• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.639-644
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• 2016

Discovery of non-invasive diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for acute rejection in liver transplant patients would help to ensure the preservation of liver function in the graft, eventually contributing to improved graft and patient survival. We evaluated selected cytokines and chemokines in the sera from liver transplant patients as potential biomarkers for acute rejection, and found that the combined detection of IL-10, IL-17, and CXCL10 at 1-2 weeks post-operation could predict acute rejection following adult liver transplantation with 97% specificity and 94% sensitivity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2013

Tyrosinemia I (fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase deficiency) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of tyrosine metabolism that produces liver failure in infancy or a more chronic course of liver disease with cirrhosis, often complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma in childhood or early adolescence. We studied a 37-year-old woman with tyrosinemia I whose severe liver disease in infancy and rickets during childhood were resolved with dietary therapy. From 14 years of age, she resumed unrestricted diet with the continued presence of the biochemical features of tyrosinemia, yet maintained normal liver function. In adult years, she accumulated only a small amount of succinylacetone. Despite this evolution to a mild biochemical and clinical phenotype, she eventually developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Her fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase genotype consists of a splice mutation, IVS6-1G>T, and a novel missense mutation, p.Q279R. Studies of resected liver revealed the absence of hydrolytic activity and immunological expression of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase in tumour. In the non-tumoral areas, however, 53% of normal hydrolytic activity and immunologically present fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase were found. This case demonstrates the high risk of liver cancer in tyrosinemia I even in a seemingly favorable biological environment. In this study of tyrosinemia I, Case 2 with negative succinylacetone accumulation and the recovery of acute liver failure was compared with Case 1. Diet restriction and NTBC treatment are crucial to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma until liver transplant can take place and cure the condition. Further studies are needed to examine cases where liver cancer did not result despite clinical symptoms/signs of tyrosinemia type I.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.224-229
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• 2022

Biliary cast syndrome is an unusual complication in patients who have previously undergone liver transplantation. It occurs in approximately 5%-18% of such patients. Rare cases of biliary cast syndrome in patients without liver transplants have also been reported. The pathogenesis of biliary cast has not been clearly identified, although etiologic factors including post-transplant bile duct damage, ischemia, biliary infection, and presence of a post-operative biliary drainage tube have been proposed. Here we present a case of biliary cast that developed in a 49-year-old male who underwent a non-liver surgery after endoscopic and percutaneous management of common bile duct stone.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2007

Purpose: It has recently been reported that de novo HBV infection following liver transplantation is caused by grafts from HBcAb positive donors, and this phenomenon has been observed in one third of the liver transplant patients in our center. Therefore, we investigated the presence of HBV virus DNA in liver tissues obtained from HBcAb positive donors to determine the mechanism by which de novo HBV infection occurs. Methods: This study was conducted on 6 patients that were HBsAg negative, HBsAb positive, and HBcAb positive who were donors for liver transplantation between November 1997 and November 1998 at Asan Medical Center. We isolated DNA from a portion of liver biopsy tissues that were obtained during the operation, and then identified the surface and core region of HBV DNA using nested PCR. In addition, four children who received liver grafts from these donors were monitored to determine if they became afflicted with non-HBV related diseases while receiving prophylaxis consisting of short-term HBIG treatment and long-term treatment with an antiviral agent. Results: The surface antigen region was identified in all 6 donors and the core antigen region was observed in 4 of the 6 donors. However, no episodes of de novo HBV infection with prophylaxis were observed. Conclusion: The results of this study support the results of previous studies, which indicated that HBV infection may be the main cause of de novo HBV infection in patients that receive HBsAb positive and HBcAb positive donor grafts.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2015

Purpose: Metabolic liver disease (MLD) often progresses to life-threatening conditions. This study intends to describe the outcomes of liver transplantation (LTx) for MLD at a living donor-dominant transplantation center where potentially heterozygous carrier grafts are employed. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 54 patients with MLD who underwent LTx between November 1995 and February 2012 at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. The cumulative graft and patient survival rates were analyzed according to patient age, and living or deceased donor LTx. Recurrence of the original disease was also investigated. Results: The post-transplant cumulative patient survival rates at one, five, and 10 years were 90.7%, 87.5% and 87.5%, and the graft survival rates were 88.8%, 85.5%, and 85.5%, respectively. There were no differences in the patient survival rates according to the recipient age, human leukocyte antigen matching, and living or deceased donor LTx. There were also no differences in the patient survival rates between the MLD and the non-MLD groups for children. Recurrence of the original metabolic disease was not observed in any patient during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the living donor-dominant transplantation program is well-tolerated in MLD without recurrence of the original MLD using all types of transplantation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2923-2928
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• 2015

Background: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) has been stated as an Indian disease, with the highest number of cases being reported from certain districts of northeast India, which has an ethnically distinct population. Unfortunately there are no scientific reports on the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of the disease from this region. Aim: The present study evaluated the role of differential expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in the development of gall bladder anomalies. Materials and Methods: Blood and tissue samples were collected from patients undergoing routine surgical resection for clinically proven cases of gallbladder disease {cholelithiasis (CL, n=50), cholecystitis (CS, n=40) and GBC (n=30) along with adjacent histopathologically proved non-neoplastic controls (n=15)} with informed consent. Whole blood was also collected from age and sex matched healthy controls (n=25) for comparative analysis. Differential hTERT mRNA expression was evaluated by semi-quantitative rt-PCR and real-time PCR based analysis using ${\beta}$-actin as an internal control. Evaluation of differential hTERT protein expression was studied by Western blot analysis and immunoflourescence. Statistical analysis for differential expression and co-relation was performed by SPSSv13.0 software. Results: Gallbladder anomalies were mostly prevalent in females. The hTERT mRNA and protein expression increased gradiently from normal

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2004

Posttranplantations lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a common and life-threatening complication for soid organ transplantation associated with the use of chronic immunosuppression and Epstein-Barr virus. There is no standardized treatment algorithm, but numerous management strategies are vaiable. Partial splenic embolization (PSE) had been demonstrated to be an effetive alternatie to splenectomy for patients hypersplenism and portal hypertension. PSE has the advantages of non-invasive intervention and resolution of the complications of hypersplenism. We report the effect of the PSE in a 6-year old male liver transplantation recepient with PTLD who has undergone persistent hypersplenism post-transplant. We reduced immunosuppression agent, started antiviral agent. We started with interferon and IV globulin one month after admission. Hepatosplenomegaly and cervical lymphadenopathy were improved. But fever was not subside. We selectively embolized the lower pole of the spleen to achieve a 50~60% reduction in flow as determined by angiography. After embolization, fever subside and peripheral blood findings were improved. Follow up abdominal CT revealed reduced volume of spleen due to ischemic change and there was no multiple enlarged mesenteric lymphnode compared to preembolization state. We thick that PSE is a safe an effetive treatment modality of PTLD with persistent hypersplenism in patients twho failed to medical treatment.