Successful Arterial Embolisation of Giant Liver Haemangioma

A 28-year old man presented with a symptomatic giant haemangioma. On June 26, 1983, at laparotomy, no resection was attempted because the lesion involved the right lobe of the liver and a part of segments II and III. The patient underwent a right hepatic arterial embolisation with gelatine sponge particles. During follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. Five-year review by CT-scan showed a diminution of the size of the haemangioma and hypertrophy of the left lobe. On October 21, 1988, the patient was reoperated on for liver abscess and complete necrosis of the haemangioma. A right hepatectomy was performed. In conclusion, the long-term effect of hepatic arterial embolisation, as demonstrated in our case by regular CT-scans, is useful in cases of diffuse haemangioma as an alternative to hazardous major liver resection. To our knowledge, the long-term effect of hepatic arterial embolisation on symptoms and tumor size have never been reported for giant liver haemangioma

Towards the digital university: a brief introduction to E-Texts and open access

The notion of "E-texts" or "electronic texts" made its way onto the agenda of the Academic Support Committee in April 2009. This interest in E-Text was prompted by an inquiry to the Committee Chair by several faculty members who had questions about academic publisher presentations that were occurring on campus. Following from the Committee discussions, a Subcommittee was struck to examine the trends, tools and potential of e-text as it relates to academic resources. The Subcommittee held its first meeting on May xx, 2009 and established the intial Terms of Reference for the working group. The following document reports our findings and reflects the nature of these conversations. The report conveys how E-Texts are currently dealt with by publishers, by the University Bookstore, and by Library collections. As well, it describes the concept of Open Access as it applies to the individuals' ability to electronically publish academic materials, as a way of making academic information available to students and faculty alike

Impact of Preoperative Bevacizumab on Complications After Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases: Case-Matched Control Study

Background: Chemotherapy may increase postoperative morbidity and mortality after liver surgery. Especially bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), could have a detrimental effect. To assess the impact of neoadjuvant bevacizumab on clinical outcome after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) this case-matched control study was initiated. Methods: The multicentric data collection was performed in the Swiss HPB Center of the University Hospital Zurich (CH), the Department of Digestive Surgery and Transplantation Strasbourg (F), and the Division of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery of "Josep Tureta” Hospital Girona (E). Consecutive patients operated onbetween July 2005 and December 2007 due to CRLMs who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were assessed. Patients were divided in two groups: group A had neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bevacicumab, and group B had it without bevacizumab. Results: No differences in overall morbidity (56 vs. 40% in the bevacizumab and control groups, respectively, p=0.23) or mortality could be documented. Similarly, the incidence of severe postoperative complications was not statistically different between the bevacizumab and control groups (31 and 18%, respectively, p=0.31). Wound complications were comparable (11% in the bevacizumab group compared and 9% in the control group, p=1.00). However, bevacizumab was associated with a significantly decreased incidence of postoperative hepatic insufficiency (7 vs. 20%, p=0.03). Conclusions: No impact on the incidence or severity of complications by bevacizumab could be shown. Bevacizumab may even reduce the incidence of liver failure after liver surger

Scavenger receptor class B type I is a key host factor for hepatitis C virus infection required for an entry step closely linked to CD81.

International audienceHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) has been shown to bind HCV envelope glycoprotein E2, participate in entry of HCV pseudotype particles, and modulate HCV infection. However, the functional role of SR-BI for productive HCV infection remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of SR-BI as an entry factor for infection of human hepatoma cells using cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc). Anti-SR-BI antibodies directed against epitopes of the human SR-BI extracellular loop specifically inhibited HCVcc infection in a dose-dependent manner. Down-regulation of SR-BI expression by SR-BI-specific short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) markedly reduced the susceptibility of human hepatoma cells to HCVcc infection. Kinetic studies demonstrated that SR-BI acts predominately after binding of HCV at an entry step occurring at a similar time point as CD81-HCV interaction. Although the addition of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) enhanced the efficiency of HCVcc infection, anti-SR-BI antibodies and SR-BI-specific siRNA efficiently inhibited HCV infection independent of lipoprotein. Conclusion: Our data suggest that SR-BI (i) represents a key host factor for HCV entry, (ii) is implicated in the same HCV entry pathway as CD81, and (iii) targets an entry step closely linked to HCV-CD81 interaction

Evaluation de la cinétique de régénération hépatique et de l'efficacité de transplantation d"hépatocytes dans différents modèles murins d'insuffisance hépatique

La régénération hépatique a été étudiée chez le rat Sprague-Dawley normal ou en insuffisance hépatique induite par des toxiques, tels le thioacétamide et la D-Galactosamine, ou après hépatectomie partielle. Selon le type d'atteinte la ploïdie hépatocytaire lors de la régénération varie considérablement, démontrant l'existence de mécanismes de régénération différents. L'induction, chez la souris Nude, de différents types d'insuffisance hépatique mimant la clinique nous a permis d'évaluer dans ces modèles l'efficacité de la greffe d'hépatocytes de rat enrichis ou non en hépatocytes diploïdes ou tétraploïdes. Les résultats indiquent que l'implantation cellulaire demeure faible en toutes circonstances, avec des variations selon l'insuffisance induite. Des investigations sont requises afin d'améliorer le taux de cellules implantées au sein du parenchyme hépatique receveur, dans l'optique de mettre à disposition un traitement alternatif fiable à la transplantation hépatique orthotopique. Résumé anglais (1000 caractères espaces compris) Hepatic regeneration was studied in normal Sprague-Dawley rat after hepatic injury induced by toxics such as thioacetamide and D-Galactosamine or after partial hepatectomy. Hepatocyte ploidy in regenerating livers strongly depends on the injury, thus demonstrating the existence of different regeneration mechanisms. Induction in Nude mice of liver injury relevant to various clinical situations allowed us the study of hepatocyte transplantation efficacy in those models with cell suspensions enriched or not in diploid or tetraploid hepatocytes. Implantation of hepatocytes remained rather weak under any circumstances and varied according to the type of injury. Future investigations are required in order to improve the rate of hepatocyte implantation into the parenchyma leading to a secure alternative to orthotopic liver transplantation.STRASBOURG-Sc. et Techniques (674822102) / SudocSudocFranceF