Percutaneous ablation of VX2 carcinoma-induced liver tumors with use of ethanol versus acetic acid: pilot study in a rabbit model.

Purpose: Acetic acid has been employed as a chemical ablation agent for liver tumors because of its superior diffusion characteristics compared with ethanol and the resulting requirement for smaller volumes and fewer injection sessions. Early tissue changes were compared after injection of acetic acid and ethanol in a rabbit model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: VX2 tumors were created in the left lobe of the liver in 11 male New Zealand White rabbits.

Dexamethasone inhibits early regenerative response of rat liver after cold preservation and transplantation.

Regeneration is crucial for the recovery of hepatic mass following liver transplantation. Glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory agents commonly used in transplantation, are known to inhibit the expression of specific cytokines and growth factors. Some of these proteins, namely tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), play a critical role in the initiation of liver regeneration.

Interleukin-6 from intrahepatic cells of bone marrow origin is required for normal murine liver regeneration.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is required for normal liver regeneration, but the specific cellular source of this growth factor is unknown. We investigated whether this signal originates from the resident macrophage, the Kupffer cell. Using a murine model of bone marrow transplantation, we replaced recipient bone marrow-derived cells, including Kupffer cells, with cells of donor genetic phenotype.