Clostridium difficile: A rare cause of pyogenic liver abscess.

Extra-intestinal infections due to Clostridium difficile have been reported rarely. Herein we report a case of pyogenic liver abscess from toxigenic C. difficile in an 80-year-old non-hospitalized woman with diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. The patient was admitted to the emergency department with fever and abdominal pain. There was no history of diarrhea or use of antibiotics. Laboratory parameters revealed signs of inflammation and elevated AST and ALT levels. Abdominal ultrasound and computer tomography showed multiple focal lesions in the bilateral liver lobes and hydropic gallbladder with stones. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and the liver abscesses were drained. Toxigenic C. difficile strains were isolated from the drained pus and also from the stool sample. According to repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) analyses both organisms were the same. The organisms were susceptible to antibiotics. Despite proper antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage, the patient succumbed to her illness.

Biliary Cystadenoma with High Dysplasia Detected Incidentally in a Young Patient Admitted for Percutaneous Abscess Drainage.

Biliary cystadenomas are uncommon lesions with clinical and radiological characteristics that overlap with other cystic liver lesions. Here, we intended to discuss a biliary cystadenoma found in a 37-year-old female patient who had been treated for a liver abscess and had been sent to our clinic with a long-term hydatid cyst diagnosis.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Management in Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients: A National Snapshot.

OBJECTIVE:  Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening is strongly recommended in the pre-transplant evaluation of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, although it remains inadequate in many transplant centers. We decided to investigate pre-transplant TB risk assessment, LTBI treatment, and registry rates in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  Adult SOT recipients who underwent tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon-gamma release test (IGRA) from 14 centers between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. An induration of ≥5 mm on TST and/or probable/positive IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB) was considered positive for LTBI. Demographic features, LTBI screening and treatment, and pre-/post-transplant TB history were recorded from the electronic database of transplantation units across the country and pooled at a single center for a unified database. RESULTS:  TST and/or IGRA were performed in 766 (33.8%) of 2266 screened patients most of whom were kidney transplant recipients (n = 485, 63.4%). LTBI screening test was positive in 359 (46.9%) patients, and isoniazid was given to 203 (56.5%) patients. Of the patients treated for LTBI, 112 (55.2%) were registered in the national registry, and 82 (73.2%) completed the treatment. Tuberculosis developed in 6 (1.06%) of 563 patients who were not offered LTBI treatment. CONCLUSION:  We determined that overall, only one-third of SOT recipients in our country were evaluated in terms of TB risk, only 1 of the 2 SOT recipients with LTBI received treatment, and half were registered. Therefore, we want to emphasize the critical importance of pretransplant TB risk stratification and registration, guided by revised national guidelines.

Locally advanced pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas in a male patient: a case report.

CONTEXT: Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm, predominantly observed in young women and with greatest incidence in the second and third decade. Although large at the time of diagnosis, it has clinically good behavior. The occurrence of infiltrating varieties of solid pseudopapillary tumors is very rare. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 48-year-old man with a giant mass in the pancreas, incidentally discovered during an abdominal ultrasonography. The mass was later investigated using multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The lobulated lesion had cystic-necrotic appearances which lead the radiologists to suggest the possibility of either a gastrointestinal stromal tumor or a pancreatic cancer. The patient was operated. Operative signs showed that the tumor invaded the splenic hilum and mesentery of transverse colon. En-block resection of pancreas, spleen and transverse colon was performed as the mass was thought to be a locally advanced pancreas tumor. Pathological diagnosis reported a solid pseudopapillary tumor. CONCLUSION: Although solid pseudopapillary tumor is considered a rare tumor, with a very rare rate of locally infiltrating variety, and rarely presents in males, it must be kept in mind while making the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lesions to begin appropriate clinical management.

Protective effects of lycopene on cerulein-induced experimental acute pancreatitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the protective effect of the strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, lycopene, on oxidative stress in a rat model of cerulein-induced acute edematous pancreatitis. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with lycopene (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline 15 min before cerulein was given 20 µg/kg (i.p.) at 1-h intervals within 4 h. Twelve hours after cerulein or saline injections, the animals were killed by decapitation. Blood samples were collected to analyze amylase, lipase, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß). Pancreatic tissues were taken for the determination of tissue glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities. Tissue samples were also examined histologically. RESULTS: Acute pancreatitis caused significant decrease in tissue GSH levels and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity, while pancreatic MDA levels and MPO activity were increased. Furthermore, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and amylase lipase levels were also significantly increased. On the other hand, lycopene pretreatment reserved all these biochemical indices as well as histopathologic alterations that were induced by cerulein. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, lycopene protects the pancreatic tissues from oxidative damage induced by cerulein, and this effect possibly involves the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that high dietary intake of tomatoes may have protective effects against acute pancreatitis.

Proposal and Validation of a Novel Scoring System for Hepatocellular Carcinomas Beyond Curability Borders.

Optimal scoring system for clinical prognostic factors in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently uncertain. We aimed to develop and externally validate an easy to use tool, particularly for this population, and named it the "unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic index" (UHPI). We evaluated the data of patients with treatment-naive unresectable HCC who were diagnosed in the training center from 2010 to 2019 (n = 209). A simple prognostic model was developed by assigning points for each covariate in proportion to the beta coefficients in the Cox multivariable model. Predictive performance and distinction ability of the UHPI were further evaluated in an independent European validation cohort (n = 147) and compared with 11 other available models. A simple scoring system was derived, assigning 0.5/1/2 scores for six independent covariates including, the Child-Pugh score, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, maximum tumor size, vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis, lymph node involvement, and alpha-fetoprotein. The UHPI score, ranging from 0 to 6, showed superior performance in prognosis prediction and outperformed 11 other staging or prognostic models, giving the highest homogeneity (c-index, 6-month and 1-year area under the receiver operator characteristic curves), lowest Akaike information criterion, and -2 log-likelihood ratio values. The UHPI score allocated well the risk of patients with unresectable HCC for mortality within the first year, using two cut-off values (low-risk, <0.5; intermediate-risk, 0.5-2; high-risk, >2). Conclusion: The UHPI score can predict prognosis better than other systems in subjects with unresectable HCC and can be used in clinical practice or trials to estimate the 6-month and 1-year survival probabilities for this group.

The frequency of familial Mediterranean fever in an emergency unit.

Approximately 90% of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) complain of recurrent attacks of fever and abdominal pain of various severities. Prior to the diagnosis of FMF, the majority of patients are admitted to emergency units with a suspicion of acute abdomen pain and at least half of them undergo unnecessary abdominal interventions. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of FMF among the patients who are admitted to emergency units for acute abdominal pain. One hundred consecutive patients who were admitted to an emergency unit in Istanbul, Turkey, with acute abdominal pain were screened for FMF. When the definite cases were considered, a frequency of 2% was encountered which was significantly high compared to the frequency of FMF in Turkey. Physicians working in emergency units should include FMF in their differential diagnosis list when evaluating a patient with acute abdominal pain, especially in countries where the disease is prevalent.

Beneficial effects of alpha lipoic acid on cerulein-induced experimental acute pancreatitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine the effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on blood and tissue biochemical parameters, as well as tissue histopathology, in an experimental rat model of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: Three groups consisting of eight rats each were used, as follows: Group 1, controls; Group 2, cerulein-induced pancreatitis group treated with saline; and Group 3, cerulein-induced pancreatitis group treated with ALA. AP was induced by intraperitoneal administration of cerulein (20 µg/kg) 4 times at 1-hour intervals. The animals were decapitated 12 hours after the last dose of cerulein. Blood amylase, lipase, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, pancreas tissue glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+-K+-ATPase activity were measured. Pancreatic tissue samples were also evaluated histopathologically under a light microscope. RESULTS: While plasma amylase, lipase, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels, and tissue MDA and MPO levels significantly increased in rats with cerulean-induced AP, tissue GSH and Na+-K+-ATPase activity significantly reduced. These changes were reversed and improved with ALA treatment. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that ALA may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality by preventing organ dysfunction induced by free radicals in the pancreas.

Protective potential of montelukast against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is characterized by significant oxidative stress, characteristic changes in the antioxidant system and organ injury leading to significant morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to assess the possible protective effect of montelukast, a selective antagonist of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1), on hepatic I/R injury in rats. Wistar albino rats through clamping hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct, were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion period. Montelukast (10 mg/kg; i.p.) was administered 15 min prior to ischemia and immediately before reperfusion period. At the end of the reperfusion period, the rats were killed by decapitation. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) were determined in blood samples. Malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+, K+-ATPase activities were determined in the liver tissue samples while formation of reactive oxygen species was monitored by using chemiluminescence (CL) technique with luminol and lucigenin probes. Tissues were also analyzed histologically. Serum ALT, AST, and LDH activities were elevated in the I/R group, while this increase was significantly decreased by montelukast treatment. Hepatic GSH levels and Na+, K+-ATPase activity, significantly depressed by I/R, were elevated back to control levels in montelukast-treated I/R group. Furthermore, increases in tissue luminol and lucigenin CL, MDA levels, and MPO activity due to I/R injury were reduced back to control levels with montelukast treatment. Since montelukast administration alleviated the I/R-induced liver injury and improved the hepatic structure and function, it seems likely that montelukast with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may be of potential therapeutic value in protecting the liver against oxidative injury due to ischemia-reperfusion.

Factors affecting mortality and morbidity in emergency abdominal surgery in geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to determine the factors affecting morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients undergoing abdominal surgery. METHODS: Ninety-two patients who had undergone acute abdominal surgery at >65 years of age were evaluated in terms of surgical indications, morbidity and mortality rates and the factors affecting morbidity and mortality. Forty-eight patients (52.2%) were males and 44 (47.8%) were females. The mean age was 73.32±6.37 (65-92) years. RESULTS: The most common surgical indication was acute cholecystitis (26.09%). Morbidity was established as 21 (22.82%) and mortality as 14 (15.21%), and the most common cause of mortality was mesenteric vascular occlusion. American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) IV was noted in 90.05% of the patients admitted to intensive care, and 92.85% of the patients had mortal progression. The mean hospitalization duration was 7.94±7.13 days (median, 7 days). While older age and high ASA scores were significantly correlated with morbidity, mortality and duration of hospitalization, gender was not (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In order to decrease the postoperative mortality rate in geriatric patients, precaution should be taken beforehand to avoid surgical complications. By carrying out elective surgery in geriatric patients, the likelihood of common causes of acute abdomen, such as acute cholecystitis and incarcerated hernia, can be reduced.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Liver Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Papillary carcinoma of thyroid (PTC) is the most common neoplasm of the thyroid gland that usually invades lymphatics rather than blood vessels. Hematogenous metastasis of PTC is rare, and distant metastasis to the liver is even rarer. Selective internal radiation therapy with Y microspheres is a well-recognized technique in the treatment of liver metastases. Herein, we present a case of PTC with radioactive iodine-negative hepatic metastasis detected by F-FDG PET/CT and treated with selective internal radiation therapy.

Extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer: a single center experience in Istanbul.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for gastric carcinoma. Western surgeons have recently performed extended operations while Japanese surgeons reported therapeutic value of extended lymphadenectomy (D2, D3) long before. We aimed to observe the benefits and hazards of this procedure. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed respectively 56 patients operated for gastric cancer between 2001 and 2004. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were male and median age was 63 years (range, 34-85 years). Subtotal and total gastrectomies were performed in 29 and 27 patients, respectively. Tumor extension and patient's physical status determined the extent of node dissection. Disease stage was III or IV in 63.2% of patients. Number of maximal nodes resected was 48 and maximal metastatic node count was 41. Splenectomy was performed in 4 (14%). Roux en Y anastomosis was performed either manually or with a circular stapler. Four patients (7.1%) had postoperative complications with no hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric resection with extended lymph node dissection is a safe procedure with acceptable morbidity when performed by an experienced surgeon.

Simultaneous resection for colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases is a safe procedure: Outcomes at a single center in Turkey.

The optimal surgical strategy for treating colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases is subject to debate. The current study sought to evaluate the outcomes of simultaneous colorectal cancer and liver metastases resection in a single center. Prospectively collected data on all patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases who underwent simultaneous resection with curative intent were analyzed retrospectively. Patient outcomes were compared depending on the primary tumor location and type of liver resection (major or minor). Between January 2005 and August 2016, 108 patients underwent simultaneous resection of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases. The tumor was localized to the right side of the colon in 24 patients (22%), to the left side in 40 (37%), and to the rectum in 44 (41%). Perioperative mortality occurred in 3 patients (3%). Postoperative complications were noted in 32 patients (30%), and most of these complications (75%) were grade 1 to 3 according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Neither perioperative mortality nor the rate of postoperative complications after simultaneous resection differed among patients with cancer of the right side of the colon, those with cancer of the left side of the colon, and those with rectal cancer (4%, 2.5%, and 2%, respectively, p = 0.89) and (17%, 33%, and 34%, respectively; p = 0.29)]. The 5-year overall survival of the entire sample was 54% and the 3-year overall survival was 67 %. In conclusion, simultaneous resection for primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases is a safe procedure and can be performed without excess morbidity in carefully selected patients regardless of the location of the primary tumor and type of hepatectomy.

Phrenic vein dissection in partial liver graft harvesting.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite the impressive results of living donor liver transplantation, hepatic venous reconstruction remains a controversial component. METHODOLOGY: A total of 211 consecutive donor hepatectomies were performed. The proximal route of the hepatic vein was exposed by dissection of the connective tissue around the hepatic vein and by dividing and ligating all of the inferior phrenic veins that open into the hepatic vein, into the confluence of the hepatic vein and inferior vena cava, or directly into the inferior vena cava. RESULTS: In the 114 left-side hepatectomy procedures, the number of divided left inferior phrenic veins ranged from 1 to 4 and the diameters of the left and middle hepatic veins ranged from 7 to 33mm. For the 97 right-side procedures, the number of divided right inferior phrenic veins ranged from 1 to 4 and the diameters of right hepatic veins ranged from 9 to 34mm. This maneuver safely allowed for the safe exposure of all trunks and routes of the hepatic veins and the suprahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique is useful for obtaining a wide ostium and a sufficient length of the hepatic vein for grafts obtained from living donors.

Model for End Stage Liver Disease score does not predict graft survival after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the Model End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has been effective in the prediction of mortality in patients awaiting liver transplantation, its predictive value of survival after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) needs further study. METHODOLOGY: We report our experience with 142 cases of LDLT, analyzing the impact of the MELD score on the graft survival after LDLT. RESULTS: Of 142 grafts, 18 failed during the observation period. One-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 92%, 87% and 82%, respectively. Cox proportional hazard model revealed that MELD score did not predict graft survival (p=0.43, relative risk = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: The present results may indicate that the preoperative MELD score was of little help for determining the indication of LDLT.

A Simple Method to Evaluate Whether Pancreas Texture Can Be Used to Predict Pancreatic Fistula Risk After Pancreatoduodenectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Soft pancreas is one of the most important risk factor for postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy. The aim of this study is to investigate whether pancreatic attenuation index utilized to assess the pancreatic texture with computed tomography can be used to predict the risk of developing a clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy. METHODS: We reviewed 76 consecutive patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy between 2012 and 2014. The pancreatic attenuation index is found by dividing the pancreas density by the spleen density achieved with non-enhanced computed tomography. The independent predictors of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula were investigated. RESULTS: Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 13 patients (17.1%). The group of patients with postoperative pancreatic fistula is compared with the group of patients without postoperative pancreatic fistula in terms of age, gender, body mass index, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, smoking, alcohol consumption, medical comorbidities, preoperative biliary drainage, type of anastomosis, and pancreatic duct size and pancreatic attenuation index. Univariate analyses have shown a significant difference in relation to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pancreatic attenuation index. The multivariate analyses showed that only pancreatic attenuation index was associated with a high postoperative pancreatic fistula rate (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: A preoperative non-contrast computed tomography scan evaluating pancreatic attenuation index could help to predict the occurrence of clinically significant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction in adult living-donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct-to-duct reconstruction is now used in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for adult patients. METHODS: The results of duct-to-duct reconstruction were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were 81 adult patients who underwent LDLT at the University of Tokyo Hospital with a follow-up period of at least 1 year. The hilar plate of the recipient was dissected to at least the second-order branch of the bile ducts. Duct-to-duct anastomosis was performed with interrupted sutures, and an external stent tube was inserted from the orifice opposite the hilar plate. RESULTS: During the observation period (median, 664 days), biliary complications were observed in 26 cases (32%). The complications included bile juice leakage at the anastomosis or dissection plane of the graft in 12 patients, anastomotic stenosis in 10 patients, and tube trouble in 6 patients. Two patients had bile juice leakage followed by stenosis. Of the 26 patients, 21 required surgical revision. CONCLUSIONS: The current technique did not reduce morbidity as expected. Further technical advancement and refinement are needed for better results.

Revolution and refinement of surgical techniques for living donor partial liver transplantation.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) was first successfully performed on a child in 1990 and the Shinshu group performed the same procedure on an adult for the first time in 1994. Over the past few years adult LDLT has been increasing worldwide because of the severe shortage of cadaveric organs, especially in locations where the transplantation of organs from brain-dead donors is rarely practiced. The surgical procedures for LDLT are more technically challenging than those for cadaveric whole liver transplantation. LDLT requires a full understanding of hepatobiliary anatomy and continuous technical refinement of the procedure. The development of innovative techniques is a key factor for a successful LDLT. Some of the technical highlights include selective vascular occlusion techniques for donor hepatectomy, hepatic arterial reconstruction under the microscope, the introduction of intraoperative ultrasound, graft volume estimation, hepatic venous reconstruction using cryopreserved vascular grafts, and the use of the right lateral sector of the liver. These techniques have improved the success rate of LDLT over the past few years. This review focuses on the surgical techniques for LDLT on the basis of our experience with adult LDLT at the Tokyo University Hospital.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin against hepatorenal oxidative injury in an experimental sepsis model in rats.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of curcumin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, on free oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation in an experimental sepsis model, as well as to determine the role of curcumin in preventing hepatorenal tissue damage caused by sepsis. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=8) as follows: control group (group 1); sepsis group (group 2); and sepsis + curcumin group (group 3). Sepsis was created using the cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) method. Curcumin was administered intraperitoneally (200 mg/kg) in two equal doses just after the perforation and at twelve hours post-perforation. RESULTS: Serum TNF-a and IL-1ß, and tissue MDA and MPO values were higher, whereas tissue GSH and Na+/K+-ATPase values were lower, in group 2 as compared to group 1. These values in group 3 were the inverse of those in group 2. As compared to group 1, histopathological evaluation of group 2 showed damaged hepatocytes, glomeruli, and tubules, whereas the damage was significantly reduced in group 3 as compared to group 2. CONCLUSION: The strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin against potential hepatorenal damage were shown using an experimental sepsis model in rats.