Objective To summarize the research status of echinococcosis- specific vaccine antigens, analyze their sources and application prospects, and to provide new ideas for the development of echinococcosis vaccine antigens and drug treatment. Method Research on echinococcosis-specific vaccine antigens at home and abroad was searched and reviewed. Results Natural hydatid antigens, such as cystic fluid crude antigen, protoscolex segment, germinal layer, etc. often appear due to the difficulty of material acquisition and cumbersome preparation, resulting in unstable evaluation indicators such as sensitivity and specificity. The gene or protein sequences of a new recombinant hydatid antigen was accessible, the reproducibility and specificity were better, and it was more suitable for batch production testing, which was the main direction of current research, such as rAgB8/1, rEm18, rEm2, etc. Conclusions Vaccine development is one of the main directions for the elimination of hydatidosis. In the interaction between echinococcus and human or animal hosts, the natural structural proteins or excretion/secretion proteins of echinococcus stimulate the host to produce anti-parasites immunity and immune clearance, and the search for these specific protein antigens is of great significance for vaccine development, and new drug treatment.
目的探讨外囊切除术治疗复发性肝囊型包虫病的疗效。 方法回顾性分析并总结2008年1月至2013年3月期间行外囊切除术治疗复发性肝囊型包虫病15例患者的临床资料。 结果腹部增强CT提示15例患者均有残腔。右上腹及腰背部疼痛不适者13例，有黄疸症状者3例，有间断发热者9例。带腹腔引流管10例。15例患者均成功行外囊切除手术，其中1例患者因外囊壁与下腔静脉粘连致密而行外囊次全切除术。平均手术时间为145 min（90～190 min），术中平均出血量为200 mL（50～600 mL），术后平均住院时间为20 d（12～30 d）。所有患者术中均未输血。围手术期发生并发症5例，均经保守治疗治愈。术后随访6个月～5年（平均20个月），均无残腔残留、复发及其他并发症。 结论外囊切除术治疗复发性肝囊型包虫病安全、可行，解决了传统的内囊摘除术后胆汁漏、残腔感染及复发的问题。
Objective To determine the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differentiation of primary liver cancer (PLC) and hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). Methods The data of 56 patients with PLC or HAE were collected between January 2010 and May 2015. Grayscale and CEUS features of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. The frequency of each imaging finding, including calcification, arterial enhancement, and internal enhancement were evaluated and compared. Results Statistically significant difference of the proportion of gender and age were detected between the two groups (P=0.013, 0.002). Thirty-eight PLC lesions were detected in 32 patients. The diameters of PLC lesions were 3-10 cm with an average of (5.6±2.1) cm. Thirty-two HAE lesions were found in 24 patients. The diameters of HAE lesions were 4-12 cm with an average of (9.1±4.4) cm. Statistically significant difference of lesion size and the incidence rate of calcification (5.3% vs. 75.0%) were seen between PLC and HAE (P<0.001). Peripheral enhancement were seen in 100.0% (38/38) PLC lesions, including 84.2% (32/38) hyperenhancement and 15.8% (6/38) dendritic hyperenhancement. All PLC lesions demonstrated hypoenhancement in late phase. Irregular peripherally hyperenhancement both in arterial and late phase were detected in 43.8% (14/32) HAE lesions. The other 56.2% (18/32) HAE lesions showed no peripheral enhancement both in arterial and late phase. No internal enhancement were seen in HAE lesions. The presence of arterial enhancement (100.0% vs. 43.8%) and absence of internal enhancement (0 vs. 100.0%) were significantly different between PLC and HAE (P<0.001). Conclusions PLC is predicted by arterial phase hyperenhancement and late phase hypoenhancement on CEUS. HAE is predicted with calcification on baseline sonography and internal non-enhancement on CEUS. Arterial phase enhancement is less common and less intensive in HAE than in PLC which also contributes to the differentiation of these lesions.
ObjectiveTo understand the current situation in the treatment of hepatic echinococcosis. MethodThe literatures about operation treatment, drug treatment, and the clinical pathway of hepatic echinococcosis were reviewed. ResultsCurrently, with the continuous development of surgical techniques and the application of minimally invasive surgery, the operative treatments of hepatic echinococcosis had made a great progress, it was still the preferred treatment for the disease. Liver transplantation was made as the final choice. The use of aspiration, sclerotherapy or interventional technique brought a hope for patients intolerant to laparotomy. Moreover, chemotherapy drugs, Chinese herbal medicine, and drug combinations also achieved a very good effect in the treatment of hepatic echinococcosis. The clinical pathway provided a good direction for the treatment of hepatic echinococcosis. ConclusionFor the treatment of hepatic echinococcosis various, we should choice a reasonable treatment according to the specific circumstances of patients, to achieve the best therapeutic effect with minimal trauma.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical features of an adult patient with occult cerebral alveolar echinococcosis with liver and lung infection. MethodsA Tibetan male patient in his middle age from the epidemic area of echinococcosis infection was diagnosed to have liver, lung and cerebral alveolar echinococcosis infection in Ganzi People's Hospital. He had the resection surgery, and the pathological result confirmed the primary diagnosis. We searched the literatures from January 1985 to December 2015 for occult cerebral alveolar echinococcosis and reviewed all the full texts in China Journal Full-text Database. Seventeen articles were qualified and 42 patients were reported. Combining with the relevant English literature using Medline, we analyzed the epidemic, pathophysiological and clinical manifestations of cerebral alveolar echinococcosis infection and explored the methods of prevention and treatment. ResultsAccording to the results of literature analysis, cerebral alveolar echinococcosis appeared often secondary to infection of other organs. Nervous system symptom concealed or progressed slowly; imaging and pathological tests were important for diagnosis. Resection surgery was the essential method of cure. ConclusionAlveolar echinococcosis can affect multiple organs. In patients without neurological symptoms, if other organs are found to be infected, it is important to screen patients with intracranial involvement. Because this kind of patients with intracranial lesions with hydatid are often secondary to other organ infection, active treatment in early phase is necessary in order to avoid further expansion of lesions and metastasis.
ObjectiveTo summarize regional and body distributions, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of echinococcosis outside liver in China. MethodsThe published literatures about echinococcosis outside liver in China (not including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions) from 2000 to 2015 were searched in the databases of CNKI and Wanfang. Data were extracted by using a standardized form and a retrospective clinical analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 66 published literatures about echinococcosis outside liver and data of 884 cases reported were collected. The regional proportions of cases reported were different, five high regions were Xinjiang (68.73%), Tibet (8.77%), Ningxia (6.75%), Qinghai (6.41%), Gansu (5.62%). The organ distributions of cases reported were also different, five high organs were lung (61.09%), bone (9.95%), brain (9.73%), spleen (8.60%), and kidney (6.22%). The main clinical symptoms of patients with echinococcosis outside liver included general asymptoms and organ dysfunction, and the most common examinations were X-ray (30.77%), B ultrasound (7.47%),CT(17.43%), MR (1.59%), and laboratory (36.31%). The main therapy choice was operation (73.30%), and some patients were performed operation combined with drug therapy. ConclusionRegional distribution of echinococcosis outside liver is almost the same as total echinococcosis, and distributed more in organs rich in blood supply, its clinical diagnosis mainly depends on imaging and immunology examination, and operation is still the main therapy choice.
ObjectiveTo explore the efficiency of two-stage hepatectomy applicated in complex alveolar echinococcosis. MethodThe clinical data of one case who suffered from complicated alveolar echinococcosis with multiple lesions and then treated with two-stage hepatectomy were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsPreoperative enhanced CT revealed that the hydatid lesion with irregular shape, measuring 14.1 cm×9.2 cm, invaded several segments including left medial lobe and right anterior lobe of liver and the right branch of portal vein and medium hepatic vein were entirely surrounded by it. After preoperative examination surgical exploration was performed, two larger lesions measuring 6 cm×5 cm×4 cm and 5 cm×4 cm×4 cm respectively were found in caudate lobe of liver, three smaller lesions were found in the right and left lobe of liver, among which two measured 2 cm×2 cm×1 cm in the right lobe and one measured 3 cm×2 cm×1 cm in the left lobe. Mesohepatectomy was performed in the first stage, the lesion in left medial lobe and right anterior lobe of liver and the right anterior branch of portal vein were resected during the procedure. The patient recovered well after the operation without complications such as bile leakage or hemorrhage observed. The second stage surgery was performed at three months after operation, the computed tomograph before the surgery revealed that the remained lesions in the right lobe of liver did not proceed obviously and the left lateral external lobe of liver regenerated significantly. In the second stage, the right anterior lobe and part of the right posterior lobe of liver were resected. The patient was discharged on 7 days after operation, and there was no complication and relapse during the 7 months of follow-up period. ConclusionTwo-stage hepatectomy applicated in treating complicated alveolar echinococcosis with multiple lesions is safe and feasible, offering a choice with smaller trauma, lower expense and less complications for patients compared with liver transplantation.
Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease that seriously threatened human health. The disease is widely distributed in China, including in Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province, and other places, which has become a social and economic burden in China. Human beings are mainly infected with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE), which mainly involves liver, lung, brain, bone, and other organs or tissues. The surgical resection is the first line treatment, and antiparasitic agents therapy is the main supplementary or salvage treatment method. Currently, classic drugs mainly include albendazole and praziquantel, which use alone or in combination. There are also some attempts to treat echinococcosis, including broad-spectrum anti infective drugs such as nitrozotocin, cell proliferation inhibiting drugs such as bortezomib, metabolic drugs such as metformin, or traditional medicines such as Artemisinin. It was also suggested to adopt a cancer management model for echinococcosis, and the imaging follow-up time for CE after antiparasitic chemotherapy should be at least 3 years, and for AE should be at least 10 years. More importantly, measures such as education and vaccine inoculation should be taken to actively prevent and control the occurrence and spread of echinococcosis.
Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) is a severe zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, primarily affecting the liver. Due to its insidious nature, the patients are often diagnosed at advanced stage, posing significant treatment challenges. We comprehensively examines the progress in surgical techniques for HAE management, focusing on various strategies across different disease stages. For the patients with early-stage HAE, ablation therapy has emerged as an effective treatment option. In the moderate to advanced cases, numerous surgical techniques and innovative approaches have been introduced, including laparoscopic surgery and liver transplantation, with particular emphasis on ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation. These advancements offer more effective treatment options for the patients with advanced HAE. However, significant challenges persist, notably the preservation of adequate liver function while achieving complete lesion removal. Future research should prioritize the exploration and optimization of existing surgical methods, especially for advanced HAE cases. This includes refining surgical techniques through precise preoperative evaluation and staging, as well as developing novel surgical approaches to enhance safety and efficacy. Furthermore, multicenter and long-term follow-up prospective studies are crucial for validating the effectiveness of new surgical techniques and strategies. Through these concerted efforts, it is anticipated that the survival rates and quality of life for HAE patients will significantly be improved, marking a new era in the management of this complex disease.