Whole fetal liver transplantation--a new approach to cell therapy.

We recently developed a novel rat model for liver repopulation, heterografting of microliver slices, aimed at overcoming the limitations inherent in both whole liver and hepatocyte transplantations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of whole fetal liver transplantations to survive and differentiate within the adult liver, using the adult liver slice transplantation model. Embryonic day 14 whole fetal livers from dipeptidyl peptidase IV+/+ wild-type Fischer 344 rats were transplanted into the livers of dipeptidyl peptidase IV-/- mutant rats.

Allicin, the active component of garlic, prevents immune-mediated, concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice.

Background/aim: Allicin, the immunologically active component of garlic, has been found to affect oxidative stress and immune response in several experimental systems. In the present study, we examined the ability of allicin to prevent immune-mediated, concanavalin A (Con A)-induced liver damage in mice.

Methods: Mice were pretreated with allicin for 7 days before their inoculation with Con A (15 mg/kg).

Gliotoxin ameliorates development of fibrosis and cirrhosis in a thioacetamide rat model.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells causes most of the pathological changes in cirrhosis. The fungal metabolite gliotoxin was shown to induce apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells in vitro. We examined whether gliotoxin may prevent or reverse liver fibrosis in a rat model of thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis, and whether gliotoxin administration in vivo causes apoptosis of activated stellate cells.

A novel method for liver repopulation: Heterografting of micro-liver slices in a rat model.

The field of hepatocyte transplantation is developing, with encouraging results. However, current approaches are still unsuitable for human cell therapy, and safer and more applicable methods need to be developed. We recently successfully transplanted pieces of liver tissue (slices), cut from a wild-type Fischer 344 dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV)-positive rat and introduced into the liver of a DPP IV-deficient Fischer 344 rat.

Immunoguided lymph node dissection in colorectal cancer: a new challenge?

Knowledge of lymphatic involvement in patients with colorectal cancer is important in surgery and in the postoperative decision-making process. Fifty-eight patients with recurrent colorectal cancer underwent operation with the RIGS/(Radioimmunoguided Surgery) technology. Preoperatively, patients were injected with 1 mg monoclonal antibody (MoAb) CC49 (anti-TAG-72-tumor-associated glycoprotein) labeled with 2 mCi of iodine 125.