[Is Balloon-Occluded Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Effective in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma That Is Unresponsive to Conventional Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization ?].

We previously reported that the antitumor response of balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(BTACE) is better than that of conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(C-TACE). Thus far, little attention has been paid on the efficacy of B-TACE using the same antitumor agents for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)that is unresponsive to C-TACE, which is defined as C50% necrosis of the targeted nodules or the appearance of new lesions in the liver 1-3 months following one C-TACE procedure. Therefore, this study focused on the efficacy of B-TACE using the same antitumor agents for HCC that is unresponsive to C-TACE.

Factors predicting overall response and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the factors predicting overall response and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE).

Methods: Sixty-six patients treated with B-TACE at a Japanese tertiary referral hospital between January 2011 and August 2015 were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Results: The overall response was classified as complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease in 35 (53.

Safety and efficacy of balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using miriplatin for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: Balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) using a microballoon catheter was performed to administrate miriplatin, and the early therapeutic efficacy and safety of the procedure were evaluated.

Methods: Out of 158 patients who received miriplatin using B-TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma, 49 patients with a single lesion at either stage I or II (according to the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan) were evaluated in comparison with 48 matched patients who received miriplatin using conventional TACE (C-TACE).

Results: The mean total dose and median dose of miriplatin in each group were 32.

Spleen stiffness correlates with the presence of ascites but not esophageal varices in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Although spleen stiffness has recently been identified as potential surrogate marker for portal hypertension, the relationship between spleen stiffness and portal hypertension has not been fully elucidated. We attempted to determine the relationship between the liver or spleen stiffness and the presence of ascites or esophageal varices by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging. A total of 33 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients (median age 68; range 51-84) were enrolled.

Transileocolic vein obliteration for bleeding rectal varices with portal thrombus.

We report a case of rectal varices treated successfully with transileocolic vein obliteration (TIO). A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of fresh bloody stools in January 2011. Emergent colonoscopy revealed fresh blood in the rectum and tortuous rectal varices.

[Clinical evaluation of transcatheter arterial chemolipiodolization of miriplatin for multiple hepatocellular carcinoma].

The safety and efficacy of miriplatin-lipiodol suspension were investigated in 174 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). We assessed 29 patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)for whole-liver multinodular HCC(mHCC), compared with 145 patients who underwent TACE for non-multinodular HCC(n-mHCC)as the controls. In the mHCC group, a treatment effect(TE)of 4 was obtained in 0%, TE3 in 38%, TE2 in 31%, and TE1 in 31%.

Respiratory effects of balloon occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices: a prospective controlled study.

Background And Aim: We evaluated the respiratory effects of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) performed for the treatment of gastric varices complicating liver cirrhosis.

Methods: From 2005 to 2009, we performed BRTO in 20 patients with gastric fundal varices, by intravariceal injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate (EO) as the sclerosant. We studied the effect of BRTO on the respiratory gas exchange, chest X-ray findings, computed tomography (CT) findings, pulmonary function parameters, and (99m) Tc-MAA lung perfusion scintigraphy findings.

Clinical characteristics and treatment for patients presenting with bleeding duodenal varices.

Background And Aim: Bleeding from ectopic varices, including duodenal varices, is uncommon, but it can be difficult to manage. The clinical data of patients diagnosed and treated for duodenal varices were reviewed to investigate the strategy for treatment.

Methods: The present study reviewed the clinical data of 10 patients with duodenal varices (mean age, 58.

Hepatocyte growth factor protects against Fas-mediated liver apoptosis in transgenic mice.

Background: Apoptosis via the Fas/Fas ligand signalling system plays an important role in the development of various liver diseases. The administration of an agonistic anti-Fas antibody to mice causes massive hepatic apoptosis and fulminant hepatic failure. Several growth factors including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) have been found to prevent apoptosis.

Gastric cancer with features of submucosal tumor: a case report.

A case of stomach carcinoma showing the features of a submucosal tumor (SMT) is reported. The patient was a 65-year-old woman admitted to the Internal Medicine Department with autoimmune hepatitis and complaining of anemia and tarry stools. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor-like lesion with central ulceration.

[Clinical study of low-dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy via implanted fusion port in 20 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis].

We experienced 20 cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis treated with low-dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy via implanted fusion port between August 1999 and September 2003. A fusion port was implanted by inserting an intraarterial catheter into the hepatic artery. Cisplatin (10 mg/day, 5 times/week, 4 weeks) and 5-FU (250 mg/day, 5 times/week, 4 weeks) were administered for one cycle.

Hepatocyte growth factor accelerates thrombopoiesis in transgenic mice.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the potent growth factors for liver regeneration and has a strong effect on epithelial and nonepithelial cells. As one of the pleiotropic functions, HGF acts as a hematopoietic regulator in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors. However, the effect of HGF on the thrombopoietic function remains unclear.

Lack of macrophage migration inhibitory factor protects mice against concanavalin A-induced liver injury.

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases but the role of MIF in liver injury has not yet been elucidated.

Methods: We investigated biochemically, histologically and immunologically the character of MIF in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T-cell-mediated liver injury using MIF knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice.

Results: MIF KO mice showed significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase values and suppressed histological change with massive necrosis of the hepatic parenchymal cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells compared with their WT counterparts.

Computed tomography-guided transpulmonary radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma located in hepatic dome.

Aim: To determine the feasibility of performing computed tomography (CT)-guided transpulmonary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located in the hepatic dome.

Methods: A total of seven patients with HCC comprising seven nodules located in the hepatic dome were treated from April 2004 to December 2004. CT-guided transpulmonary RFA was performed using a cool-tip type electrode (Radionics Company) based on a standardized energy protocol.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in extremely elderly patients: an analysis of clinical characteristics, prognosis and patient survival.

Aim: To identify the clinical and prognostic features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) aged 80 years or more.

Methods: A total of 1310 patients with HCC were included in this study. Ninety-one patients aged 80 years or more at the time of diagnosis of HCC were defined as the extremely elderly group.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Background/aims: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura could occur as an extrahepatic manifestation of hepatitis C virus infection. The aim of this study was to clinically analyze hepatitis C virus-positive cases with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and to examine the relationship between hepatitis C virus and immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Methodology: Eight hepatitis C virus-positive patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura were compared with 67 cases with chronic hepatitis C without immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice is inhibited by hepatocyte growth factor overexpression but stimulated by NK2 overexpression.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibits acute liver injury. NK2 acts as an antagonist to HGF in vitro, but its in vivo function has reached no consensus conclusions. We have investigated in vivo effects of HGF and NK2 on CCl4-induced acute liver injury.

Absence of specific symptoms in chronic hepatitis C.

Background: No systematic research has been carried out on the symptoms of chronic hepatitis C, although the disease is believed to induce subjective symptoms such as fatigue or dullness in the legs.

Methods: The Todai Health Index has been developed as a symptom checklist that is used for screening particular diseases or for health management. The index was chosen as the most suitable questionnaire for measuring characteristic symptoms of chronic hepatitis C.

Transforming growth factor alpha protects against Fas-mediated liver apoptosis in mice.

The Fas/Fas ligand interaction plays a crucial role in various liver diseases, and administration of agonistic anti-Fas antibody to mice causes massive hepatic apoptosis and fulminant hepatic failure. Several growth factors have recently been found to function in preventing apoptosis. In this study, we demonstrated that overexpression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) has a dramatic protective effect on Fas-mediated hepatic apoptosis at the biochemical and histological levels.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma stimulates the growth arrest and DNA-damage inducible 153 gene in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma by the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of antidiabetic drugs elicits growth inhibition in a variety of malignant tumors. We clarified the effects of TZDs on growth of human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells that express endogenous PPAR-gamma. Troglitazone and pioglitazone caused inhibition of cellular growth and induced apoptosis of NSCLC cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Hepatocyte growth factor promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through c-Met autocrine activation and enhanced angiogenesis in transgenic mice treated with diethylnitrosamine.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a mitogen for hepatocytes, but it is not clear whether HGF stimulates or inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis. We previously reported that HGF transgenic mice under the metallothionein gene promoter developed benign and malignant liver tumors spontaneously after 17 months of age. To elucidate the role of HGF in hepatocarcinogenesis, diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was administered to HGF transgenic mice.