miR-24 promotes the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells by targeting SOX7.

Accumulating evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the development and progression of multiple tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies have found that miR-24 acts as an oncogene in several tumors; however, the function of miR-24 in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we found that miR-24 was increased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Inhibition of miR-24 by inhibitor significantly suppressed HCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, the sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 7 (SOX7), a putative tumor suppressor, was found to be a target of miR-24 in HCC cells. Forced expression of SOX7 substantially attenuated the oncogenic effects of miR-24. Those results strongly suggest that miR-24 plays important role in HCC development partially by targeting SOX7.

Hepatic veins anatomy and piggy-back liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The piggy-back caval anastomosis technique is widely used in orthotopic liver transplantation although it carries an increased risk of complications, including outflow obstruction and Budd-Chiari syndrome. The aim of this study is to clarify the anatomy and variations of hepatic veins (HVs) draining into the inferior vena cava (IVC), and to classify the surgical techniques of piggy-back liver transplantation (PBLT) based on the anatomy of HVs which can reduce the occurrence of complications. METHODS: PBLT was performed in 248 consecutive cases at our hospital from January 2004 to August 2011. The anatomy of recipients' HVs was determined when removing the native diseased livers. Both anatomy of HVs and short HVs draining into the IVC were recorded. These data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: We classified anatomic variations of HVs in the 248 livers into five types according to the way of drainage into the IVC: type I (trunk type of left and middle HVs), 142 (57.3%) patients; type II (trunk type of right and middle HVs), 54 (21.8%); type III (trunk type of left, middle and right HVs), 14 (5.6%); type IV (non-trunk type of left, middle and right HVs), of which, type IVa, 16 (6.5%), in the same horizontal plane; type IVb, 18 (7.3%), in different horizontal planes; and type V (segment type), 4 (1.6%). The patients whose HVs anatomy belonged to types I, II and III underwent classical piggy-back liver transplantation. Type IVa patients had classical PBLT via HV venoplasty prior to piggy-back anastomosis, while type IVb patients and type V patients could only have modified PBLT. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that HVs can be classified according to the anatomy of their drainage into the IVC and we can use this classification to choose the best operative approach to PBLT.

[Piggy-back liver transplantation in treating acute liver failure patients: a report of 15 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of piggy-back liver transplantation in treating acute liver failure (ALF). METHODS: Fifteen ALF patients (13 caused by HBV and 2 with acute Wilson disease) had piggy-back liver transplantations (PBLT) in our hospital from Sept 1999 to Feb 2006. The outcomes of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: One year survival rate of the 15 patients was 87% (13/15). Excellent outcome was achieved in the 2 acute Wilson disease cases: their corneal Kayser-Fleischer rings disappeared and serum ceruloplasmin levels returned to normal. Among the 15 cases, one died of severe pulmonary infection and another died of multiple organ system failure on the 6th and 11th postoperative days. HBsAg positivity was observed in 13 cases before liver transplantation. Eleven patients survived and later received anti-HBV treatment recommended by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Their HBsAg became negative. CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation is an effective therapy for ALF and can improve survival rate significantly.

Pedicled greater omentum flap for preventing bile leak in liver transplantation patients with poor biliary tract conditions.

BACKGROUND: Bile leak remains a main complication in liver transplantation patients with poor biliary tract conditions, mainly caused by an insufficient blood supply or dysplasia of the biliary tract. Although Roux-en-Y modus operandi can be adopted, the risk of other complications of the biliary tract such as infection increases. Using pedicled greater omentum flaps to wrap the anastomotic stoma, which increases the biliary tract blood supply, may reduce the incidence of bile leak. METHODS: Fourteen patients undergoing piggy-back liver transplantation and having poor biliary tract conditions were treated with pedicled greater omentum flaps to wrap the anastomotic stoma of the biliary tract. Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients, only one (7.1%) had a mild bile leak on the 8th day post-operation and fully recovered after symptomatic treatment. The other patients had no biliary complications. CONCLUSIONS: Using pedicled greater omentum flaps to wrap the anastomotic stoma of the biliary tract is an effective way to prevent bile leak in liver transplantation patients, especially those with poor biliary tract conditions. However, experience with this surgical technique still needs to be further explored.

MicroRNA­144 suppresses tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting AKT3.

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been shown to be associated with the progression and metastasis of cancer. Dysregulation of miR­144 has been observed in numerous types of cancer; however, the exact role of miR­144 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The present study observed that miR­144 was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Forced overexpression of miR­144 suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. AKT3 was identified as a direct target of miR­144 in HCC, and this was confirmed by a luciferase activity assay and western blot analysis. Overexpression of AKT3 in miR­144 transfected HCC cells effectively reversed the tumor suppressive effects of miR­144. Furthermore, AKT3 expression levels were inversely correlated with miR­144 expression levels in HCC tissues. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that miR­144 may act as a tumor suppressor in HCC by targeting AKT3, and miR­144 may be a potential therapeutic candidate for HCC.

Risk factors for delayed graft function in cardiac death donor renal transplants.

BACKGROUND: Delayed graft function (DGF) is common in kidney transplants from organ donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors. It is associated with various factors. Determination of center-specific risk factors may help to reduce the incidence of DGF and improve the transplantation results. The aim of this study is to define risk factors of DGF after renal transplantation. METHODS: From March 2010 to June 2012, 56 cases of recipients who received DCD kidneys were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups: immediate graft function (IGF) and DGF groups. Transplantation factors of donors and recipients as well as early post-transplant results of recipients were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, preoperative dialysis time of recipients (P < 0.001), type of dialysis (P = 0.039), human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch sites (P < 0.001), the cause of brain death (P = 0.027), body mass index (BMI) of donors (P < 0.001), preoperative infection (P = 0.002), preoperative serum creatinine of donors (P < 0.001), norepinephrine used in donors (P < 0.001), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of donors (P < 0.001), warm ischemia time (WIT) (P < 0.001) and cold ischemia time (CIT) (P < 0.001) showed significant differences. Recipients who experienced DGF had a longer hospital stay, and higher level of postoperative serum creatinine. CONCLUSION: Multiple risk factors are associated with DGF, which had deleterious effects on the early post-transplant period.