Synthetic data generation method improves risk prediction model for early tumor recurrence after surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is aggressive with high recurrence rates, necessitating accurate prediction models for effective treatment planning, particularly for neoadjuvant chemotherapy or upfront surgery. This study explores the use of variational autoencoder (VAE)-generated synthetic data to predict early tumor recurrence (within six months) in pancreatic cancer patients who underwent upfront surgery. Preoperative data of 158 patients between January 2021 and December 2022 was analyzed, and machine learning models-including Logistic Regression, Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), and Deep Neural Networks (DNN)-were trained on both original and synthetic datasets.

Surgical feasibility for the single-incision laparoscopic left-sided anatomical liver resection: A cohort comparative study.

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic liver resection represents an evolution in minimally invasive liver surgery. However, its safety, feasibility, and advantages over conventional multiport laparoscopic liver resection remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to evaluate perioperative and oncologic outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic liver resection in left-sided anatomical liver resections.

Thrombophilia in Liver Donors: Prevalence of Protein C or S Deficiency in Korean Candidates and Decision Considerations.

Background: Donor thrombophilia poses risks to both donors and recipients. To address donor safety without unnecessarily decreasing the donor pool, we aimed to determine the incidence of protein C (PC) or protein S (PS) deficiency among living liver donor candidates and propose a decision-making algorithm for donation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1421 living donor candidates who underwent primary donor evaluation at a single center between January 2017 and February 2022.

Long-Term Prognostic Value of AFP and PIVKA-II in HCC After Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Despite the development of numerous prognostic models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and mortality after liver transplantation, tumor biomarkers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) remain widely used in clinical practice. This study evaluated the performance of AFP and PIVKA-II compared with six prognostic models (RETREAT, SNAPP, MoRAL, R3-AFP, METROTICKET 2.0, and SALT) in a retrospective cohort of 707 adults who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for HCC between 2003 and 2018.

Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of simple hepatic cyst: Clinical practice guideline.

Simple hepatic cysts are now diagnosed in over 8,000 individuals annually in South Korea, largely due to the widespread adoption of medical check-ups and advancements in imaging techniques. However, no appropriate clinical practice guideline has been established to address this condition. While international guidelines have recently been published, differences in clinical and epidemiological contexts have highlighted the need for a tailored guideline to assist domestic clinicians.

Indocyanine green fluorescence predicts biliary complications in living donor liver transplantation: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Biliary complications (BCs) following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are common. To minimize BCs and improve surgical outcomes, indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence intensity (FI) is used to assess bile duct perfusion. This study investigated the association between ICG FI in the common bile duct (CBD) and postoperative BCs in patients undergoing LDLT.

Large Language Model-Assisted Surgical Consent Forms in Non-English Language: Content Analysis and Readability Evaluation.

Background: Surgical consent forms convey critical information; yet, their complex language can limit patient comprehension. Large language models (LLMs) can simplify complex information and improve readability, but evidence of the impact of LLM-generated modifications on content preservation in non-English consent forms is lacking.

Objective: This study evaluates the impact of LLM-assisted editing on the readability and content quality of surgical consent forms in Korean-particularly consent documents for standardized liver resection-across multiple institutions.

Feasibility of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging to predict biliary complications in living donor liver transplantation: A pilot study.

Backgrounds/aims: Liver transplantation (LT) is now a critical, life-saving treatment for patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite its significant benefits, biliary complications (BCs) continue to be a major cause of postoperative morbidity. This study evaluates the fluorescence intensity (FI) of the common bile duct (CBD) utilizing near-infrared indocyanine green (ICG) imaging, and examines its association with the incidence of BCs within three months post-LT.

Strategies for integrating ChatGPT and generative AI into clinical studies.

Large language models, specifically ChatGPT, are revolutionizing clinical research by improving content creation and providing specific useful features. These technologies can transform clinical research, including data collection, analysis, interpretation, and results sharing. However, integrating these technologies into the academic writing workflow poses significant challenges.

Development of the Korean Quality Improvement Platform in Surgery (K-QIPS) program: a nationwide project to improve surgical quality and patient safety.

Purpose: Improvements in surgical quality and patient safety are critical components of the healthcare system. Despite excellent cancer survival rates in Korea, there is a lack of standardized postoperative complication management systems. To address this gap, the Korean Surgical Society initiated the development of the Korean Quality Improvement Platform in Surgery (K-QIPS) program.

Machine-learning model to predict the tacrolimus concentration and suggest optimal dose in liver transplantation recipients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Titrating tacrolimus concentration in liver transplantation recipients remains a challenge in the early post-transplant period. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to develop and validate a machine-learning algorithm to predict tacrolimus concentration. Data from 443 patients undergoing liver transplantation between 2017 and 2020 at an academic hospital in South Korea were collected to train machine-learning models.

Donor body mass index over 30 is no barrier for pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy.

Backgrounds/aims: Challenges arise when translating pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy (PLDRH) results from Asian to Western donors, due to differences in body mass index (BMI). This study compares the outcomes of PLDRH and conventional open donor right hepatectomy (CDRH) in donors with BMI over 30.

Methods: Medical records of live liver donors (BMI > 30) undergoing right hepatectomy (2010-2021) were compared: 25 PLDRH cases vs.

Impact of Preformed Donor-specific Antibodies in Comparison to ABO Incompatibility in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background: Immunological factors play a pivotal role in the outcomes of solid organ transplantation. We aimed to elucidate the effects of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) and ABO compatibility on living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 584 LDLT recipients from 2015 to 2020.

Risk factors for incisional hernia after liver transplantation in the era of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors use: a retrospective study of living donor liver transplantation dominant center in Korea.

Purpose: Incisional hernia (IH) is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT) with an incidence rate of 5% to 46%. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for IH development after LT in the era of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors use.

Methods: Data on patients who underwent LT between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of conversion from the tacrolimus capsule to tablet in stable liver transplant recipients with maintenance therapy: a 24-week, open-label, single-center, phase IV exploratory clinical study.

Purpose: The tablet form of tacrolimus is more convenient for drug ingestion than the capsule form. We examined the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus tablets and a satisfaction survey after formula conversion in liver transplant (LT) recipients.

Methods: This study was an open-label, prospective clinical trial for tacrolimus formula 1:1 conversion from capsule to tablet in 41 adult LT recipients with tacrolimus maintenance therapy of more than 1 month.

Factors associated with rituximab-mediated B cell depletion in ABO-incompatible adult living donor liver transplantation.

Background: Pretransplant therapies such as rituximab and plasmapheresis have led to an increase in ABO-incompatible (ABOi) living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), thus helping to overcome organ shortages. This study evaluated the changes in anti-A/B titers and CD19 levels over time in patients undergoing ABOi LT and aimed to understand the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) on rituximab therapy.

Methods: Two SNPs of (131H/R) and (158F/V) were identified.

Pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy in patients over 50 years old: Why age should not be a barrier.

Introduction: Given the global aging population, the average age of liver donors is increasing. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of grafts from pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy (PLDRH) in liver donors aged > 50 years.

Methods: The medical records of liver donors were retrospectively reviewed.

Liver transplantation for combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma: A multicenter study.

Background: Patients with combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) are not traditionally considered eligible for liver transplantation (LT) due to poor outcomes.

Aim: To compare outcomes between living donor LT (LDLT) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and LT patients with cHCC-CC and to identify risk factors for tumor recurrence and death after LT in cHCC-CC patients.

Methods: Data for pathologically diagnosed cHCC-CC patients ( = 111) who underwent LT from 2000 to 2018 were collected for a nine-center retrospective review.

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome and Drug-Induced Liver Injury During Treatment of Disseminated Tuberculosis in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report.

Studies have shown that tuberculosis (TB) incidence is 20 to 70 times higher in solid organ transplantation recipients. Immunosuppression makes transplant recipients more vulnerable to infection and can interfere with the treatment. Our case report describes a patient who experienced immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and drug-induced liver injury (DILI) related to TB medications for disseminated pulmonary and hepatic TB.

Recurrence in patients with totally necrotic nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: "totally" an inaccurate description.

Purpose: Total necrosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) achieved via locoregional treatment (LRT) is considered to indicate a lack of tumor viability. Nonetheless, there is insufficient evidence of recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in patients with such a status. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognosis of patients diagnosed with totally necrotic nodules upon explant hepatectomy after LT.