Diffuse cirrhosis-like hepatocellular carcinoma: a clinically and radiographically undetected variant mimicking cirrhosis.

A rare variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is encountered that produces small cirrhosis-like nodules diffusely throughout the liver (CL-HCC), instead of a larger evident mass. This pattern remains undetected as carcinoma clinically and radiographically and is unexpectedly discovered after liver transplantation in the explanted native liver. We studied 10 such cases (9 males and 1 female, age 35 to 80 y) from 4 medical centers.

Chromosomal changes in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma detected by array comparative genomic hybridization.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma with distinct clinical and histological features, and better survival compared with conventional hepatocellular carcinoma in some but not all series. We performed a comparative genomic hybridization analysis on 11 fibrolamellar carcinomas and correlated the findings with clinicopathologic features and survival. Chromosomal imbalances were identified in six cases (55%), whereas the other five (45%) yielded normal results.

TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells requires p73.

Atherosclerosis, now considered an inflammatory process, is the leading cause of death in the Western world and is manifested by a variety of diseases in multiple organ systems. Because of its prevalence and associated morbidity, novel therapies directed at arresting this progressive process are urgently needed. The inflammatory mediator TNF-alpha, which is known to contribute to apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells, has been shown to be intimately involved in the atherosclerotic process, being present at elevated levels in human atheroma as well as possibly being responsible for plaque rupture, a clinically devastating event.