World journal of gastroenterology : WJG
-
World J. Gastroenterol. · Jan 2015
Case ReportsPulmonary embolism after arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: an autopsy case report.
We report an extremely rare case of pulmonary lipiodol embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 77-year-old man who was diagnosed with a huge HCC was admitted for TACE. Immediately after the procedure, this patient experienced severe dyspnea. ⋯ However, his condition did not improve, and he died on the following day. A subsequent autopsy revealed that the cause of death was ARDS due to pulmonary lipiodol embolism. No cases have been previously reported for which an autopsy was performed to explain the most probable mechanism of pulmonary lipiodol embolism; thus, ours is the first report for such a rare case.
-
World J. Gastroenterol. · Jan 2015
ReviewPNPLA3 I148M variant in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: demographic and ethnic characteristics and the role of the variant in nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis.
Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3 or adiponutrin) displays anabolic and catabolic activities in lipid metabolism, and has been reported to be significantly associated with liver fat content. Various studies have established a strong link between the 148 isoleucine to methionine protein variant (I148M) of PNPLA3 and liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, detailed demographic and ethnic characteristics of the I148M variant and its role in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis have not been fully elucidated. ⋯ First, we analyze the impact of demographic and ethnic characteristics of the PNPLA3 I148M variant and the presence of metabolic syndrome on the association between PNPLA3 I148M and NAFLD. Then, we explore the role of the PNPLA3 I148M in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis, and hypothesize the underlying mechanisms by speculating a pro-fibrogenic network. Finally, we briefly highlight future research that may elucidate the specific mechanisms of the PNPLA3 I148M variant in fibrogenesis, which, in turn, provides a theoretical foundation and valuable experimental data for the clinical management of nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis.
-
World J. Gastroenterol. · Jan 2015
Editorial ReviewLiver enzymes, metabolomics and genome-wide association studies: from systems biology to the personalized medicine.
For several decades, serum levels of alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferases have been regarded as markers of liver injury, including a wide range of etiologies from viral hepatitis to fatty liver. The increasing worldwide prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease revealed that transaminases are strong predictors of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, atherothrombotic risk profile, and overall risk of metabolic disease. ⋯ Prediction of biomolecular interactions between the candidate genes recently discovered to be associated with plasma concentrations of liver enzymes showed interesting interconnectivity nodes, which suggest that regulation of aminotransferase activity is a complex and highly regulated trait. Finally, links between aminotransferase genes and metabolites are explored to understand the genetic contributions to the metabolic diversity.
-
World J. Gastroenterol. · Jan 2015
Comparative StudyPharmacological attenuation of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis induced hypersensitivity in rats.
To characterize an alcohol and high fat diet induced chronic pancreatitis rat model that mimics poor human dietary choices. ⋯ The AHF diet induces a chronic alcoholic pancreatitis in rats with measurable features resembling clinical patients with chronic pancreatitis and type 3c diabetes mellitus.
-
World J. Gastroenterol. · Jan 2015
Should temporary extracorporeal continuous portal diversion replace meso/porta-caval shunts in "small-for-size" syndrome in porcine hepatectomy?
To investigate the feasibility of temporary extracorporeal continuous porta-caval diversion (ECPD) to relieve portal hyperperfusion in "small-for-size" syndrome following massive hepatectomy in pigs. ⋯ ECPD, which can dynamically modulate portal inflow, can reduce injury to the liver remnant and facilitate liver regeneration, and therefore should replace permanent meso/porta-caval shunts in "small-for-size" syndrome.