ObjectiveTo introduce the relationship between the apoptosis hepatocyte and its genic mediation and the ischemia of portal vein. MethodsThe combination of related literatures and our research findings were made.ResultsPortal vein ischemia may induced hepatocyte apoptosis, p53 and bcl2 gene alternatively adjust hepatocyte apoptosis. Expression of p53 gene is enhanced in hepatic tissue when hepatocyte apoptosis is not obvious, but after 24-72 h of portal vein ischemia, when hepatocyte apoptosis is obvious, enhanced expression of p53 gene or reduced expression of bcl2 gene occur. There exists close relationship between portal vein ischemia and hepatocyte apoptosis. Conclusion Apoptosis hepatocyte is involved in organic atrophy after ischemia of portal vein, and p53 and bcl2 gene alternatively adjust hepatocyte apoptosis. At present, the mechanism of apoptosis of hepatocyte induced by ischemia of portal vein is not clear, which needs further study.
Objective To improve the prognosis of primary liver cancer with portal vein tumor thrombus （PVTT）， the progress of treatment for primary liver cancer with PVTT was reviewed. Methods The therapeutic approach and its efficacy for primary liver cancer with PVTT were summarized by literature search within recent years. Results PVTT is a common complication of primary liver cancer， the therapeutic approach are surgical resection， transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), intraportal venous therapy， radiotherapy， ablation therapy, molecular targeted therapy， etc. The excision rate for primary liver cancer with PVTT is low， the treatment is difficult and the outcome is dismal. It remains a poor prognosis at present， and the therapeutic effect need to be promoted. Conclusions The main treatment for primary liver cancer with PVTT should be surgical excision combine with other multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment to improve the survival in patients with PVTT， moreover， the therapeutic approach should be individualized and sequentially according to the patient’s condition and the type of PVTT.
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of postoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after devascu-larization in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. MethodsThe clinical data of 40 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension treated with splenectomy and gastric pericardial devascularization were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the related risk factors. ResultsA total of 12 of the 40 patients suffered from PVT (30.00%). The results of multivariate analysis showed that portal vein diameter, postoperative portal vein velocity, platelet count at 2 weeks postoperatively, and postoperative portal vein pressure were the factors influencing the incidence of PVT after devascularization. Patients with the greater portal vein diameter and platelet count at 2 weeks postoperatively, the lower postoperative portal vein velocity and postoperative portal vein pressure, had higher ratio of PVT (P < 0.05). ConclusionPortal vein diameter, portal vein blood flow velocity, platelet count, and postoperative portal vein pressure were the main risk factors for PVT after surgery in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.
ObjectiveTo understand the latest progress of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)-based combination therapies for unresectable liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, and to explore the safe and effective combination therapies in order to controlling the rapid progress of disease and improving the quality of life of patients. MethodsThe literatures about TACE-based combination therapies of liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma and the latest advance in researches of this field at home and abroad were collected, and the application of combination therapies, the advantages and features of the combined treatments were reviewed. ResultsTACE was a safe and effective therapeutic modality in treating primary liver cancer or secondary liver cancer.Compared with a single treatment, TACE-based combination therapies had distinct advantages to patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma not only improved the quality of life but also prolonged the survival time.With the emerging of various kinds of new drugs and the rapid development of a variety of interventional treatments, it could bring long-term survival benifit for patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. ConclusionsDoctors should pay attention to the combined treatments of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, improve the knowledge of personalized medication about advanced tumors and actively promote more usage of combination therapies.
Objective To explore the cause, diagnosis, and treatment methods of portal vein thrombosis （PVT） after splenectomy. Methods The clinical data of 29 patients who were got splenectomy because of portal hypertension or traumatic splenic rupture from August 2002 to August 2008 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results Tweenty-seven patients with PVT were treated successfully, whose thrombi were absorbed completely or partially. One case died of peritonitis，septic shock，and multiple organ failure. One case died of hematemesis, hepatic coma，and multiple organ failure. Tweenty-four patients were followed up, the follow-up time was 0.5 to 3 years, the average was 2 years. Two cases died of massive hemorrhage, 1 case died of hepatic encephalopathy，and 1 case died of liver failure. Two cases occurred deep venous thrombosis in one year after treatment, and the remaining patients had no recurrence of venous thrombosis. Conclusions PVT have some connection with the raise of blood platelet and the hemodynamic changes of the portal vein system after splenectomy. Standardization of operation, early diagnosis, early line anticoagulant，and antiplatelet adhesion therapy are effective way to prevent and treat PVT.
Objective To investigate the expressions of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and to evaluate the relationships among the expressions of PDGF, survivin and the proliferation of cancer cells. Methods The expression of PDGF mRNA in 16 cases in HCC with PVTT group was observed by in situ hybridization and the results were compared with that in HCC tissue group. The expressions of PDGF and survivin protein in 36 cases in HCC with PVTT group were detected with immunohistochemistry and it was found that there was a correlation between them. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to measure the proliferation of cancer cells and it was also used to analyze the relations among PDGF, survivin and the proliferation of cancer cells. Results The expression level of PDGF mRNA in HCC with PVTT group was significantly higher than that in HCC tissue group (P＜0.01). There was a positive correlation between the expressions of PDGF and survivin protein in HCC with PVTT (P＜0.01). The degree of proliferation of cancer cells in PDGF and survivin protein positive group was significantly higher than that in negative group (P＜0.01). Conclusion PDGF and survivin gene over-expressed in HCC with PVTT group and there is a positive correlation between the expressions of PDGF and survivin protein. The proliferation of cancer cells increases as the expressions of PDGF and survivin increase.
Objective To compare the effect of two chemotherapeutic patterns after hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） with portal vein tumor thrombi（PVTT）. Methods The clinical data of 51 HCC patients with PVTT who were treated in our department from June 2006 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-one HCC patients with PVTT who were performed hepatectomy and treatment of antivirus and improve immune were divided into two groups according to chemotherapeutic patterns after operation： portal vein infusion drug deliver system （PVIDDS）group （n=19） and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization（TACE） group（n=32），and to compare the treatment effect of the two groups. Results The recurrence rate of 1-month, 1-year，3-year， and 5-year after operation in TACE group was 3.1%（1/32），46.9%（15/32），84.4%（27/32）， and 100%（32/32），respectively. And in PVIDDS group, which was 5.3%（1/19），52.6%（10/19），100%（19/19）， and 100%（19/19），respectively. There were no differences in recurrence rate of 1-month, 1-year, and 5-year after operation in two groups（P＞0.05）. Recurrence rate of 3-year after operation in TACE group was lower than that in PVIDDS group（P＜0.05）. There were no differences in medial survival time（17.1 months vs.15.9 months）， survival rate of 1-year（93.8% vs.94.7%） and 3-year（40.6% vs. 36.8%） after operation in TACE group and PVIDDS group（P＞0.05）. Survival rate of 5-year after operation in TACE group was higher than that in PVIDDS group（21.9% vs.0, P＜0.05）. The rate of complication in TACE group was lower than that in PVIDDS group（65.6% vs.94.7%，P＜0.05）. Conclusions If the HCC patients with PVTT could endure operation，surgical resection should be considered firstly，furthermore antivirus treatment, improving immune，and chemotherapy should be considered after operation. The effect of TACE is better than PVIDDS.
Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF) -α and -β1 after 90% portal branch ligation (PBL) in rats. Methods Ninety-six SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group and portal vein branches ligation group. The weight of both ligated and unligated lobes of liver were measured on 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after operation. The morphological changes of the unligated liver lobes were observed by microscope. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), TGF-α, and TGF-β1 of the unligated liver lobes were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results After the ligation of 90% portal vein branches, hepatic lobe at the ligated side diminished progressively after ligation, whereas the lobes of the unligated side underwent compensatory regeneration. The ratio of unligated lobes weight to the whole liver increased slowly within 1 d, speeded up significantly during 1-5 d period, increased slowly on 5 d, and reached plateau phase on 7 d after operation. The expressions of PCNA protein markedly increased within 0.5-3 d (Plt;0.01), which reached the peak on 5 d and decreased slightly on 7 d after operation, but still higher than sham operation group level, and then gradually returned to the level of sham operation group lately. The expressions of TGF-α and TGF-β1 in the unligated liver lobes markedly increased on 0.5 d, and reached the peak on 3 d and 1 d respectively， and then gradually returned to the level of sham operation group in 7-28 d after operation. Conclusion Ligation of 90% portal branches can induce active regeneration of unligated liver lobes in rats, whose initiation and proliferation are involved in the expressions of TGF-α and TGF-β1 protein.
ObjectiveTo evaluate value of percutaneous interventional treatment for portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion following liver transplantation. Method The data of 3 patients with portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion following liver transplantation underwent interventional treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Resultsthe mural thrombi were detected preoperatively in the portal venous trunk for the 3 patients, all of which were classified as Yerdel's grade 1 and were underwent porto-portal anastomosis without thrombectomy during liver transplantation. Portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion occured after 8 months postoperatively. The percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty and self-expanding metallic stents placement was performed in 3 patients. The interventional treatment was successfully achieved in all the patients. The follow-up period ranged from 28 to 38 months, no complications occurred following interventional treatment, the graft function and survival of patients were good. ConclusionPercutaneous interventional treatment is an efficacious and safe method to treat portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion.
ObjectiveTo summarize the progress and clinical application of portal vein embolization (PVE). MethodsDomestic and international publications about the PVE were retrieved and reviewed. ResultsPVE could effectively increase the perioperative security when selected at the appropriate time during liver resection surgery. However, there were some disputes on the best choice of the PVE in material, the use of dosage, and the clinical operation method. ConclusionsPVE as a method to induce liver to compensation, has a prominent role in increasing liver subtotal security, and improving the survival rate of patients. But it needs to be researched further to improve technique to promote future liver remnant hyperplasia compensatory faster and better.