Neonatal outcome after preterm delivery in HELLP syndrome.

The present study compares neonatal outcome after preterm delivery of infants in pregnancies complicated by the HELLP syndrome or severe preeclampsia (PS). The maternal and neonatal charts of 71 out of a total of 409 pregnancies that were complicated by hypertensive disorders at Severance hospital between January 1995 and December 2004 were reviewed. Twenty-one pregnancies were complicated by HELLP syndrome and 50 pregnancies were complicated by PS.

The transforming growth factor-beta-Smad3/4 signaling pathway acts as a positive regulator for TLR2 induction by bacteria via a dual mechanism involving functional cooperation with NF-kappaB and MAPK phosphatase 1-dependent negative cross-talk with p38 MAPK.

The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) pathway represents an important signaling pathway involved in the regulation of diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Despite the known role of TGF-betaR-mediated signaling in suppressing immune response, its role in regulating human Toll-like receptors (TLRs), key host defense receptors that recognize invading bacterial pathogens, however, remains unknown. Here, we show for the first time that TGF-betaR-Smad3/4 signaling pathway acts as a positive regulator for TLR2 induction by bacterium nontypeable Hemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in vitro and in vivo.

Detection of hepatic VX2 carcinomas with ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits: Comparison of nine pulse sequences.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of a variety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, in order to identify the most effective ferucarbotran-enhanced sequence for the detection of multiple small hepatic VX2 carcinomas in rabbits.

Methods: Fifteen rabbits with experimentally induced 135 VX2 carcinomas in the liver underwent ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI using the following nine pulse sequences: a fat-suppressed fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence with two echo times (TE) (proton density- and T2-weighted images), four different T2*-weighted fast multiplanar GRASS (gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state) (FMPGR) with the combination of three TEs (9, 12, 15 ms, respectively) and two flip angles (20 degrees , 80 degrees, respectively), T2*-weighted fast multiplanar spoiled GRASS (FMPSPGR), T1-weighted FMPSPGR, and dynamic T1-weighted FMPSPGR. All images were reviewed by three radiologists with quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Encapsulated hepatocellular carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlations.

This study is a retrospective evaluation of the correlations between the presence and integrity of the capsule of nodular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) by dynamic CT and histopathology, with histopathologic evidence of tumor propagation to surrounding hepatic parenchyma. Dynamic CT scans of 75 nodular HCCs in 73 patients (61 men, 12 women; age range, 32-81; mean, 53) were evaluated regarding capsule visualization and integrity. Histopathologic findings of HCCs in resected specimens were correlated with the presence of a capsule, tumor invasion onto the capsule, and with the presence of microvascular emboli in the surrounding liver parenchyma.

Cholangiocarcinoma and Clonorchis sinensis infection: a case-control study in Korea.

Background/aims: The authors conducted a hospital-based case-control study to evaluate the role of Clonorchis sinensis infection as a risk factor for the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CC), including extrahepatic CC, in Korea.

Methods: Cases of 185 patients with CC (intrahepatic, 51; hilar, 53; and distal extrahepatic, 81) and matched controls underwent stool microscopy, pathological examinations, serologic test for C. sinensis using ELISA, skin test for C.

Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome: outcome of endovascular management for suprahepatic venous obstruction.

Objective: Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare form of hepatic venous outflow obstruction at the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC), the hepatic veins, or both. We assessed our 4-year experience in the management of BCS to evaluate the results of our methods of care.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of a nonrandomized clinical trial conducted in three teaching hospitals.

Early bile duct carcinoma: comparison of imaging features with pathologic findings.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the imaging features of early bile duct carcinoma and to compare these features with histopathologic findings.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board did not require its approval or informed patient consent for this study. Twenty-one patients (13 men, eight women; mean age, 60 years; range, 48-75 years) with early bile duct carcinoma that was surgically resected and histopathologically confirmed were included.

Developmental expression of Xenopus fragile X mental retardation-1 gene.

Dysregulation of Fragile X mental retardation-1 (Fmr1) gene expression results in an inherited form of mental retardation known as the Fragile X syndrome (FXS). Fmr1 is a highly conserved gene with a broad yet distinctive expression pattern during vertebrate development. Here, we examined the expression pattern of Fmr1 during Xenopus embryonic development.

Molecular and cytological features of the mouse B-cell lymphoma line iMycEmu-1.

Background: Myc-induced lymphoblastic B-cell lymphoma (LBL) in iMycEmu mice may provide a model system for the study of the mechanism by which human MYC facilitates the initiation and progression of B cell and plasma cell neoplasms in human beings. We have recently shown that gene-targeted iMycEmu mice that carry a His6-tagged mouse Myc cDNA, MycHis, just 5' of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer, Emu, are prone to B cell and plasma cell tumors. The predominant tumor (approximately 50%) that arose in the iMycEmu mice on the mixed genetic background of segregating C57BL/6 and 129/SvJ alleles was LBL.

Neoangiogenesis and sinusoidal capillarization in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation between dynamic CT and density of tumor microvessels.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the correlation between the degree of contrast enhancement on dynamic computed tomographic (CT) scans and the degree of neoangiogenesis and sinusoidal capillarization in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board did not require approval or informed patient's consent for the review of medical records or images. Dynamic CT scans of 97 nodular HCCs in 97 patients (79 men, 18 women; age range, 29-73 years; mean age, 54 years) were evaluated in terms of the attenuation change in the arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases, and the results were correlated with the number of unpaired arteries and the degree of sinusoidal capillarization at histopathologic examination.

Depiction of viable tumor in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization: multiphasic helical CT with review of the previous serial CT images.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to assess whether a review of multiphasic helical CT combined with the previous serial CT images could be helpful to depict a viable tumor in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with 35 hepatocellular carcinomas underwent transarterial chemoembolization followed by hepatic resection. First, three radiologists independently analyzed the last CT images taken before resection for the presence of viable tumor.

Long-term follow up results of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of pancreas.

Background And Aim: Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas can be divided into three clinically distinct subtypes: main duct type, branch duct type and mixed type. Although it has been reported that the branch duct type IPMT is less invasive than the main duct type IPMT, we experienced a number of branch duct type IPMT having a poor prognosis. In the present study we surveyed the survival and recurrence rates according to the subtypes.

Needle tract implantation after sonographically guided percutaneous biopsy of hepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation of doubling time, frequency, and features on CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the doubling time, frequency, and features on dynamic CT of extrahepatic needle tract implantation of malignant neoplasms after sonographically guided percutaneous biopsy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Between January 1997 and June 2003, 1,055 patients underwent sonographically guided percutaneous biopsy for HCC. The serial changes of implanted tumor volume were estimated on retrospective review of CT, and their doubling times were calculated from the two CT scans showing the first and last visible implanted tumors.

Indeterminate small, low-attenuating hepatocellular nodules on helical CT in patients with chronic liver disease: 2-year follow-up.

To evaluate the clinical significance of indeterminate, small, low-attenuating nodular lesions on helical dynamic computed tomography (CT) in chronic liver diseases, CT images were reviewed retrospectively in 281 patients. Indeterminate, low-attenuating nodular lesions less than 20 mm in diameter were followed for 24 to 35 months. Of 127 nodules in 73 patients, 21 nodules turned out to be hepatocellular carcinomas (16%), 25 nodules (20%) became larger, while the remaining 81 nodules (64%) remained unchanged or disappeared.

AP-2alpha selectively regulates fragile X mental retardation-1 gene transcription during embryonic development.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is almost always caused by silencing of the FMR1 gene. The defects observed in FXS indicate that the normal FMR1 gene has a range of functions and plays a particularly prominent role during development. However, the mechanisms regulating FMR1 expression in vivo are not known.

Therapeutic response assessment of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: utility of contrast-enhanced agent detection imaging.

Purpose: To assess the utility of contrast-enhanced agent detection imaging (ADI) in the assessment of the therapeutic response to percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Ninety patients with a total of 97 nodular HCCs (mean, 2.1+/-1.

Liver abscess after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinomas: frequency and risk factors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the frequency and risk factors of liver abscess formation after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Over a 4-year period, 603 patients with 831 hepatocellular carcinomas measuring 5 cm or less in maximum diameter who underwent a total of 751 percutaneous radiofrequency ablation procedures were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and analyzed the overall frequency of liver abscess, risk factors for abscess, and clinical features of the patients.

Regulating fragile X gene transcription in the brain and beyond.

The past several years have seen remarkable growth in our understanding of the molecular processes underlying fragile X syndrome (FXS). Many studies have provided new insights into the regulation of Fmr1 gene expression and the potential function of its protein product. It is now known that the promoter elements modulating Fmr1 transcription involve a complex array of both cis and trans factors.

Ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI versus triple-phase MDCT for the preoperative detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: We compared ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI with triple-phase MDCT for the preoperative detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Subjects And Methods: Seventy-three consecutive patients with 121 hepatocellular carcinomas underwent ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI, including a dynamic study, and triple-phase MDCT before hepatic resection. The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed in all patients by means of pathologic examination after surgical resection.

Changes in bile ducts after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: frequency and clinical significance.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of bile duct changes after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma and to evaluate their clinical significance.

Materials And Methods: Between April 1999 and August 2003, 389 patients with 521 hepatocellular carcinomas underwent a total of 571 sessions of radiofrequency ablation. The maximum dimension of the tumors measured on sonography was 2.

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma abutting the gastrointestinal tract.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas abutting the gastrointestinal tract.

Materials And Methods: Forty-one patients with hepatocellular carcinomas abutting the gastrointestinal tract underwent sonographically guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. Forty-one tumors (1.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae lipoprotein P6 induces MUC5AC mucin transcription via TLR2-TAK1-dependent p38 MAPK-AP1 and IKKbeta-IkappaBalpha-NF-kappaB signaling pathways.

Mucin overproduction is a hallmark of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) infections. The molecular mechanisms underlying up-regulation of mucin in NTHi infections especially during the initial phase remain unknown. Here we show that P6, a 16-kDa outer membrane lipoprotein well conserved in NTHi, up-regulates MUC5AC mucin gene transcription in vitro and in vivo.

Radiofrequency ablation of liver cancer: early evaluation of therapeutic response with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.

The early assessment of the therapeutic response after percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation is important, in order to correctly decide whether further treatment is necessary. The residual unablated tumor is usually depicted on contrast-enhanced multiphase helical computed tomography (CT) as a focal enhancing structure during the arterial and portal venous phases. Contrast-enhanced color Doppler and power Doppler ultrasonography (US) have also been used to detect residual tumors.