below the median hepatocyte growth factor level (low hepatocyte growth factor) and those above the median hepatocyte growth factor level (high hepatocyte growth factor). While 40.9% of the patients without metastasis were observed to be in the high hepatocyte growth factor group, 72.2% of the metastatic patients were observed to be in the high hepatocyte growth factor group (P = .025). The median levels of monocyte, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio were found to be significantly higher in the high hepatocyte growth factor group as compared to the low hepatocyte growth factor group (P < .050). CONCLUSION: The significant relationship between serum hepatocyte growth factor level and systemic inflammation markers in patients with pancreatobiliary cancer is shown for the first time in our study. This study, which showed a significant relationship between the presence of metastasis and serum hepatocyte growth factor level, suggests that serum hepatocyte growth factor level may be a prognostic biomarker in patients who are diagnosed with pancreatobiliary cancer.

Complications and Long-Term Outcomes in Adult Patients Undergoing Living Donor Liver Transplantation Because of Fulminant Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigates the complications that may occur during long-term follow-up in patients aged 18 years and older undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in our clinic because of fulminant hepatitis. METHODS: The study included patients aged 18 years and older with a minimum survival of 6 months who underwent an LDLT between June 2000 and June 2017. The demographic data of the patients were evaluated in terms of late-term complications. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients who met the study criteria, 8 (3.3%) underwent LDLT for fulminant hepatitis. The indication for transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatitis was cryptogenic liver hepatitis in 4 patients, acute hepatitis B infection in 2 patients, hemochromatosis in 1 patient, and toxic hepatitis in 1 patient. Of the 240 patients, 65 (27%) undergoing LDLT underwent a liver biopsy for suspected rejection because of an elevation in liver function test results during follow-up. Histopathologic scoring was carried out according to the Banff scoring system. A diagnosis of late acute rejection was made in only 1 of the 8 patients (12.5%) who underwent LDLT for fulminant hepatitis. CONCLUSION: Patients with fulminant hepatitis must be prepared for an LDLT, if available, while waiting for a cadaveric donor. The results of the present study suggest that LDLTs in patients with fulminant hepatitis are safe, and the outcomes are acceptable in terms of survival and complications.

The Prognostic Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Pancreatobiliary Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells which separate from the primary tumor and enter systemic circulation. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between CTCs isolated and identified from the peripheral blood of patients with pancreatobiliary cancer, with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients and their overall survival. METHODS: A total of 21 patients were included the study. Density gradient centrifugation with the OncoQuick® assay was performed for isolation of CTCs from peripheral blood. In order to identify CTCs, enriched samples underwent flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: The rate of patients with positive surgical margin in the high CTC group (CTC <15) was identified to be statistically significantly high compared to the group with low CTC (CTC ≤15) (83.3% vs. 16.7%; P = .041). Median neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was found to be higher in the high CTC group compared to the low CTC group, which was close to statistical significance (2.37 vs. 1.41; P = .055). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating tumor cells were identified to have a significant relationship with surgical margin positivity in our study for the first time, suggesting that the CTCs count in peripheral blood in preoperative patients may be a biomarker predicting positive surgical margin. Due to the very low number of studies assessing the relationship between CTCs and NLR, our study which identified relationship close to statistical significance between CTCs and NLR, significantly contributes to the literature on the topic of the possible role of lymphocytes in CTC clearance.

Bimonthly regimen of high-dose leucovorin, infusional 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cisplatin (modified ECF) as adjuvant chemotherapy in resected gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The administration of the de Gramont regimen in combination with cisplatin and epirubicin (modified ECF) has previously been reported as a treatment for advanced gastric cancer, but here we report this regimen combination in an adjuvant setting for the first time. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with curatively resected gastric cancer were treated. Each 2-week cycle consisted of epirubicin (50 mg/m(2)), cisplatin (50 mg/m(2)), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) IV bolus (400 mg/m(2)) and 5-FU IV (2,400 mg/m(2)) over 46 h plus leucovorin IV (400 mg/m(2)) over 2 h. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy was also administered to the patients when indicated. We retrospectively reviewed the patients who were treated with modified ECF. RESULTS: The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 40.7 months and the 1-, 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 78.5, 55.7 and 44.6%, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were hematological and gastrointestinal. CONCLUSION: A modified ECF regimen may be an effective and convenient treatment with tolerable toxicities for the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer. It may provide an alternative regimen to the standard ECF when a continuous ambulatory infusion pump is not feasible or not preferred by the patient.

[Ocular toxoplasmosis developed after liver transplantation]. / Karaciger Transplantasyonu Sonrasi Gelisen Oküler Toksoplazmoz.

Ocular toxoplasmosis after solid organ transplantation occurs usually within the first three months of primary infection or reactivation of latent infection. There are a few reports of ocular toxoplasmosis following liver transplantation in the literature, however, no reports were detected in the national data. In this report a 35-year-old female patient diagnosed as ocular toxoplasmosis following reactivation in the second year after liver transplantation, was presented. The case was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and clindamycin. This case was presented to emphasize late presentation of toxoplasmosis in transplantation patients and to withdraw attention to the importance of serological investigations done before transplantation.

The predictive value of MELDNa (model for end-stage liver disease-sodium) and mean platelet volume/platelet count for patients' 30-day mortality after liver transplantation.

Aim of the study: To investigate the disease-specific score and improve the existing scores to better determine the prognosis of patients after liver transplantation (LT). For this purpose, we evaluated the relationship of prognostic scores with 30-day mortality after LT. In addition, we planned to investigate whether the mean platelet volume/platelet count (MPR) would contribute to score improvement. Material and methods: A total of 178 adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit after LT in our hospital between 2011 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Model for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELDNa), Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, and MPR values were compared in patients with and without 30-day mortality who underwent LT. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive factors for mortality. A model was created with multivariate analysis. Results: Our study included 135 (75.8%) male and 43 (24.2%) female patients. There was a significant difference in the postLT-MELDNa score in the evaluation between those with and without mortality (p < 0.001). Age, postLT-MELDNa and CTP score were found to be significant in terms of the prediction of 30-day mortality in the univariate analysis (p < 0.05). mean platelet volume (MPV) and MPR were not significant in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed a model in which age and postLT-MELDNa were significant. Conclusions: In our study, postLT-MELDNa predicted 30-day mortality and was much more effective in predicting mortality when evaluated with age. The MELDNa score, which is currently used in the prognosis of candidates awaiting LT, may be useful for the prognosis of patients after LT in intensive care units.

Tumoral and Parenchymal Morphological Assessment in Liver Metastases of Colorectal Carcinoma: Micrometastasis, Peritumoral Lymphocytes, Tumor Budding and Differentiation are Potential Prognostic Factors.

Introduction: Various potential prognostic histopathologic factors for colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis have been proposed. However, there is still no consensus on pathological reporting of colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis resection materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between selected tumoral and parenchymal histopathologic features and prognostic factors for better characterization and prognostic prediction of the patients with colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis. Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin stained slides from 100 patients who underwent hepatic resection were evaluated. Pathologic characteristics; including number of tumor nodules, largest tumor size, status of surgical margin, tumor distance to closest margin, tumor necrosis, the presence of tumor capsule, tumor differentiation, perineural and lymphovascular invasion, micrometastasis, tumor budding, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate and parenchymal features including steatosis, steatohepatitis, lobular inflammation, confluent necrosis, hepatocyte ballooning, portal inflammation were assessed. For 49 patients who were treated with preoperative chemotherapy, tumor regression grade and chemotherapy-related parenchymal changes such as sinusoidal damage, venous obstruction, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, steatosis and steatohepatitis were also evaluated. Results: The presence of lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001), micrometastasis (p=0.004), absent or mild peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration (p =0.013), high tumor budding score (p=0.033) and moderate/poor differentiation (p=0.022) were significantly associated with shorter overall survival. Lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: We conclude that tumor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, micrometastasis, peritumoral lymphocytic reaction and tumor budding score are potential prognostic histopathological features and candidates for inclusion in pathology reports of colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis resections.