ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen protein in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis tissues, and to explore its relationship with the biological behavior in progress of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).
MethodsTwenty samples of normal liver tissues and liver tissues at the edge of the lesion with HAE in our hospital from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2014 were collected, and HE and Masson staining were performed. The pathological changes and the degree of fibrosis of liver tissues around HAE lesion were observed under light microscope. The expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen protein in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining.
ResultsThe degree of liver fibrosis of liver tissues at the edge of the lesion with HAE was grade Ⅱ, and the degree of fibrosis of normal liver tissues was grade 0, the difference between the two was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The color index of type Ⅰand type Ⅲ collagen protein in the liver tissues at the edge of the lesion with HAE was 7.45±1.85 and 8.00±1.62, respectively, which were higher than those of normal liver tissues (3.10±1.02 and 3.50±0.89), the difference were statistically significant (t=-9.21, P=0.001;t=-10.88, P=0.001).
ConclusionsThere is liver fibrosis around the lesion in the patients with HAE. HAE may promote the expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen and then induce the occurrence of liver fibrosis.
Objectives To observe the expression of key proteins in the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway of pyroptosis in the mouse model of hepatic Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infection and explore its correlation. Methods Twenty-five BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the infected group. The infected group was injected with 0.2 mL suspension of protoscolex (including 3 000 protoscoleces) injected under the liver capsule to establish a model of secondary infection with hepatic Em. The control group was treated without any treatments and conventional feeding was conducted. The mice were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, and 5 months after infection. The liver was harvested and observed for gross morphology. HE staining and transmission electron microscopy were performed to observe the histopathological changes. The expressions of key proteins in the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway of pyroptosis and the IL-1β, a downstream factor of pyroptosis in the liver were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and ELISA. Results Compared with the control group, the cystic lesions on the surface of liver tissues in the infected group mice gradually increased and protruded from the liver surface with the extension of infection time. HE staining showed various pathological changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia in the liver lesions to varying degrees. After 2 months of Em infection, transmission electron microscope observation showed that the cell membrane of hepatocytes were broken and discontinuous, conforming to the "punching" phenomenon of pyroptosis. The results of ELISA showed that the concentration of IL-1β in liver homogenate of mice after 1, 2, 3 and 5 months of Em infection were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (F=127.2, P<0.05). Immunohistochemical examination showed that the positive cell ratios of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 in liver of mice infected with Em at 1, 2, 3 and 5 months, were higher than that of the control group, and the difference were statistically significant (F=114.6, P<0.05; F=85.89, P<0.05). The Western blot results showed that the relative expression levels of Caspase-1, Xiaopi D, and NLRP3 proteins in the liver of infected mice showed a trend of first increasing (the expression of Caspase-1 and GSDMD reached their peak at 1 month of infection, while the expression of NLRP3 reached its peak at 2 months of infection) and then decreasing. There were statistically significant differences between the infection groups at different time points and the control group, as well as comparison between the infection groups at different time points there were also statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusion It is feasible to establish mouse Em infection model by “skin incision and liver puncture through abdominal muscle layer”. There is a new type of programmed cell death, pyroptosis, after Em infection in mouse liver. It may play a role in inflammation amplification through pyroptosis NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.
ObjectiveTo summarize and analyze the application of ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA) in the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases. MethodThe related literature about ELRA used to treat various hepatobiliary space-occupyingdiseases at home and abroad in recent years was comprehensively searched and summarized. ResultsELRA had overcome the limitations of limited operational space in traditional surgery for the treatment of hepatobiliary space-occupying diseases reduced dependence on donor livers, and avoided post-transplant rejection. It had been applied in the treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, liver cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and rare liver space-occupying diseases. ConclusionsWith the maturation of ELRA techniques and the continuous improvement of ex vivo liver perfusion technology, along with rigorous preoperative evaluation and meticulous postoperative management, postoperative complications of ELRA have significantly decreased compared to the initial stages of its application. By strictly adhering to surgical indications, this procedure is expected to be used treatment in an increasing number of hepatobiliary space-occupying diseases.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research status and new directions of surgical treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) in clinic, and to provide reference for further research in improving the rate of radical surgery.MethodThe recent literatures on the studies of HAE were reviewed.ResultsAlthough the biological behavior of HAE was similar to that of malignant tumor, the clinical symptoms appeared late as the intrahepatic lesions often grow slowly. At present, the treatment of this disease was mainly surgical operation, among which radical resection was the first choice. Drug therapy was also of great value in controlling disease progression and recurrence. In recent years, with the progress of surgical technology, the surgical method had gradually developed to the direction of multi-mode combination, especially for those cases that had not been able to perform conventional radical surgery before.ConclusionThe treatment concept of clinical multi-mode combination can benefit more patients, even achieve clinical radical resection, and improve the rate of radical resection.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application of in vivo hepatectomy with preservation of retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) with the invasion of IVC. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of a complicated HAE patient with large lesion (maximum cross-section 12.6 cm×9.6 cm), infiltrative growth, unclear boundary with surrounding tissues, and invasions of diaphragm and IVC (invasion length up to 4.6 cm) admitted to the Department of Liver Surgery in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University in December 2021 was retrospectively collected. The three-dimensional reconstruction of the liver model was performed by Mimics Medical 21.0 software before operation. The invading IVC of the right liver lesion was measured and the resection was simulated. During the operation, the HAE lesion and the affected IVC were gradually separated from IVC by the hemostatic forceps, and the residual lesions were gradually removed. ResultsIn this patient, the HAE lesion of right liver was resected, the IVC was entirely preserved, and the resection of liver was consistent with the preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction plan. The operation time was 275 min, the bleeding was approximately 500 mL. On the first day after the operation, the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased, no obvious abnormalities were observed in the plasma albumin and bilirubin, the patient recovered and was discharged on the seventh day after the operation. No complications occurred after the operation, and no recurrence or metastasis of HAE was observed during follow-up period. ConclusionsHepatectomy with preservation of retrohepatic IVC for HAE with invasion of IVC is safe and effective. Taking albendazole regularly after surgery will help maintain disease-free survival.
Objective
To explore feasibility and safety of ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation in treating end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with secondary cavernous transformation of portal vein.
Methods
The patient was diagnosed with the end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with secondary cavernous transformation of portal vein. The ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were used to access the characteristics of the lesions and the extent of involvement of the portal vein and its branches. The liver model was reconstructed using a three-dimensional imaging data analysis system (EDDA Technology, Inc. USA), the remnant liver volume and the extent of involvement of the first hepatic hilum were recorded. Then the multidisciplinary team repetitively discussed the risks and procedures involved in the surgery. Finally, the ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation was proposed.
Results
The preoperative evaluation showed the patient had a large intrahepatic lesion which severely invaded the retrohepatic inferior vena cava, the right hepatic vein, and the middle hepatic vein and were completely occluded, the left hepatic vein was partially invaded, and the portal vein was spongiform. The remnant liver volume was 912 mL, the ratio of residual liver volume to standard liver volume was 0.81. The preoperative liver function Child-Pugh score was grade A. The ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation was successfully managed according to the expected schedule. The autografts (made by patient’s great saphenous vein) were used to reconstruct the hepatic vein and portal vein, and the retrohepatic inferior vena cava was not reconstructed. The patient recovered well and was discharged on day 20 after the operation.
Conclusions
Ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation could successfully be applied in treating patient with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with secondary cavernous transformation of portal vein. Adequate preoperative assessment and management of the first hepatic hilum are key to this operation.
ObjectiveTo explore the reasonable and feasible safe distance for radical resection of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). MethodsLiver samples were collected prospectively from 20 HAE patients (from Jan. 2019 to Jun. 2019) undergoing liver resection in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. A total of three samples containing lesion and adjacent liver tissue were collected from each patient, which were divided into lesion group, 0 to0.5 cm liver tissue group (contained 0.5 cm), 0.5 to 1.0 cm liver tissue group (contained 1.0 cm), 1.0 to 1.5 cm liver tissue group (contained 1.5 cm), and 1.5 to 2.0 cm liver tissue group (contained 2.0 cm). Comparisons of the Cox1 expressionand the liver fibrosis area between HAE lesion and adjacent liver tissues were performed. ResultsBoth expression of Cox1 and fibrosis area in HAE lesion were significantly higher than those in the adjacent liver tissues (P<0.000 1). However, there was no significant difference among the four kinds of adjacent liver tissues (P>0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of Cox1 and the fibrosis area both in HAE lesion and adjacent liver tissues (P<0.05). ConclusionsBoth the expression of Cox1 and degree of the liver fibrosis are significant higher in HAE lesion comparing to adjacent liver tissues, however, no significant difference is found among adjacent liver tissues. Consequently, a safe distance of 0.5 cm may be reasonable and feasible on the basis of the criteria for sample collection in the study.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of preoperative red blood cell distribution width to platelet count ratio (RPR) and platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) scoring for postoperative complications after radical resection of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the clinicopathologic data of patients diagnosed with HAE and underwent radical hepatectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from January 2018 to October 2022 were retrospectively collected. The risk factors affecting postoperative complications after radical hepatectomy for HAE were analyzed by univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis, which were used to construct the nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the value in predicting postoperative complications by nomogram model. The discrimination of the nomogram was evaluated using Bootstrap internal 1 000 resampling and evaluated using a consistency index. The predicted postoperative complications probability by nomogram and actual postoperative complications probability were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and the calibration curve was drawn. The calibration ability of the nomogram model was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The decision curve analysis was used to evaluate clinical benefit of the nomogram model. ResultsA total of 160 patients with HAE radical hepatectomy were included, of which 105 had no postoperative complications and 55 had postoperative complications. The multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the operation time ≥207 min, intraoperative bleeding ≥650 mL, and albumin ＜38 g/L, RPR ≥0.054, and higher PALBI grading (3 levels) were the risk factors affecting postoperative complications after HAE radical hepatectomy (OR＞1, P<0.05). Based on the risk factors, the nomogram was constructed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95%CI) predicted by the nomogram for the postoperative complications was 0.873 (0.808, 0.937), with an optimal cutoff value of 0.499. The consistency index was 0.855 for discriminating postoperative complications after HAE radical hepatectomy. The calibration curve was tested by Hosmer-Limeshow and showed a good fit between the predicted curve by the nomogram and actual curve (χ2=3.193, P=0.367), indicating that the nomogram had a good calibration ability. The decision curve analysis showed that there was a good clinical applicability within the range of 11% to 93% of the threshold probability. ConclusionsThe preoperative RPR and PALBI scoring are risk factors affecting postoperative complications after radical hepatectomy for HAE. The nomogram constructed with risk factors including RPR and PALBI has a good predictive value for postoperative complications after radical hepatectomy for HAE.
Objective
To evaluate effects of three-dimensional (3D) visualized reconstruction technology on short-term benefits of different extent of resection in treating hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) as well as some disadvantages.
Methods
One hundred and fifty-two patients with HAE from January 2014 to December 2016 in the Department Liver Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University were collected, there were 80 patients with ≥4 segments and 72 patients with ≤3 segments of liver resection among these patients, which were designed to 3D reconstruction group and non-3D reconstruction group according to the preference of patients. The imaging data, intraoperative and postoperative indicators were recorded and compared.
Results
The 3D visualized reconstructions were performed in the 79 patients with HAE, the average time of 3D visualized reconstruction was 19 min, of which 13 cases took more than 30 min and the longest reached 150 min. The preoperative predicted liver resection volume of the 79 patients underwent the 3D visualized reconstruction was (583.6±374.7) mL, the volume of intraoperative actual liver resection was (573.8±406.3) mL, the comparison of preoperative and intraoperative data indicated that both agreed reasonably well (P=0.640). Forty-one cases and 38 cases in the 80 patients with ≥4 segments and 72 patients with ≤3 segments of liverresection respectively were selected for the 3D visualized reconstruction. For the patients with ≥4 segments of liver resection, the operative time was shorter (P=0.021) and the blood loss was less (P=0.047) in the 3D reconstruction group as compared with the non-3D reconstruction group, the status of intraoperative blood transfusion had no significant difference between the 3D reconstruction group and the non-3D reconstruction group (P=0.766). For the patients with ≤3 segments of liver resection, the operative time, the blood loss, and the status of intraoperative blood transfusion had no significant differences between the 3D reconstruction group and the non-3D reconstruction group (P>0.05). For the patients with ≥4 segments or ≤3 segments of liver resection, the laboratory examination results within postoperative 3 d, complications within postoperative 90 d, and the postoperative hospitalization time had no significant differences between the 3D reconstruction group and the non-3D reconstruction group (P>0.05).
Conclusion
3D visualized reconstruction technology contributes to patients with HAE ≥4 segments of liver resection, it could reduce intraoperative blood loss and shorten operation time, but it displays no remarkable benefits for ≤3 segments of liver resection.
ObjectiveTo discuss various surgical methods for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
MethodsThe clinical data of 98 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis treated in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2004 to 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Palliative surgeries were performed in 9 cases, radical hepatectomies were performed in 69 cases, liver transplantations were performed in 20 cases, in which 12 cases were performed by liver allotransplantation, and 8 cases were performed by liver autotransplantation.
ResultsThere was no death case during perioperative period. The rate of postoperative complications of the radical hepatectomy (11.6%, 8/69) was significantly lower than that of the palliative surgery (44.4%, 4/9), which had statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The followup time was from 4 months to 6 years, the average time was 36 months. The postoperative recurrence rate in the radical hepatectomy (1.4%, 1/69) was significantly lower than that in the palliative surgery (55.6%, 5/9), which had statistically significant difference (P<0.05). During follow-up period, the mortality of the palliative surgery (33.33%, 3/9) was also significantly higher than that of the radical hepatectomy (0, 0/69), which had statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Four patients underwent liver transplantation were death within 3 months (20.0%).
ConclusionsRadical hepatectomy should be the first choice for alveolar echinococcosis. In this research, although the rates of postoperative complications and recurrence in palliative surgery are higher than those in radical hepatectomy, palliative surgery, for the patients who had lose the opportunity to perform radical hepatectomy, could be used to alleviate symptoms and physical signs, improve quality of life, delay progression of this disease. Although risk of liver transplantation is high, this might be an alternative for advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
