Structural Phase Transition in the Superconducting Pyrochlore Oxide Cd2Re2O7

We report a structural phase transition found at Ts = 200 K in a pyrochlore oxide Cd2Re2O7 which shows superconductivity at Tc = 1.0 K. X-ray diffractionexperiments indicate that the phase transition is of the second order, from a high-temperature phase with the ideal cubic pyrochlore structure (space group Fd-3m) to a low-temperature phase with another cubic structure (space group F-43m). It is accompanied by a dramatic change in the resistivity and magnetic susceptibility and thus must induce a significant change in the electronic structure of Cd2Re2O7.Comment: 4 pages, 4figures, proceeding for ISSP

Standardized less invasive living donor hemihepatectomy by the hybrid method through short upper midline incision

Recently, applications of less invasive liver surgery in living donor hepatectomy (LDH) have been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a hybrid method with a midline incision for LDH

Transition of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes during Liver Regeneration in Humans

Background/Aims: Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels tend to increase after hepatectomy, however, no previous examinations have yet focused on the relationship between liver regeneration and the individual ALP isoenzymes levels. Methodology: Forty living liver transplantation donors who underwent hemi-hepatectomy were herein investigated. We evaluated the serum ALP levels and ALP isoenzyme levels preoperatively and postoperatively. The liver regeneration rate (LRR) was calculated using volumetry. According to the LRR, we divided the donors into two groups, consisting of a high regeneration group (HG) and a low regeneration group (LG). Results: The total serum ALP levels increased gradually after hepatectomy and peaked on postoperative days (POD) 14. ALP-1 was not detected in any donor preoperatively; however it was detected after hepatectomy, peaking on POD 7. The serum ALP-2 level increased after hepatectomy, reaching a peak level on POD 14. The ALP-2 levels gradually increased after hepatectomy and reached peak levels on POD 14 in both groups. However, the ALP-2 level on POD 14 was significantly higher in HG than LG. Conclusions: The serum ALP- 2 levels after POD 14 might therefore be a useful indicator of favorable liver regeneration following hepatectomy, especially in patients who have a normal liver function

Transition of serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes during liver regeneration in humans

Background/Aims: Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels tend to increase after hepatectomy. However, no previous examinations have yet focused on the relationship between liver regeneration and the individual ALP isoenzymes level. Methodology: Forty living liver transplantation donors who underwent hemi-hepatectomy were herein investigated. We evaluated the serum ALP levels and ALP isoenzyme levels preoperatively and postoperatively. The liver regeneration rate (LRR) was calculated using volumetry. According to the LRR, we divided the donors into two groups, consisting of a high regeneration group (HG) and a low regeneration group (LG). Results: The total serum ALP levels increased gradually after hepatectomy and peaked on postoperative day (POD) 14. ALP-1 was not detected in any donor preoperatively. However, it was detected after hepatectomy, peaking on POD 7. The serum ALP-2 level increased after hepatectomy, reaching a peak level on POD 14. The ALP-2 levels gradually increased after hepatectomy and reached peak levels on POD 14 in both groups. However, the ALP-2 level on POD 14 was significantly higher in HG than LG. Conclusions: The serum ALP-2 levels after POD 14 might therefore be a useful indicator of favorable liver regeneration following hepatectomy, especially in patients who have a normal liver function

Is preservation of middle hepatic vein tributaries during right hemi-hepatectomy beneficial for live donor liver transplantation?

Background/Aims: When right hemi-hepatectomy without middle hepatic vein (MHV) is performed in a living donor (LD), MHV tributaries such as V5 and V8 may be preserved during parenchymal transection to preserve liver function and reduce the damage of the graft. However, no study has so far investigated whether this preservation of MHV tributaries during parenchymal transection has impact on live donor operation or graft function. Methodology: Of 52 hepatectomies for right lobe LD, MHV tributaries were preserved during hepatic parenchymal transection in 11 cases, while, in the remaining 41 cases MHV tributaries were sacrificed when those were encountered during hepatic parenchymal transection. Results: There was no significant difference in blood loss, operative time, zenith liver enzyme level in a donor and rate of graft failure in a recipient. Conclusions: It was demonstrated that there was no significant effect of outflow preservation from MHV tributaries on LD hepatectomy for right lobe donation and subsequent liver transplantation

Are there any similarities in the hepatic vascular anatomy among blood relatives?

Background/Aims: The existence of similarities in the hepatic vascular anatomy among blood relatives (BR) have never been studied before. Since in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the donor may be a BR, an opportunity is available to assess whether there are similarities in the hepatic vascular anatomy among BR. Methodology: We conducted an analysis of 61 LDLT during the period from January 2004 to August 2008. Based on preoperative multi-detector computed tomography data, the hepatic arteries (HA) were classified into 4 groups, the portal vein (PV) was classified into 2 groups and the right hepatic vein (RHV) was classified into 2 groups. The data of each group were then compared between BR (n=47) and NBR (n=14). Results: With regard to the HA anatomy, 30 cases (68%) of the BR donor matched that of the recipient and 9 cases (69%) in the NBR donor. The PV anatomy was matched in 41 cases (87%) of BR donor and 11 cases (79%) in the NBR donor. The anatomy of the RHV was matched in 25 cases (53%) in the BR donor and 9 cases (64%) in NBR donor. There was no significant difference in all contexts. Conclusions: No similarities were therefore observed in the hepatic vascular anatomy among BR

Tumor thrombectomy via a surgically reopened umbilical vein combined with right hemihepatectomy in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma.

This report presents a case of a patient with a huge hepatocellular carcinoma in the right lobe of the liver with an extensive portal venous tumor thrombus extending into the main portal trunk and left portal branch. The patient underwent extended right hemihepatectomy with tumor thrombectomy with direct extraction from an opening of the ventral wall of the right portal vein and using a balloon catheter to push the tumor thrombus via the surgically reopened umbilical vein. This technique seems useful in cases of tumor thrombus that extend deep into the umbilical portion of the left portal vein. In addition, this technique may have minimized the intraoperative migration of the tumor thrombus into the future remnant liver by occluding portal flow with the balloon catheter during the thrombectomy

The expression of transporter OATP2/OATP8 decreases in undetectable hepatocellular carcinoma by Gd-EOB-MRI in the explanted cirrhotic liver

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the detectability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the explanted cirrhotic liver using gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-MRI) and the degree of organic anion transporter OATP2/OATP8 (OATP1B1/1B3) HCC which could not be preoperatively detected by multi-detector computed tomography (MD-CT) and Gd-EOB-MRI. Methods: Eleven patients (HBV 3, HCV 7, nonBnonC 1) out of 145 recipients of liver transplantation were analyzed. The detectability by each imaging modality and the expression of OATP2/OATP8 of HCC were analyzed using the whole liver thin sliced histological and immunohistochemical examination retrospectively. Results: The imaging examination detected 17 lesions of HCC by MDCT and/or Gd-EOB-MRI. Only one lesion detected by Gd-EOB-MRI had well differentiated and minute (7 mm) HCC. However, the histological examination revealed newly 11 lesions and one false-positive lesion of HCC in the explanted livers. The median diameter of the preoperatively undetectable HCC by imaging was 8 mm (2-12). The histological characteristic of the preoperatively undetectable HCC was well differentiated HCC (10/11). The accuracy rate in MDCT and Gd-EOB-MRI was 53.6 % (15/28) and 57.1 % (16/28). The rate of positive predictive value in MDCT and Gd-EOB-MRI was 93.7 % (15/16) and 94.2 % (16/17), respectively. The expression of OATP2/OATP8 in the preoperatively undetectable HCC was negative in nine lesions, was weak positive in two lesions. Conclusions: The detectability of Gd-EOB-MRI is almost equal to MDCT in a cirrhotic liver. Small HCCs were difficult to detect even with Gd-EOB-MRI. The transporter of OATP2/OATP8 was less expressed in the preoperatively undetectable HCCs