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ABSTRACT: Ceramic laminates with strong interfaces between layers are considered a very promising material for different engineering
applications because of the potential for increasing fracture toughness by designing high residual compressive and low residual
tensile stresses in separate layers. In this work, Si3N4/Si3N4-TiN ceramic laminates with strong interfaces were manufactured by rolling and hot pressing techniques. The investigation
of their mechanical properties has shown that the increase in apparent fracture toughness can be achieved for the Si3N4/Si3N4-20wt.%TiN composite, while further increase of TiN content in the layers with residual tensile stresses lead to a formation
of multiple cracks, and as a result, a significant decrease in the mechanical performance of the composites. Micro-Raman spectroscopy
was used to measure the frequency shift across the Si3N4/Si3N4-20wt.%TiN laminate. These preliminary Raman results can be useful for further analysis of residual stress distribution in
the laminate.
Journal of Materials Science 09/2005; 40(20):5443-5450. · 2.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may induce tolerance across xenogeneic barriers. We have established a xenogeneic BMT model where hamster BM is transplanted into splenectomized LEW rat recipients resulting in high levels of engraftment. Unfortunately, graft vs. host disease (GVHD) with severe dermatitis developed in all rat recipients. We were successful in treating or preventing the dermatitis of this xenogeneic GVHD by the use of the T-cell suppressant tacrolimus. However, this compound did not prevent the development of a fatal liver injury in the rat recipients. This study was designed to elucidate the pathogenesis of this liver injury appearing in T-cell suppressed rat recipients of hamster BM. Splenectomized and irradiated (10 Gy) LEW rats received 300 x 106 unfractionated hamster BM cells. These BMT recipients were divided in 3 groups: Group I recipients (n = 8) did not receive further immunosuppression. Group II animals (n = 10) received tacrolimus 1 mg/kg/d for 7 d. Group III recipients (n = 6) were given the same daily dose of tacrolimus on a long-term basis. Chimerism was detected by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity of recipient's sera against rat and hamster lymph node cells was measured by complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) test. Immunofluorescence was used to detect hamster antirat antibodies on several recipient organs. In Group I, 2 out of 8 animals engrafted (25%) and survived for a median of 21 d showing the severe dermatitis characteristic of GVHD. In group II (n = 10), 9/10 rat recipients engrafted (90%) and survival was increased to a median of 53.7 days. However, these surviving recipients developed fatal GVHD not different from that observed in Group I recipients. All animals in Group III (n = 6) engrafted and did not show the characteristic dermatitis of GVHD. Their survival, however, was shortened to a median of 30.3 d by a severe liver injury. This injury was characterized by hepatocyte necrosis in zones 1 and 2 with polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell infiltration. Deposits of hamster immunoglobulins were present around the necrotic areas and in the portal veins. Moreover, antirat antibodies appeared in the circulation. These antibodies were sensitive to dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment indicating that they were of the IgM class. This study shows that xenogeneic GVHD may have a dual presentation in the hamster-to-rat model: a classical cellular GVHD not distinct to the allogeneic one and a humoral GVHD affecting solely the recipient liver. The degree of humoral injury is potentiated by T-cell suppression.
Xenotransplantation 09/2001; 8(3):213-21. · 2.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Infectious complications are the most frequent and severe complications of acute narcotizing pancreatitis (AP) with a mortality rate up to 80%. Although experimental and clinical studies suggest that the microbiologic source of pancreatic infection could be enteric, information in this regard is scant. This study evaluated bacterial translocation (BT) using mild and severe models of AP. Mild AP was induced by 6-hr continuous intravenous infusion of cerulein, while severe AP was induced by additional infusion of glycodeoxycholic acid into the biliopancreatic duct. BT was evaluated with organ cultures performed when animals were killed (24 hr). To confirm the gastrointestinal origin of the translocating microorganisms, fluorescent microspheres were also given to the animals in drinking water 24 hr before induction of AP. At the time of death beads were counted with a (fluorescence-activated cell sorter) (FACS) in peritoneal lavages and with fluorescent microscopy in frozen sections of the pancreata. Morphology of the distal small bowel showed significant changes in the animals with AP compared to controls, such as reduction of villus high and altered microvasculature. Mild AP induced BT to the pancreas in 100% of the animals, compared to pancreata from control groups. Severe AP induced increased BT to the pancreas. BT to liver and spleen was also significantly increased with AP. The presence of fluorescent microspheres confirmed their enteric derivation. This study provides evidence for the enteric origin of microorganisms responsible for pancreatic infectious complications during AP. The evidence of BT after laparotomy suggests an increased risk of infections with the association of these conditions. This could provide an explanation for the high mortality associated with laparotomy in course of AP.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences 06/2001; 46(5):1127-32. · 2.12 Impact Factor
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Transplantation Proceedings 10/2000; 32(6):1315. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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Transplantation Proceedings 09/2000; 32(5):1032-3. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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Transplantation Proceedings 09/2000; 32(5):1036-7. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The hypothesis that interleukin-6-IL-6/gp130 signaling is involved in liver and biliary epithelial cell (BEC) biology and growth control was tested by subjecting homozygous IL-6 deficient mice (IL-6-/-) and wild type (IL-6+/+) littermate controls to bile duct ligation (BDL).
During the first week after BDL, the two groups were compared with respect to routine liver injury tests, liver histology, BEC and hepatocyte DNA synthesis, together with the expression of mRNA and protein of IL-6 as well as related growth factors, and their receptors.
During the first week after BDL, there was marked upregulation of IL-6 mRNA and protein in the IL-6+/+ mice only in the vicinity of the biliary tree; whereas, biliary/peri-biliary IL-6R, HGF and met mRNA and protein increased in both groups. IL-6, HGF mRNA and protein localized to periductal inflammatory cells and stellate cells, while met and IL-6R protein were upregulated in the BEC and, to a lesser extent, in hepatocytes. This occurred during maximal proliferation of the BEC. Despite the absence of IL-6 in the IL-6-/- mice, there were only mildly phenotypic differences between the two groups, and no differences in mortality. Compared to IL-6+/+ controls, IL-6-/- mice showed slightly less BEC proliferation, a trend toward more liver injury, and significantly higher total serum bilirubin (TB) levels, suggestive of impaired biliary tree integrity. These changes were associated with slightly less HGF mRNA and protein expression in the IL-6-/- mice, but the differences were not significant. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), another gp-130 ligand, also showed marked peri-biliary upregulation after BDL in both groups, and also induced BEC DNA synthesis, in vitro.
The mild phenotypical differences between IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- mice in the acute response to BDL is most likely attributable to the redundancy of the gp-130 signaling system. However, the long-term response to BDL results in a distinct phenotype in the IL-6-/- mice, marked by a relentless rise in serum total bilirubin and an inability to maintain compensatory increase in liver mass.
Liver International 05/2000; 20(2):114-24.
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ABSTRACT: Co-trimoxazole is an antibiotic that is frequently used in organ transplant patients. Our objective was to determine the effect of co-trimoxazole on tacrolimus-mediated functional impairment of the kidney in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 (dextrose) received 5% dextrose and Group 2 (tacrolimus) received tacrolimus (1 mg/kg/day) as a continuous intravenous infusion for seven days. Group 3 (combination) received tacrolimus as above and co-trimoxazole (30 mg/kg/day trimethoprim and 150 mg/kg/day sulfamethoxazole) intraperitoneally for six or seven days. Biochemical and functional parameters were measured pre- and post-drug infusion. On day 7, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was evaluated using 3H-inulin while the effective renal plasma flow (ERPF)/cationic tubular secretion was assessed using 14C-tetraethylammoniumbromide(TEA). GFR (mL/min/kg) as measured by inulin clearance was higher (p < or = 0.05) in the dextrose (12.0 +/- 1.4) group as compared to tacrolimus group (6.0 +/- 1.3) and combination group (6.4 +/- 1.6), but there was no difference between the tacrolimus and combination group. ERPF/cationic tubular secretion (mL/min/kg) was also significantly higher in the dextrose group (62.6 +/- 10.3) as compared to the other two groups. ERPF/cationic tubular secretion was not different between the combination (33.3 +/- 5.9) and the tacrolimus (35.1 +/- 6.7) groups when there was no co-trimoxazole in the body. However, in the presence of co-trimoxazole ERPF/cationic tubular secretion was significantly reduced in the combination (23.1 +/- 3.5) group as compared to the tacrolimus group (35.1 +/- 6.7). These results indicate that co-trimoxazole does not further potentiate tacrolimus induced impairment in kidney function but is likely to further inhibit cationic tubular secretion in patients on tacrolimus therapy.
Renal Failure 11/1999; 21(6):635-45. · 0.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Guinea-pig livers are poorly reperfused when transplanted into rats. We have observed that, in contrast to that of the rat, the guinea-pig intrahepatic portal vein (PV) has a thick layer of smooth muscle. It is possible that, after perfusion of the liver with ice-cold saline, this could go into spasm, resulting in poor reperfusion. To test this hypothesis, guinea-pig livers were perfused with different solutions stored at varying temperatures and transplanted into LEW rats. To prevent xenograft hyperacute rejection, all xenograft recipients were treated with 80 U/kg cobra venom factor (CVF) i.v. on days -1 and 0. In addition to the percentage reperfusion, PV resistance and recipient survival were also monitored. In group I, liver xenografts perfused with ice-cold saline (4 degrees C) reperfused poorly (20-30%), resulting in the development of portal hypertension (16.5 cmH2O vs. 12 cmH2O in naive LEW rats) and shortened mean survival time (11.7 +/- 4.2 h). In contrast, group II livers perfused with saline at room temperature (23 degrees C) underwent homogeneous reperfusion (98-100%) with no increase in portal vein resistance, indicating that low temperature was the main trigger for the spasm of the PV. Moreover, recipient survival in this group was significantly prolonged to a mean of 22 + 2.6 h (P < 0.01). Although UW solution (group III) and the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (NP) (group IV) when used alone improved the degree of hepatic reperfusion, it was still not optimal. The supplementation, however, of UW solution with NP in group V animals resulted in homogeneous reperfusion (98%) with no portal hypertension and consistent prolonged graft survival of 21.0 +/- 1.7 h. Therefore, this study has determined that the riddle of the abnormal reperfusion of guinea-pig liver xenografts by rat blood is nonimmune mediated and is due to the spasm of the strong smooth muscle in the PV tree produced by cold perfusates.
Xenotransplantation 06/1999; 6(2):117-22. · 2.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the acute rejection of allografts, the interaction between Fas (CD95) and its ligand (FasL; CD95L) has been shown to be involved in mediating apoptotic cell death. The role, however, of these molecules in the pathogenesis of transplant vascular sclerosis is as yet undetermined. The present study was therefore designed to address this issue.
C3H/HEJ FasLgld (FasL-; H2k) spontaneously mutant mice were used either as donors or recipients of aortic allografts; wild-type C57B1/6 (B6; H2b) were used as corresponding recipients or donors (n=6/group), respectively. Controls included aortas transplanted across appropriate allogeneic and syngeneic strain combinations. For histopathological evaluations, the grafts were harvested at day 40 after transplantation, at which time, splenocytes and sera were also obtained for mixed leukocyte reaction and complement-mediated microcytotoxicity assays, respectively.
Similar to aortas obtained from allogeneic controls, allografts harvested from FasL- -->B6 recipients had morphological evidence of chronic rejection characterized by circumferential intimal thickening with partial disruption of the elastic membranes. Correspondingly, heightened antidonor cellular reactivity was also witnessed in these recipients. On the contrary, B6 allografts harvested from the majority of C3H-->FasL- recipients exhibited marked preservation of aortic morphology. Although these recipients had diminished antidonor cellular proliferation, the titers of alloantibodies were markedly elevated.
The presence of FasL-expressing functional cytotoxic T cells is required for the pathogenesis of transplant vascular sclerosis. The significant reduction and/or absence of chronic rejection with the concomitant retention of antidonor humoral response in C3H FasL- recipients of B6 aortas prompt us to suggest that perhaps posttransplantation vasculopathy is initiated by cell-mediated cytotoxicity with its perpetuation facilitated by alloantibodies.
Transplantation 05/1999; 67(10):1295-300. · 4.00 Impact Factor
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T Shimamura,
Y Zhu,
S Zhang,
M B Jin,
N Ishizaki,
A Urakami,
E Totsuka,
A Kishida,
R Lee, V Subbotin,
H Furukawa,
T E Starzl,
S Todo
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ABSTRACT: The suppressed production of nitric oxide (NO), associated with endothelial dysfunction, is thought to be a cause of ischemia and reperfusion injury of the liver. But findings of the salutary effects of NO enhancement on such injury have been conflicting. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that NO enhancement would attenuate ischemic liver injury. For this purpose, an NO precursor, L-arginine, and a novel NO donor, FK409, were applied to a 2-hour total hepatic vascular exclusion model in dogs.
L-arginine was administered IV at a dose of 100 mg/kg twice (n = 5), while 300 mg/kg twice of FK409 was infused continuously into the portal vein (n = 5). The drugs were given to the animals for 30 and 60 minutes before and after ischemia, respectively. Non-treated animals were used as the control (n = 10). Two-week survival, systemic and hepatic hemodynamics indices, liver function tests, energy metabolism, and histopathology were analyzed.
Both treatments comparably augmented hepatic tissue blood flow, decreased liver enzyme release, and increased high-energy phosphate restoration during the reperfusion period, all of which contributed to rescuing all of the treated animals from the 2-hour total hepatic ischemia. In contrast, ischemia caused 70% mortality in the control group. Histologically, structural abnormality and neutrophil infiltration were markedly attenuated by the treatments. Systemic hypotension was observed in the animals treated with FK409, however.
Our data demonstrate that NO enhancement alleviates the liver injury caused by ischemia and reperfusion. The supplementation of L-arginine, rather than FK409, is considered more applicable to clinical use because of the absence of systemic adverse effects.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons 02/1999; 188(1):43-52. · 4.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cyclic nucleotides mediate intracellular signal transduction of several vasodilators. In addition to its vascular relaxant effects, cAMP is known to protect endothelial cells and to suppress Kupffer cell activation. On the other hand, cGMP potently ameliorates adhesion of leukocytes and platelets. We tested the effects of two analogs of cyclic nucleotides (8bromo cyclic adenosine monophosphate [8br-cAMP] and 8bromo cyclic guanosine monophosphate [8br-cGMP]) in rat liver preservation.
In experiment 1, either analog (0.1-1.0 mM) alone was added to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution in a survival study. In experiment 2, donors and recipients were also treated with 8br-cAMP or 8br-cGMP, with the following three groups tested: group 1=control; group 2=administration of 8br-cAMP to donors, UW solution, and recipients; group 3=administration of 8br-cGMP to donors, UW solution, and recipients. Experiment 3 tested combined treatments: group 4=administration of 8br-cGMP to donors and UW solution, and cAMP to recipients; group 5=administration of 8br-cAMP to donors and UW solution, and 8br-cGMP to recipients. To elucidate the roles of each nucleotide, two further groups were tested: group 6=administration of 8br-cAMP to donors and UW solution; group 7=administration of 8br-cGMP to recipients. In experiment 4, rats in groups 1, 5, 6, and 7 were killed at several time points after reperfusion, and percent graft blood flow (%BF), number of accumulated neutrophils, plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1, and serum alanine aminotransferase levels were examined.
In experiments 1 and 2, no significant effect was observed on animal survival. In experiment 3, a significant increase in animal survival was observed only in group 5 (100%, 7/7, P=0.0004 vs. group 1: 16.7%, 2/12). In group 5, no improvement of %BF was observed during the early phase of reperfusion (15 and 30 min) compared with that in group 1. On the other hand, the %BF of group 5 was significantly higher in the later phase (6 hr), consistent with the decrease in accumulation of neutrophils observed then. Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and serum alanine aminotransferase levels were also reduced with this treatment. Histologically, the bleeding and segmental necrosis, observed in group 1, were completely prevented in group 5.
We conclude that restoration of grafts with cAMP and administration of cGMP to recipients led to successful transplantation, and that the two analogs acted synergistically in opposing preservation and reperfusion injury without improvement of graft blood flow during the early phase of reperfusion. The effect was due to their regulation of neutrophil activation and sequestration.
Transplantation 11/1998; 66(7):844-51. · 4.00 Impact Factor
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Transplantation Proceedings 07/1998; 30(4):941-2. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Aortic allotransplantation is a reliable procedure to study the evolvement of chronic rejection in mice. The progressive nature of this process in mice is characterized by diffuse and concentric myointimal proliferation which is inevitably associated with variable degrees of luminal constriction. These vascular changes are comparable to those that are witnessed in organ allografts undergoing chronic rejection in humans, underscoring its utility as a model of choice for the study of the development of this lesion. Whilst improved surgical technique has resulted in markedly enhanced graft survival, the results are far from being acceptable. Realizing this limitation, we embarked on developing a modified technique for aortic transplantation which would allow for improved graft survival in mice. A bypass conduit was created by end-to-side anastomosis of a segment of the donor's thoracic aorta into the infrarenal portion of the recipient's abdominal aorta. Using this technique, the graft survival was >98% with evidence in allotransplanted aorta of morphological changes pathognomonic of chronic rejection. On the contrary, no histopathological anomalies were discerned in aortic grafts transplanted across syngeneic animals. This modified surgical approach ameliorates the unacceptably high graft loss associated with earlier techniques, further extending the utility of this model as a tool to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms rudiment to the evolvement of chronic rejection.
Microsurgery 02/1998; 18(6):368-71. · 1.61 Impact Factor
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Hepatology 01/1998; 26(6):1689-91. · 11.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study, using a murine model of aortic allotransplantation, the role of blockade of signaling through CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40 ligand costimulatory pathways in the evolvement of posttransplant vasculopathy was examined.
Aortic allografts were transplanted across C57BL/1OJ (H2b)-->C3H (H2k) strain combinations. Transient or more stable blockade of second signaling was achieved by either a single injection or multiple injections of CTLA4-Ig fusion protein (200 microg/dose i.p.) and/or anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) monoclonal antibody (250 microg i.m.). At day 30 after transplantation, the grafts were harvested for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination.
Similar to allografts of untreated animals, aortic allografts obtained from recipients treated with either CTLA4-Ig or anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody alone exhibited marked narrowing of the lumen primarily due to concentric intimal thickening caused by proliferation of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells. Contemporaneous treatment, however, with either a single injection or multiple injections of CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody resulted in marked diminution of intimal thickening. Interestingly, concurrent prolonged inhibition of CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L pathways resulted in complete abrogation of the development of posttransplant arteriopathy.
These data suggest that a more stable disruption of signaling through costimulatory pathways may be required to obviate the development of posttransplant vasculopathy.
Transplantation 12/1997; 64(12):1838-43. · 4.00 Impact Factor
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A Urakami,
S Todo,
Y Zhu,
S Zhang,
M B Jin,
N Ishizaki,
T Shimamura,
E Totsuka, V Subbotin,
R Lee,
T E Starzl
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ABSTRACT: Enhanced production of endothelin-1 (ET-1), vasoconstrictive 21 amino acids produced by endothelial cells during ischemia and after reperfusion of the liver, is known to cause sinusoidal constriction and microcirculatory disturbances, which lead to severe tissue damage. Using a 2-hour hepatic vascular exclusion model in dogs, we tested our hypothesis that neutralization of ET-1 by monoclonal anti-ET-1 and anti-ET-2 antibody (AwETN40) abates vascular dysfunction and ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver.
After skeletonization, the liver was made totally ischemic by cross-clamping the portal vein, the hepatic artery, and the vena cava (above and below the liver). Veno-venous bypass was used to decompress splanchnic and inferior systemic congestion. AwETN40, 5 mg/kg, was administered intravenously 10 minutes before ischemia (treatment group, n = 5). Nontreated animals were used as controls (control group, n = 10). Animal survival, hepatic tissue blood flow, liver function tests, total bile acid, high-energy phosphate, ET-1 levels, and liver histopathology were studied.
Treatment with AwETN40 improved 2-week animal survival from 30% to 100%. Hepatic tissue blood flow after reperfusion was significantly higher in the treatment group. The treatment significantly attenuated liver enzyme release, total bile acid, and changes in adenine nucleotides. Immunoreactive ET-1 levels in the hepatic venous blood of the control group showed a significant increase and remained high for up to 24 hours after reperfusion. Histopathologic alterations were significantly lessened in the treatment group.
These results indicate that ET-1 is involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver, which can be ameliorated by the monoclonal anti-ET-1 and anti-ET-2 antibody AwETN40.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons 11/1997; 185(4):358-64. · 4.55 Impact Factor
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J W Marsh,
I Dvorchik,
M Subotin,
V Balan,
J Rakela,
E P Popechitelev, V Subbotin,
A Casavilla,
B I Carr,
J J Fung,
S Iwatsuki
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ABSTRACT: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been complicated by high recurrence rates. The ability to determine the risk and timing of HCC recurrence on an individual basis would greatly aid in the candidate selection process resulting in a more efficient use of donated organs and allow the individualization and better evaluation of adjuvant chemotherapy. The 214 patients who underwent OLTx in the presence of HCC were analyzed. From the 178 patients who survived more than 150 days, 71 (40%) have suffered HCC recurrence. Based on five risk factors, that is, gender, tumor number, lobar tumor distribution, tumor size, grade of vascular invasion, artificial neural network models predicting the likelihood of HCC recurrence within 1, 2, and 3 consecutive years after transplantation were developed. Based on model predictions, those combinations of risk factors that should/should not lead to recurrence were generated, allowing stratification of patients into the following three groups: 1) patients who should not suffer HCC recurrence and who should not need adjuvant therapy, 2) patients who will suffer recurrence and for whom postoperative chemotherapy significantly prolonged survival (but did not prevent recurrence), and 3) patients who may or may not suffer HCC recurrence and whose recurrence may be prevented by adjuvant chemotherapy. The outcome of OLTx for patients with HCC can be prognosticated based on a number of clinical variables. If verified through multicenter trials, these models could be made available to transplantation programs performing OLTx in the presence of HCC.
Hepatology 09/1997; 26(2):444-50. · 11.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Aortic allotransplantation in mice has been well established as a model of choice to study the evolvement of chronic rejection, the etiopathology of which is believed to be that of immune origin. This has prompted the postulation that prior induction of donor-specific tolerance would attenuate or abrogate the underlying events that culminate in posttransplant arteriosclerosis. To study the effects of donor-specific tolerance on chronic rejection, we performed orthotopic liver transplantation without immunosuppression in mice 30 days before aortic allotransplantation across C57Bl/ 10J (H2b)-->C3H (H2k) strain combinations (group III). Aortic allografting in syngeneic (group I; C3H-->C3H) and allogeneic (group II, C57Bl/10J-->C3H) animals served as controls. No morphological changes were evidenced in the transplanted aortas in group I animals. Contrarily, aortic allografts in group II animals underwent a self-limiting acute cellular rejection, which resolved completely and was succeeded by day 30 after transplantation by histopathological changes pathognomonic of chronic rejection. There was evidence for diffuse myointimal thickening, progressive concentric luminal narrowing, and patchy destruction of internal elastic membranes resulting in massive vascular obliteration by day 120 after transplantation. It was of interest that no arteriosclerotic changes were observed for the duration of follow-up (up to 120 days after transplantation) in transplanted aortas (liver donor-type) harvested from animals in group III. However, vasculopathy was prominent in third-party aortic grafts transplanted into tolerant recipients. Taken together, these data suggest that prior induction of tolerance abrogates the development of chronic rejection; this protection seems to be donor specific.
Transplantation 09/1997; 64(5):690-5. · 4.00 Impact Factor
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Transplantation Proceedings 06/1997; 29(3):1813-4. · 1.00 Impact Factor