The safety of donor is the first priority during whole procedure in living donor liver transplantation. We evaluated the short-term results of partial living donor liver transplantation in the view of donor safety. We prospectively evaluated the extent of liver regeneration, the recovery of liver function, and the perioperative complications in 41 live liver donors for partial liver transplantation at our institution. We developed novel personal computer volumetry program for the evaluation of liver regeneration. Serial CAT scan was performed preoperatively, at postoperative day (POD) #7 and POD #30 and liver volume was measure by using volumetry program. The serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (T.bil.) was serially monitored. There were 34 males and 7 females. The mean preoperative liver volume was 1320.6 cm3. The remained mean liver volume was 687.8 cm3 after harvest, and increased to 954.4 cm3 (144.6%) at POD #7, and 1169.5 cm3 (81.4%) at POD #30, which was 88.5% of preoperative total liver volume. The serum level of ALT/ AST and T.bil. peaked at POD #1 and declined thereafter, and finally returned to preoperative level at POD #30. The regeneration rate was significantly different by age, type and size of graft according to the donors. Six donors experienced postoperative complications and they were four pleural effusions, one wound infection and one case of bile duct stenosis that was treated by endoscopic nasal biliary drainage. All of them were right lobe donors. In conclusion, the donor liver regenerated up to 88.5% of preoperative volume with full recovery of liver function at POD #30. Right lobe donors suffered more complications and need more meticulous operative and postoperative care than left lobe or left lateral segment donors.

Background/AimsThere are few data on the effects of low hemoglobin levels on the left ventricle (LV) in patients without heart disease. The objective of this study was to document changes in the echocardiographic variables of LV structure and function after the correction of anemia without significant cardiovascular disease.MethodsIn total, 34 iron-deficiency anemia patients (35 ± 11 years old, 32 females) without traditional cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular disease and 34 age- and gender-matched controls were studied. Assessments included history, physical examination, and echocardiography. Of the 34 patients with anemia enrolled, 20 were followed and underwent echocardiography after correction of the anemia.ResultsThere were significant differences between the anemia and control groups in LV diameter, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left atrial volume index (LAVI), peak mitral early diastolic (E) velocity, peak mitral late diastolic (A) velocity, E/A ratio, the ratio of mitral to mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/E'), stroke volume, and cardiac index. Twenty patients underwent follow-up echocardiography after treatment of anemia. The follow-up results showed significant decreases in the LV end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters and LVMI, compared with baseline levels. LAVI, E velocity, and E/E' also decreased, suggesting a decrease in LV filling pressure.ConclusionsLow hemoglobin level was associated with larger cardiac chambers, increased LV, mass and higher LV filling pressure even in the subjects without cardiovascular risk factors or overt cardiovascular disease. Appropriate correction of anemia decreased LV mass, LA volume, and E/E'.

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Background/Aims: There is limited data that supports a role for a vegetarian diet in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vegetarian diets and NAFLD, considering metabolic syndrome and obesity. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study comparing the prevalence of NAFLD of 615 Buddhist priests and age-, sex-, Body mass index (BMI)-and presence/absence of metabolic syndrome-matched controls who underwent routine health checkups in a health promotion center. Diagnosis and severity of NAFLD was determined based on ultrasonographic findings. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was not statistically significantly different between the Buddhist priests and the general population (29.9% vs. 25.05%, p=0.055). The Buddhist priest group had higher serum albumin, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and serum triglyceride levels and lower serum total bilirubin, serum fasting glucose, and serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels than the general population group. In univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, NAFLD was associated with old age, male gender, increased BMI, increased waist circumference, metabolic syndrome, high albumin, high glucose, high AST, high ALT, high gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), high triglycerides, low HDL, high low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high total cholesterol. Conclusion: The vegetarian diet does not protect against NAFLD.

Background/Aims: Oral sulfate solution (OSS) is an emerging cleansing agent for bowel preparation. However, data comparing OSS to other conventional bowel preparations in Asian patients are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of OSS to ascorbic acid plus polyethylene glycol (AA + PEG) in Asian patients. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, parallel, investigator-blind study performed in two university hospitals in Korea. Bowel preparation efficacy was evaluated using both the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale (OBPS) and Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Results: Among 173 patients, 86 received OSS while 87 received AA + PEG for bowel preparation. Total OBPS score was 2.80 ± 2.48 in the OSS group and 4.49 ± 3.08 in the AA + PEG group, indicating significantly (p < 0.001) better efficacy with OSS. Total BBPS was higher in the OSS group (7.43 ± 1.49 vs. 6.51 ± 1.76, p < 0.001), indicating superior bowel preparation quality with OSS. Preparation-related adverse events were generally acceptable. Patients receiving OSS had more nausea (1.92 ± 0.94 vs. 1.54 ± 0.76, p = 0.004) and abdominal cramping (1.45 ± 0.78 vs. 1.17 ± 0.51, p = 0.006) than those receiving AA + PEG. However, overall satisfaction and taste were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: OSS had a non-inferior bowel cleansing efficacy than AA + PEG regardless of colon segment.