Assessment of response to treatment of unresectable liver tumours with 90Y microspheres: value of FDG PET versus computed tomography.

Introduction: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with SIR spheres (90Y microspheres) is a treatment option for liver tumours in patients in whom other therapies are inappropriate or have failed. This study aims to assess the value of FDG PET in assessing the response to SIRT as compared to computed tomography (CT).

Material And Methods: Twenty-one patients (11 F, 10 M; age range 40-75 years, mean, 58 years) received SIR spheres at the Hammersmith Hospital.

Hepatic resection using heat coagulative necrosis. First report of successful trisegmentectomy after hypertrophy induction.

Introduction: Intraoperative blood loss has been identified as one of the major mortality predictors for liver surgery. Different strategies have been used in the past to minimize blood loss during resection. A new method using heat coagulative necrosis in healthy tissue at the resection plane to achieve a bloodless resection has been described 3 years ago and has already gained acceptance for peripheral resections.

Synthesis of some new quinoxalines and 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalines for evaluation of in vitro antitumor and antimicrobial activities.

Two novel series of quinoxalines derived from 3-phenylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one and 2-hydrazino-3-phenylquinoxaline, namely 1-substituted-3-phenylquinoxaline-2(1H)-ones, 2a-c, 3a-d, and 4; 2-(3-oxo-3,3a,4,5,6,7-hexahydroindazol-2-yl)-3-phenylquinoxaline 6; N- cyclopentylidene or benzylidene-N'-(3-phenylquinoxaline-2-yl)hydrazines, 7 and 18; 1-substituted-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 16 have been synthesized in order to evaluate their antitumor and antimicrobial activities. Preliminary screening at NCI showed that compounds 2b, 2c, 3b, 3c, and 9 exhibited a moderate to strong growth inhibition activity on various tumor panel cell lines between 10(-6) to 10(-5) molar concentrations. Compound 3b was the most active with a broad spectrum of activity.

A modified radiofrequency-assisted approach to right hemihepatectomy.

Aims: To evaluate a modified radiofrequency-assisted approach to right hemihepatectomy.

Methods: Following a bilateral subcostal incision and intraoperative ultrasonography, the liver was mobilized in the standard manner, and a cholecystectomy was performed. The portal vein was isolated, encircled, and ligated.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic effects of extracts of Phrygilanthus acutifolius flowers.

This study was intended to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Phrygilanthus acutifolius flowers in several experimental standard models in rats, following oral administration. The results showed that the aqueous extract significantly reduced the oedema induced by carrageenan within 1-5 h post-dosing at all dose levels used. On the analgesia property, acetic acid-induced writhing was significantly reduced.

Analysis of p53 mutations for a mutational signature in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma development may be related to cholangiocyte DNA damage from genotoxic compounds in bile. We have previously shown that human biliary tissue is exposed to genotoxic agents, as evidenced by the presence of DNA adducts. Establishing the presence of a 'mutational signature' in tumour suppressor genes from tumour tissue provides a means of linking cause and effect in human cancer.

Immune suppression uncovers endogenous cytopathic effects of the hepatitis B virus.

It is generally accepted that the host's immune response rather than the virus itself is causing the hepatocellular damage seen in acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. However, in situations of severe immune suppression, chronic HBV patients may develop a considerable degree of liver disease. To examine whether HBV has direct cytopathic effects in severely immune compromised hosts, we have infected severe combined immune deficient mice (uPA-SCID), harboring human liver cells, with HBV.

Inhaled marijuana smoke disrupts mitochondrial energetics in pulmonary epithelial cells in vivo.

Habitual marijuana smoking is associated with inflammation and atypia of airway epithelium accompanied by symptoms of chronic bronchitis. We hypothesized that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, might contribute to these findings by impairing cellular energetics and mitochondrial function. To test this hypothesis, we examined particulate smoke extracts from marijuana cigarettes, tobacco cigarettes, and placebo marijuana (0% THC) cigarettes for their effects on the mitochondrial function of A549 cells in vitro.

Native spliceosomes assemble with pre-mRNA to form supraspliceosomes.

Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression is achieved at different levels, which require accurate coordination. Macromolecular assemblies that exist as pre-formed entities can account for such coordination. Processing of pre-mRNA represents one step in this cascade of regulatory events but, moreover, provides explanation for protein versatility.

Radiofrequency assisted liver resection--a novel technique.

Surgical resection remains the curative procedure for liver tumors, but even with improvements in method it is still a major operation with significant morbidity and mortality in experts' hands, and a long learning curve for those surgeons who undertake it. Recently radiofrequency ablation has gained some credibility as an alternative method of dealing with liver tumors deemed unresectable. A novel technique of liver resection assisted by the application of radiofrequency is described here.

Structural and functional affection of the heart in protein energy malnutrition patients on admission and after nutritional recovery.

Background And Objectives: The pathogenesis of different malnutrition diseases was suggested to affect the heart. This study was designed to detect cardiac affection in protein energy malnutrition (PEM) patients, whether clinically or by electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram, and to assess the value of the cardiac marker troponin I in patients at risk of myocardial injury with special emphasis on the effect of nutritional rehabilitation.

Patients And Methods: The present study was carried out on 30 PEM infants (16 nonedematous - 14 edematous) and 10 apparently healthy age and sex-matched infants acting as the control group.

Interferon-alpha2a is sufficient for promoting dendritic cell immunogenicity.

Type I interferons (IFNs) are widely used therapeutically. IFN-alpha2a in particular is used as an antiviral agent, but its immunomodulatory properties are poorly understood. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the only antigen-presenting cells able to prime naive T cells and therefore play a crucial role in initiating the adaptive phase of the immune response.

Adult bone marrow-derived stem cells and the injured heart: just the beginning?

Coronary artery disease leading to ischaemia of the human myocardium is one of the chief causes of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Cellular transplantation has recently been proposed as a novel alternative treatment modality. Adult bone marrow-derived autologous cells are one of the key cell types under investigation in both the experimental and clinical setting.

Gene expression changes in human small airway epithelial cells exposed to Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Marijuana smoking is associated with inflammation, cellular atypia, and molecular dysregulation of the tracheobronchial epithelium. While marijuana smoke shares many components in common with tobacco, it also contains a high concentration of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The potential contribution of THC to airway injury was assessed by exposing primary cultures of human small airway epithelial (SAE) cells to THC (0.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel naphthoquinone derivatives as potential anticancer and antimicrobial agents.

Four novel series of 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives namely 2,3-disubstiuted 4-[(benzothiazol-2-yl)hydrazono]-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-one 4a-c, N1-(2,3-disubstituted-4-oxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-ylidene)-N2-(benzotriazol-1-yl)acetic acid hydrazide 5a-c, 2,3-disubstituted 4-[(5-aryl-2,3-dihyrothiazol-2-ylidene)hydrazono]-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-one 7a-c, and 3-methyl-2-substituted carbamoyl or thiocarbamoyl-hydrazinocarbonylmethylthio-1,4-dihydronaphthalene-1,4-dione 9a-c were synthesized. Three of the new compounds were chosen by NCI to be evaluated as anticancer agents and they showed promising activity. All the prepared compounds were tested as antimicrobial agents.

Short- and-long term results of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases.

Background: Surgical resection is the only therapeutic option with curative effect on malignant liver tumours, but in over 70% of cases, this is not a feasible option. A prospective study was performed to assess the short- and long-term effects of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation on unresectable liver metastases.

Patients: Between 1997 and 2001, 57 patients (mean age 61.

Laparoscopic radiofrequency-assisted liver resection.

Laparoscopic liver resection has not yet gained wide acceptance among hepatic surgeons, mainly because of the difficulties encountered in dealing with possible intraoperative bleeding. A new technique of laparoscopic liver resection is presented. A 43-year-old man with a large and symptomatic hemangioma underwent a laparoscopic radiofrequency energy-assisted liver resection.

Mucous cystadenoma of the appendix: is it safe to remove it by a laparoscopic approach?

Mucinous cystadenoma is an uncommon neoplasm of the appendix usually discovered intraoperatively. Its clinical significance lies in the possible rupture and consequent spillage of mucin into the peritoneal cavity, leading to pseudomyxoma peritonei. Even if laparoscopy has been successfully used to perform appendectomy, some concerns exist regarding its use in dealing with mucinous secreting lesions because of possible spillage of mucin during surgery.