Disodium gadoxetate uptake in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type I: Enhancing our understanding of the cholestatic disease.

Hepatocyte-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are commonly used to depict anatomic hepatobiliary lesions and are also useful in characterizing the kinetics of hepatocyte uptake and excretion. We report a case of a 13-year old female with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) type 1 who demonstrated decreased uptake and excretion of gadoxetate disodium contrast material. This case illustrates the challenge of imaging children with cholestasis using hepatobiliary-specific contrast agents; we propose an alternative explanation for the delayed excretion that may be related to the underlying genetic defect of this child.

Gallium-67 imaging and computed tomography in early retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is characterized by symptoms associated with gradual compression of retroperitoneal structures. This case report demonstrates the use of Ga-67 imaging and CT in the early diagnostic work-up of this disorder.

Apical Na+ permeability of frog skin during serosal Cl- replacement.

Gluconate substitution for serosal Cl- reduces the transepithelial short-circuit current (Isc) and depolarizes short-circuited frog skins. These effects could result either from inhibition of basolateral K+ conductance, or from two actions to inhibit both apical Na+ permeability (PapNa) and basolateral pump activity. We have addressed this question by studying whole-and split-thickness frog skins.