Biomedical subjects

H Fujioka

Publications and source records attributed to H Fujioka.

401 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of measuring the serum total bile acids levels during orthotopic liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bile acid is confined to the enterohepatic circulation and consists of intestinal absorption and hepatic elimination. We investigated whether measuring the serum total bile acids (TBA) levels was useful for both evaluating the function of the grafted liver and predicting the outcome in porcine orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). METHODOLOGY: Twenty-two female Yorkshire pigs undergoing OLT were divided into 2 groups as follows: Group A consisted of 11 pigs which survived over 7 days with an uneventful early post-operative course, while Group B consisted of 11 pigs which died within 5 days due to hepatic failure. The serum TBA levels were measured before and after reperfusion in the recipients. RESULTS: Between Groups A and B, no significant difference was observed in the operative backgrounds including the operation time as well as the cold and warm ischemic time. In Group A, the levels of serum TBA rapidly increased during the anhepatic phase, and thereafter promptly decreased after the reperfusion of the grafted liver. A significant difference was observed in the levels of serum TBA before and after reperfusion (p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was seen in Group B. The delta TBA, which represents the difference in the levels of serum TBA between just prior to reperfusion and 10 min after reperfusion, was 71.8 +/- 43.5 mumol/L in Group A and 20.1 +/- 34.5 mumol/L in Group B, and demonstrated a significant difference between these 2 groups (p < 0.01). On the other hand, no significant differences were seen in the levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP and TB at each time point between Groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: The level of serum TBA was found to be a more sensitive parameter and also reflected the developing grafted liver function earlier than the conventional parameters for liver function. Moreover, delta TBA thus appeared to be a valuable predictor for the post-operative outcome.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intraportal administration of low-dose recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor enhances effects of hepatocellular transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rhHGF) is a potent mitogen, the dose used for patients is still not clear and must be low to avoid untoward effects. Firstly, the optimal strategy of the dose and route of rhHGF was investigated. Secondly, low-dose rhHGF, which would induce proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes, was explored using Nagase analbuminemic rats. METHODOLOGY: 1) Concentrations of rhHGF in the portal vein were measured after continuous administration of titrated rhHGF through the jugular vein or portal vein. 2) F344 rat hepatocytes (2 x 10(7) cells) were transplanted in the liver of Nagase analbuminemic rats. On the 7th day, the rats were subjected to a low-dose rhHGF treatment. RESULTS: When the rats were given rhHGF in a dose of 50 micrograms/kg/day, the mean concentration in the portal vein (0.8 +/- 0.1 ng/mL) was almost similar to the minimum concentration which stimulated hepatocyte proliferation in vitro. When low-dose rhHGF (50 micrograms/kg/day) was administered directly into the portal vein following hepatocyte transplantation in Nagase analbuminemic rats, the serum levels of albumin were significantly higher than in other groups. It was found that the concentration of rhHGF in the portal vein were 3.1 +/- 0.5 ng/mL with continuous intraportal infusion and 0.8 +/- 0.1 ng/mL with continuous systemic infusion. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the minimal dose of rhHGF needed to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation was 50 micrograms/kg/day. With rhHGF (50 micrograms/kg/day), continuous intraportal infusion afforded a more favorable outcome in case of proliferation of hepatocytes.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transcatheter arterial embolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma resulting in a curative resection: report of two cases.

Transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization and lipiodolization have been reported to be effective palliative treatments for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. We experienced 2 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma which were initially considered to be unresectable due to the extreme extension of the primary lesions. Therefore, transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization with lipiodolization were selected as the treatments of choice. Thereafter, these tumors markedly decreased in size and, as a result, curative resections could subsequently be performed. The pathological examination of the resected specimens revealed necrosis and hyaline degeneration in the main tumors. Viable tumor cells, however, still remained adjacent to the main tumors. Such evidence indicated the limited efficacy of transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization with lipiodolization and the necessity of performing surgical treatment in combination with transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization with lipiodolization. Based on these findings, transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization with lipiodolization both appear to be a good mode of therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and in selected patients, subsequent surgery can also be considered.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibitory effects of safe and novel SOD derivatives, galactosylated-SOD, on hepatic warm ischemia/reperfusion injury in pigs.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxygen-derived free radicals such as superoxide play an important role in ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury during and after extensive liver surgery or liver transplantation. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) has protective effects against hepatic IR injury. The effect of native SOD is, however, limited because of rapid elimination from the blood circulation and poor affinity for liver cells. It was reported by our collaborators that a SOD derivative modified with galactose (Gal-SOD) was selectively delivered well to hepatocytes by direct attachment to galactose receptors. In the present study, the efficacy of this agent for attenuating hepatic warm IR injury was investigated using the pig model. METHODOLOGY: After 45-min clamping of the hepatic artery and portal vein, pigs were divided into 3 groups according to the following treatments. Ten milliliters of normal saline in Group 1 (n=5), 10,000 units/kg of native SOD in Group 2 (n=5) and 10,000 units/kg of Gal-SOD in Group 3 (n=5) were given just prior to hepatic reperfusion. Liver function including clearance of total bile acid (TBA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) was investigated. Lipid peroxidase of the liver tissue (LPO) and histological findings were examined. In addition, survival rates of the pigs in each group were evaluated. RESULTS: The survival rates at the 7th day after the operation were 60%, 80%, 100% in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Liver function tests, clearance of TBA and HA, and LPO levels were significantly improved in Groups 3 over findings in Groups 1 and 2. Congestion of hepatic tissues and vacuolization of hepatocytes in Group 3 were less than those in Groups 1 and 2. These results suggested that oxygen-derived free radicals were scavenged by Gal-SOD and IR injury was attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: A safe and novel agent, Gal-SOD has a protective effect against hepatic warm IR injury.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Leiomyosarcoma occurring in the ligamentum teres of the liver: a case report and a review of seven reported cases.

We treated a 49-year-old male with leiomyosarcoma of the ligamentum teres of the liver. Preoperative hepatic imagings revealed a mass in the median segment of the liver. The patient underwent surgery, and the mass, measuring 6x5cm in size, was pathologically diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma arising from the ligamentum teres. To our knowledge, only eight cases of this rare tumor have been reported to date in the English literature.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗