Biliary Duct (biliary + duct)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Protective effect of melatonin against oxidative stress induced by ligature of extra-hepatic biliary duct in rats: comparison with the effect of S-adenosyl- l -methionine

JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2000
Pedro Montilla López
In the present research, we studied the effect of the administration of melatonin or S-adenosyl- l -methionine (S-AMe) on oxidative stress and hepatic cholestasis produced by double ligature of the extra-hepatic biliary duct (LBD) in adult male Wistar rats. Hepatic oxidative stress was evaluated by the changes in the amount of lipid peroxides and by the reduced glutathione content (GSH) in lysates of erythrocytes and homogenates of hepatic tissue. The severity of the cholestasis and hepatic injury were determined by the changes in the plasma enzyme activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AP), g-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT), and levels of albumin, total bilirubin (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB). Either melatonin or S-AMe were administered daily 3 days before LBD, and for 10 days after biliary obstruction. LDB caused highly significant increases in plasma enzyme activities and in bilirubin and lipid peroxides levels in erythrocytes and hepatic tissue. At the same time, this procedure produced a notable decrease in the GSH pools in these biological media. Both melatonin and S-AMe administration were effective as antioxidants and hepatoprotective substances, although the protective effects of melatonin were superior; it prevented the GSH decrease and reduced significantly the increases in enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation products produced by biliary ligature. S-AMe did not modify the increased GGT activity nor did it decrease greatly the TB levels (43% melatonin vs. 14% S-AMe). However, S-AMe was effective in preventing the loss of GSH in erythrocytes and hepatic tissue, as was melatonin. The obtained data permit the following conclusions. First, the LDB models cause marked hepatic oxidative stress. Second, the participation of free radicals of oxygen in the pathogenecity and severity of cholestasis produced by the acute obstruction of the extra-hepatic biliary duct is likely. Third, the results confirm the function of S-AMe as an antioxidant and hepatoprotector. Finally, melatonin is far more potent and provides superior protection as compared to S-AMe. Considering the decrease in oxidative stress and the intensity of cholestasis, these findings have interesting clinical implications for melatonin as a possible therapeutic agent in biliary cholestasis and parenchymatous liver injury. [source]


Capecitabine combined with gemcitabine (CapGem) as first-line treatment in patients with advanced/metastatic biliary tract carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 12 2005
Jae Yong Cho M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND Biliary tract carcinoma is an aggressive cancer, with median survival rarely exceeding 6 months. There is currently no established palliative standard of care. A Phase II trial was conducted to study a combination of oral capecitabine and gemcitabine (CapGem) as first-line therapy in patients with advanced and/or metastatic biliary carcinoma. METHODS Patients with unresectable or metastatic intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary duct carcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma were enrolled. Eligible patients had histologically or cytologically confirmed, measurable adenocarcinoma and had not received prior therapy with capecitabine or gemcitabine. Treatment consisted of intravenous (i.v.) gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8) plus oral capecitabine (650 mg/m2 twice daily on Days 1,14) every 3 weeks for up to 6 cycles. Tumor response, survival, and safety were determined. RESULTS A total of 44 patients were evaluable. Primary tumor sites were: intrahepatic (n = 14) and extrahepatic biliary duct (n = 16); gallbladder (n = 7); and ampulla (n = 7). Fourteen (32%) patients had a partial response and 15 (34%) patients had stable disease. Median time to disease progression and overall survival were 6.0 (range, 3.8,8.1) and 14 (range, 11.4,16.6) months, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was 58%. No Grade 4 adverse events were seen. Transient Grade 3 neutropenia/thrombocytopenia and manageable (almost invariably Grade 2) nausea, diarrhea, and hand,foot syndrome were the most common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS CapGem is an active and well tolerated first-line combination chemotherapy regimen for patients with advanced/metastatic biliary tract carcinoma that offers a convenient home-based therapy. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source]


L/I-8 Adult living donor liver transplants: biliary morbidity

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2006
A. Giacomoni
Introduction:, Biliary problems are very common complications in adult living donor liver transplants (ALDLTs), with a reported negative incidence of 22% to 64%. Patients and methods:, From March 2001 through February 2006, we performed 27 ALDLTs, grafting segments V-VIII without the middle hepatic vein. Biliary anatomy was investigated using intraoperative cholangiography in the first 5 patients and with magnetic resonance cholangiography alone in the remaining 22. In 15 patients, we found a single right biliary duct (55.55%) and in 12 we found multiple biliary ducts (44.45%). We performed single biliary anastomoses in 20 patients (74.07%) and multiple anastomoses in the remaining 7 (25.93%). Results:, With a mean follow-up of 675 days (range, 8 to 1,804 days), patient and graft survival rates were 85% and 74%. The following biliary complications were observed: 4 biliary leaks from the cut surface, 3 anastomotic leaks, 6 late anastomotic strictures, and 1 early kinking of the choledochus. These 14 biliary complications (51.85%) occurred in 11 patients (40.74%). Conclusion:, Biliary complications affected our series of ALDLTs at a high percentage, but none of the grafts transplanted was lost due to biliary problems. Magnetic resonance cholangiography seems to be a reliable instrument to investigate biliary anatomy. Multiple biliary reconstructions are strongly associated with a high risk of complications. [source]


Marked diffuse dilations of the biliary tree associated with intrahepatic calculi, biliary sludges and a mucinous cyst of the pancreatic head in a 99-year-old woman

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 8 2003
Tadashi Terada
A 99-year-old woman was admitted to Shizuoka Shimizu Municipal Hospital because of fever and anasarca. Imaging and laboratory tests showed pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and cardiac failure. The patient died 20 days after admission. An autopsy revealed marked diffuse dilations of the biliary tree ranging from the lower common bile duct to intrahepatic bile ducts. Intrahepatic calcium bilirubinate stones and biliary sludges were recognized within the dilated bile ducts. A unilocular cyst (2 cm in diameter) was present in the pancreatic head adjacent to the lower common bile duct, and it appeared to compress the common bile duct. Histologically, the walls of the dilated biliary tree showed proliferation of peribiliary glands, fibrosis, and infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils (cholangitis). The lumens of the dilated biliary ducts contained neutral and acidic mucins, fibrinous materials, bacteria, neutrophils, and Aspergillus fungi, in addition to the calculi and sludges. The background liver showed atrophy (400 g). The pancreatic unilocular cyst was composed of mucous columnar cells with a few infoldings, and the pancreas also showed foci of mucinous duct hyperplasia and ectasia; the pathological diagnosis of the cyst was cystic dilations of a pancreatic duct branch (mucinous ductal ectasia or mucinous cyst). Other lesions included aspiration pneumonia, emaciation, atrophy of systemic organs, gastric leiomyoma, serous cystadenoma of the right ovary, and arteriosclerotic nephrosclerosis. The present case suggests that a mucinous cyst of the pancreas may compress the biliary tree and lead to marked diffuse dilations of the biliary tree. Alternatively, the dilations of the bile ducts may be associated with aging or may be of congenital origin. The dilated bile ducts may, in turn, give rise to bacterial and fungal cholangitis and formation of biliary sludges and intrahepatic calcium bilirubinate stones. [source]


Well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (malignant carcinoid) of the extrahepatic biliary tract: report of two cases and literature review

APMIS, Issue 8 2010
SALVATORE SQUILLACI
Squillaci S, Marchione R, Piccolomini M, Colombo F, Bucci F, Bruno M, Bisceglia M. Well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (malignant carcinoid) of the extrahepatic biliary tract: report of two cases and literature review. APMIS 2010; 118: 543,56. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of carcinoid tumors of the extrahepatic biliary ducts (EHBDs) and the pathologic progression and the role of surgery in the management of this disease. We describe two cases of malignant carcinoids of the EHBDs, which presented as common bile duct tumors in two adult male patients, aged 52 and 70 years, who were diagnosed histologically on surgical resection specimens. A comprehensive review of the literature has also been performed with a focus on survival data. Microscopically, the tumors presented herein were composed of relatively small rounded cells with a trabecular or nesting pattern. Both cases were diffusely immunopositive for chromogranin and synaptophysin, and one of them was also focally reactive with somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide. There was no expression in any of these tumors of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), gastrin, insulin, glucagon, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and prolactin. The tumor showed transmural invasion in both cases, with lymph node metastasis and subcapsular liver tissue infiltration in one. Both patients are alive with no evidence of disease 41 months and 59 months, respectively, after surgery. Despite being extremely uncommon, with only 70 cases reported to date, carcinoids should be included in the differential diagnosis of EHBD tumors. This study emphasizes the necessity of complete surgical resection as the gold standard treatment for these lesions, and the importance of a correct pathologic diagnosis for prognostic implications. [source]


L/I-8 Adult living donor liver transplants: biliary morbidity

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2006
A. Giacomoni
Introduction:, Biliary problems are very common complications in adult living donor liver transplants (ALDLTs), with a reported negative incidence of 22% to 64%. Patients and methods:, From March 2001 through February 2006, we performed 27 ALDLTs, grafting segments V-VIII without the middle hepatic vein. Biliary anatomy was investigated using intraoperative cholangiography in the first 5 patients and with magnetic resonance cholangiography alone in the remaining 22. In 15 patients, we found a single right biliary duct (55.55%) and in 12 we found multiple biliary ducts (44.45%). We performed single biliary anastomoses in 20 patients (74.07%) and multiple anastomoses in the remaining 7 (25.93%). Results:, With a mean follow-up of 675 days (range, 8 to 1,804 days), patient and graft survival rates were 85% and 74%. The following biliary complications were observed: 4 biliary leaks from the cut surface, 3 anastomotic leaks, 6 late anastomotic strictures, and 1 early kinking of the choledochus. These 14 biliary complications (51.85%) occurred in 11 patients (40.74%). Conclusion:, Biliary complications affected our series of ALDLTs at a high percentage, but none of the grafts transplanted was lost due to biliary problems. Magnetic resonance cholangiography seems to be a reliable instrument to investigate biliary anatomy. Multiple biliary reconstructions are strongly associated with a high risk of complications. [source]