[Novel Liver Retraction Method Using the FJ Clip and Silicon Disk for Laparoscopic Gastrectomy].

Laparoscopic gastrectomy(LG)has been developed, and its use has spread widely. One of the merits of this methodology for surgeons is its magnifying effect, which largely contributes to precise lymphadenectomy and lower blood loss. However, by contrast, its restricted view could be a demerit, and care should be taken to avoid trouble duringan operation. Liver retraction is an essential operative procedure to maintain a good surgical field and ensure sufficient working space during LG. We present a novel approach that uses the free jaw(FJ)clip and silicon disk. Our novel approach involved 1 ) exposingthe right crus of the diaphragm and grasping it using a FJ clip; 2 ) elevatingthe left lobe of the liver by usingfree loop plus with a 10- cm Penrose drain attached to the FJ clip grasping the right crus; and 3 ) insertingthe silicon disk between the Penrose drain and the left lobe of the liver. The FJ clip is reusable and easily maneuvered with the commonly used laparoscopy forceps. The last step enables prevention of intraoperative complications such as injury by forceps or energy devices. Therefore, we believe this procedure might be useful for LG, and we will prospectively confirm its usefulness in terms of hepatic function, operative time, and other factors.

[A Case Report of Adenocarcinoma with Pagetoid Growth(Secondary Paget's Disease)of the Anal Canal].

Differentiating primary Paget's disease from secondary Paget's disease, which is also known as Pagetoid growth of other cancers, in the perianal region is difficult. Given that the treatment strategies of both disease are significantly different, diagnosis of such conditions should be performed with caution. We report a case of secondary Paget's disease. A 76-year-old man previously visited a hospital because of erythematous plaque around the anus. It was diagnosed as extramammary Paget's disease based on skin biopsy results; consequently, perianal skin resection was performed. Pathological examination of the resected specimen indicated Pagetoid growth of mucinous carcinoma, and it was positive for stump. Consequently, laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection was performed. Finally, the plaque was diagnosed as anal canal adenocarcinoma with Pagetoid growth, and all the previous results were deemed as initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Discriminating between primary and secondary Paget's disease, even with immunohistological techniques, is difficult. Novel methodology that might facilitatemoreaccuratediagnosis preoperatively for erythematous plaquearound theanus and morecurativethe rapeutic strategy are needed.

[Strangulation Ileus Caused by Incarcerated Esophageal Hiatal Hernia after Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy - A Case Report].

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy(LTG)is one of the most increasing surgeries among gastric cancer surgery. Although LTG has many advantages on the patient, we should be more careful of its specific complications. Here we report a case of 72- year-old man with the complaint of severe acute upper abdominal pain due to strangulation ileus caused by incarcerated esophageal hiatal hernia(EHH)after LTG. Emergent operation has performed on the patient and total 180 cm length of necrotic small intestine was resected. EHH after gastrectomy was thought to be rare complication. However, some literature reported that EHH after gastrectomy, especially after LTG has more possibility than it has ever thought to be. Laparoscopic surgery has more advantages than open surgery in terms of less invasiveness, rapid postoperative recovery, and less intraabdominal adhesion. One of the causes for EHH after LTG is ironically thought to be its less intraabdominal adhesion. We concluded that crus repair is one of the effective methods for the prevention of EHH after LTG through experiencing this case.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-producing hepatocellular carcinoma with abrupt changes.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing tumor is one of the rare types of cancer clinically characterized by an elevated fever and white blood cell (WBC) increment. Although G-CSF producing tumors have been reported in several types of cancer including those of the lungs, cervix and bladder, G-CSF producing hepatocellular carcinoma is extremely rare. Here, we report the case of a rapidly growing and poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma producing G-CSF. The patient showed symptoms of continuous high fever, stomach pain and cough, and high serum WBC counts, C-reactive protein (CRP) and G-CSF levels were found in laboratory tests. After a radical hepatectomy, the patient completely recovered from the above symptoms and inflammatory state. The serum levels of G-CSF were reduced to normal levels after radical surgery. An immunohistochemical analysis revealed the overexpression of G-CSF in the cytoplasm of certain hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell. The patient's serum WBC, CRP and G-CSF levels remained within normal levels in the six months after surgery without recurrence. This is the 9th case report of G-CSF producing hepatocellular carcinoma in English literature. We review the clinical characteristics of the G-CSF producing HCC and discuss a possible treatment strategy.

Attenuated response to liver injury in moesin-deficient mice: impaired stellate cell migration and decreased fibrosis.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) respond to injury with a coordinated set of events (termed activation), which includes migration and upregulation of matrix protein production. Cell migration requires an intact actin cytoskeleton that is linked to the plasma membrane by ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins. We have previously found that the linker protein in HSCs is exclusively moesin. Here, we describe HSC migration and fibrogenesis in moesin-deficient mice. We developed an acute liver injury model that involved focal thermal denaturation and common bile duct ligation. HSC migration and collagen deposition were assessed by immunohistology and quantitative real-time PCR. Activated HSCs were isolated from wild-type or moesin-deficient mice for direct examination of migration. Activated HSCs from wild-type mice were positive for moesin. Migration of moesin-deficient HSCs was significantly reduced. In a culture assay, 22.1% of normal HSCs migrated across a filter in 36 h. In contrast, only 1.3% of activated moesin-deficient HSCs migrated. Collagen deposition around the injury area similarly was reduced in moesin-deficient liver. The linker protein moesin is essential for HSC activation and migration in response to injury. Fibrogenesis is coupled to migration and reduced in moesin-deficient mice. Agents that target moesin may be beneficial for chronic progressive fibrosis.

Results of repeated hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The long-term outcome of patients undergoing repeated hepatectomy for secondary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated to assess the selection criteria for, and efficacy of, repeated hepatectomy. METHODOLOGY: 21 patients with secondary HCC who had undergone repeated hepatectomy (R group) were analyzed. Clinical characteristics, histopathologic findings and postoperative clinical course were compared for patients with primary and secondary HCCs in the R group. The risk factors for post repeated hepatectomy survival and disease-free survival were estimated for the R group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics or histologic features of primary and secondary HCCs in the R group. A significant difference in cumulative postoperative disease-free survival was not seen for primary and secondary HCCs, average duration was 39.4 and 21.3 months. Liver cirrhosis and narrow hepatectomy (subsegmentectomy, limited resection and enucleation) were found to be significant risk factors of survival after secondary hepatectomy. The 5-year post-recurrence survival rate of nine patients in the R group who had two risk factors was 14.8%. CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhotic patients with secondary HCC, inadequate narrow repeated hepatic resection should not receive repeated hepatectomy.

Anatomic wide hepatectomy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of the anatomic extent of hepatic resection (Hr) related to the tumor hepatic involvement (H) on patients' survival in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: The 305 patients with HCC who had undergone hepatectomy were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were classified into the anatomic wide hepatectomy (Hr > H hepatectomy, i.e. Hr was larger than H, n = 93) group and the other hepatectomies (Hr < or = H hepatectomy, i.e. Hr was equal to or smaller than H, n = 212) group. We compared the clinico-pathologic features between the two hepatectomy groups and the prognostic factors associated with postoperative HCC recurrence by using the Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULTS: After median follow-up duration of 50 months (range 1-223 months), in Hr > H and Hr < or = H hepatectomy groups, the cumulative 3, 5, 10 year disease-free survival rates were 58.1, 44.6, 27.1% and 49.2, 33.0, 14.6%, respectively (P = 0.043). The overall survival was not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.401). Multivariate analysis revealed that Hr > H hepatectomy was an independent favorable factor for disease-free survival: the relative risk was 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.95; P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Anatomic wide (Hr > H) hepatectomy is a favorable procedure of choice in HCC for possibly reducing the risk of postoperative recurrence.