Elevated levels of endothelin-1 in hepatic venous blood are associated with intrapulmonary vasodilatation in humans.

Background: Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a pulmonary vascular complication of cirrhosis in which intrapulmonary vasodilatation (IPV) results in hypoxemia. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), produced by proliferating cholangiocytes, has been identified as a mediator of IPV in an animal model of HPS, but the pathophysiology of IPV in humans has not been defined.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess whether cirrhosis with IPV, which often leads to HPS, is associated with increased hepatic venous ET-1 blood levels.

Angiographic and histologic comparison of injectable, expansile hydrogel embolic and pushable AZUR embolic devices in porcine arteries.

Purpose: To compare an injectable hydrogel embolic device with a pushable AZUR device procedurally, angiographically, and histologically in the embolization of porcine arteries.

Materials And Methods: In 12 pigs, embolization of renal, gluteal, and hepatic or thoracic arteries was performed with either injectable hydrogel embolic devices (two arteries per pig) or an AZUR device (one artery per pig). Follow-up angiography was performed before sacrifice in five pigs at 7 days after embolization and seven pigs at 90 days after embolization.

Locoregional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Locoregional therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma have progressed greatly in the last 30 years, beginning with the introduction of chemoembolization. Embolization techniques have evolved with the use of drug-eluting beads and radioembolization with yttrium-90. In the last 10 years, several new ablation techniques were developed including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, laser ablation, and irreversible electroporation.

Percutaneous transhepatic islet cell autotransplantation after pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis: a novel approach.

Background: In selected patients with chronic pancreatitis, extensive pancreatectomy can be effective for the treatment of intractable pain. The resultant morbid diabetes can be ameliorated with islet autotransplantation (IAT). Conventionally, islet infusion occurs intraoperatively after islet processing.

Predictive factors for the development of type II endoleaks.

Purpose: To define predictive factors for endoleak type II (EL-II) based on quantifiable factors in the imaging studies of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: The data on 208 consecutive patients (137 men; mean age 75.2 years, range 62-84) who underwent EVAR between the years 2003 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.