Splenectomy may be a treatment option in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis when there is no potential donor for liver transplantation. We retrospectively investigated the long-term outcome of splenectomy on survival in advanced cirrhotic patients with HCC and thrombocytopenia. Between 1999 and 2009, 46 cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia (Child-Pugh class B or C) who underwent splenectomy for the simultaneous or secondary treatment of HCC at our institute were evaluated. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 93.5, 76.0, and 37.9%, respectively. Splenectomy resulted in a significant reduction in mean portal venous pressure from 21.2 to 16.8 mmHg and improvements in liver function tests such as total bilirubin, prothrombin time, platelet count, Child-Pugh score for 3 years, and albumin for 2 years. The mean frequency of treatment for HCC recurrence after surgery was 3.0 times (range 1-11). Seven patients out of 16 scheduled for Interferon (IFN) therapy after surgery achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). Multivariate analysis identified SVR after IFN therapy as an independent significant prognostic factor (Hazard ratio 0.18, 95%CI 0.03-0.65, P=0.006). Postoperative complications including liver failure (n=1), portal thrombosis (n=7), ascites (n=5), and bacterial infections (n=4) were observed in 14 patients (30%). Splenectomy can be a feasible supportive therapy for the continuation of anticancer therapy and completion of IFN therapy based on improvements in liver function and thrombocytopenia with minimum complications in patients with HCC and advanced cirrhosis with no potential donor.

View full abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to establish whether a more optimal cutoff value for D-dimer testing could definitively rule out acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Methods: Between April 2009 and March 2010, 190 referral patients suspected to have DVT were assessed by the D-dimer assay. Additionally, ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) imaging were performed to detect thrombosis.
Results: DVT was identified in 47 patients (24%). The average D-dimer level in patients with DVT was 17.6±22.4 μg⁄ml, and was significantly lower (p=0.035),] at 2.7±4.2 μg⁄ml, in those without DVT. On the basis of receiver operating curve analysis, the specificity of the D-dimer for diagnosing DVT increased from 40% to 78.3%, and its sensitivity reached 93.8%, when the cutoff value for the assay was set at 3.6 μg⁄ml.
Conclusions: D-dimer value over 3.6 μg⁄ml was highly prognostic for DVT.

View full abstract

A novel free radical scavenger, edaravone, has been demonstrated to exert a neuroprotective effect and improve outcomes in acute ischemic stroke, but there have been few clinical studies. Therefore, we investigated retrospectively whether the administration of edaravone at the acute stage of ischemic stroke can improve outcomes of the disease at the time of discharge.
Between January 1998 and December 2011, 625 consecutive patients (331 males and 294 females: mean age 77.0 years, range 36-101 years) with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to our institution within 48 hours after stroke onset were enrolled. Subtypes of strokes were lacunar infarction (LI) in 188 (30.0%), atherothrombotic infarction (ATCI) in 268 (42.0%), and cardioembolic infarction (CEI) in 169 (27.0%). Of the 625 patients, 237 (37.0%) received both edaravone and conventional treatment, while the other 388 (62.0%) patients underwent conventional treatment only. As a conventional treatment, 422 (67.0%) of 625 patients were treated with ozagrel sodium, and 37 patients received argatroban. The overall outcomes at discharge were favorable (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) in 296 (47.4%) and death occurred (mRS score 6) in 86 (13.8%). In a univariate analysis, the administration of edaravone did not have a significant effect on total death from all types of cerebral infarction. However, treatment with edaravone showed a favorable tendency (p=0.099) compared to conventional treatment after adjustments for age and gender. Further investigation is required before a definite conclusion can be made.

View full abstract

Background: Preoperative malnutrition worsens the prognosis of cancer patients. However, it is not certain how preoperative malnutrition affects postoperative hematogenous metastasis. We examined the influence of preoperative starvation on liver metastasis in rats using intra-vascular injection of AH109A hepatoma cells.
Methods: Male donryu rats were divided into Fasting and Control groups. Rats received laparotomy and ¹²⁵I-iodo-deoxyuridine labeled AH109A hepatoma cells were inoculated via superior mesenteric vein. Radioactivity in the organs, macroscopic liver metastasis, white blood cell count, leukocyte count, NK cell activity, endogenous serum corticosterone and ACTH concentration and mRNA expression of cytokine in the liver and brain were evaluated at certain time points.
Results: 48hours preoperative starvation reduced body weight and induced a state of malnutrition. Accumulation of radioactivity in the liver was more than 4 times higher, and the number of liver metastases was 3.5 times higher in the Fasting than in the Control group. Preoperative starvation caused an almost 2 fold increase in plasma endogenous corticosterone levels and a 66% reduction in white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. Postoperative hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis response was preserved. In addition, inflammatory cytokine expression in the liver was suppressed in the starved animals, suggesting that preoperative starvation led to a state of cellular immunosuppression, which would be an important factor for liver metastasis.
Conclusion: Preoperative malnutrition by 48 hours starvation reduced inflammatory cytokine response and cellular immunity, resulting in an increase in hematogenous liver metastasis.

View full abstract

Ampullary tumors are diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy of the ampulla of Vater. We encountered a rare case of acute pancreatitis following endoscopic biopsy of the ampulla. A 53-year-old man referred to our hospital for detailed examination of a suspected tumor of the ampulla of Vater. We conducted endoscopic biopsy from the ampulla. He developed severe abdominal pain four hours after the procedure. The serum amylase and serum lipase were elevated and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed pancreatic enlargement and diffuse stranding of the peri-pancreatic fat, compatible with the findings of acute pancreatitis. We diagnosed the patient as having acute pancreatitis caused by endoscopic biopsy of the ampulla of Vater. Conservative therapy improved his condition, however, a large pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON) developed. Therefore, we performed endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided cyst drainage on the 74th day after admission. The WON diminished gradually in size and the symptoms disappeared, and the patient was discharged in good physical condition on the 137th day after admission. In this case, the ampullary biopsy may have caused mucosal edema or intraductal hematoma, resulting in pancreatic duct obstruction. It is important for endoscopists both to be aware of this potential complication following endoscopic biopsy of the ampulla and to inform the patients about possible complications of this procedure.

View full abstract