Cytotoxic T‐cell elimination during anti‐CD4–induced rat liver acceptance and rapid replacement of functional graft antigen–presenting cells

Kazuhiro Usui, Junzo Yamaguchi, Weili Gu, Takashi Kanematsu – 20 May 2004 – In previous studies, we showed that primed T cells were eliminated in long‐term survival Wistar Furth (WF) recipient rats with spontaneously accepted Lewis (LEW) liver graft and that the grafted liver lost the ability to elicit rejection reaction early after liver transplantation. We hypothesized that the same phenomenon may be observed in tolerant animals after immunosuppression in a rejector rat strain combination (WF→LEW).

The effect of donor weight reduction on hepatic steatosis for living donor liver transplantation

Shin Hwang, Sung‐Gyu Lee, Se‐Jin Jang, Sung‐Hun Cho, Ki‐Hun Kim, Chul‐Soo Ahn, Deok‐Bog Moon, Tae‐Yong Ha – 20 May 2004 – Hepatic steatosis is often associated with overweight, so we tried body‐weight reduction in potential living donors with fatty liver and/or obesity to alleviate hepatic steatosis. We advised to reducing the body weight by 5% for 9 potential living donors showing hepatic steatosis of 25–95% on initial percutaneous needle biopsy (PCNB). They lost 5.9 ± 2.0% of the initial body weight during 2–6 months and their body mass index changed from 25.3 ± 3.8 to 23.7 ± 3.4.

Tailoring donor hepatectomy per segment 4 venous drainage in right lobe live donor liver transplantation

See Ching Chan, Chung Mau Lo, Chi Leung Liu, Yik Wong, Sheung Tat Fan, John Wong – 20 May 2004 – Including the middle hepatic vein (MHV) in the right lobe liver graft for adult‐to‐adult live donor liver transplantation provides more functional liver by securing adequate venous drainage. Donor outcome of this procedure in relation to different venous drainage patterns of segment 4 is unknown. Modification of graft harvesting technique by preserving segment 4b hepatic vein (V4b) in theory compensates for unfavorable venous drainage patterns.

Interleukin‐2 receptor antibody (basiliximab) for immunosuppressive induction therapy after liver transplantation: A protocol with early elimination of steroids and reduction of tacrolimus dosage

Chi Leung Liu, Sheung Tat Fan, Chung Mau Lo, See Ching Chan, Irene O. Ng, Ching Lung Lai, John Wong – 20 May 2004 – A prospective evaluation was performed to study the potential benefits of the use of interleukin‐2 receptor antibody (IL‐2Rab) in the induction therapy with early elimination of steroid and reduction of tacrolimus dosage in liver transplant recipients among whom 94% had chronic hepatitis B infection.

Hepatic venous congestion in living donor liver transplantation: Preoperative quantitative prediction and follow‐up using computed tomography

Shin Hwang, Sung‐Gyu Lee, Kwang‐Min Park, Ki‐Hun Kim, Chul‐Soo Ahn, Young‐Joo Lee, Kyu‐Bo Sung, Deok‐Bog Moon, Tae‐Yong Ha, Sung‐Hun Cho, Ki‐Bong Oh, Ji‐Min Han, Myung‐Hwan Kim – 20 May 2004 – Hepatic venous congestion (HVC) has not been assessed quantitatively prior to hepatectomy and its resolving mechanism has not been fully analyzed. We devised and verified a new method to predict HVC, in which HVC was estimated from delineation of middle hepatic vein (MHV) tributaries in computed tomography (CT) images.

Enhanced proliferation of hepatic progenitor cells in rats after portal branch occlusion

Norihito Ise, Tsutomu Sato, Ouki Yasui, Go Watanabe, Kenji Koyama, Kunihiko Terada, Toshihiro Sugiyama, Yuzo Yamamoto – 20 May 2004 – It is known that hepatic progenitor cells increase in number after liver injury caused by carcinogens, but this injury cannot be reproduced in humans. In order to create a practical source of hepatic progenitor cells, changes in the number of liver epithelial cells (LECs), a type of hepatic progenitor cell, were examined following partial interruption of the portal flow.

End‐to‐side portocaval shunting for a small‐for‐size graft in living donor liver transplantation

Yasutsugu Takada, Mikiko Ueda, Yukika Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Fujimoto, Hideaki Miyauchi, Yasuhiro Ogura, Takenori Ochiai, Koichi Tanaka – 20 May 2004 – In the development of adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the small‐for‐size graft has been associated with poor clinical outcome. Persistent portal hypertension or portal venous overperfusion are considered to be causative factors, and partial diversion of portal flow to systemic circulation may be effective for avoiding injuries that occur in the small‐for‐size (SFS) graft.

Umbilical portion of recipient's left portal vein: A useful vascular conduit in dual living donor liver transplantation for the thrombosed portal vein

DeokBog Moon, SungGyu Lee, Shin Hwang, KwangMin Park, KiHun Kim, ChulSoo Ahn, YoungJoo Lee, TaeYong Ha, SeongHun Cho, KiBong Oh, YeonDae Kim, KeonKuk Kim – 20 May 2004 – We considered performing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in a larger‐size recipient. When the recipient was large‐sized, or when the donor liver was severely steatotic or had a right‐to‐left volume discrepancy. We devised dual living donor liver transplantation (DLDLT) to make up for graft size insufficiency and to secure the donor's safety.

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