TACE vs. TARE for HCC ≥ 8 cm: A propensity score analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) as first-line treatments for unresectable HCC > 8 cm.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 129 HCC patients with tumor diameters greater than 8 cm from January 2010 to December 2021, including 40 patients who received TARE, and 89 patients treated with TACE as primary treatment. Following Propensity Score Matching (PSM), 40 patients from each group were harmonized for baseline characteristics.

Clinical Effects and Safety of Intra-Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Lipiodol versus Intra-Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Alone for Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in 2 groups of patients: those who receive lipiodol (referred to as the lipiodol group) and those who do not receive lipiodol (referred to as the control group).

Methods: From January 2016 through December 2023, 85 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled in this retrospective study. In total, 40 patients received HAIC with lipiodol, while 45 patients were given HAIC without lipiodol.

Comparison of Small-Sized (70-150 μm) and Intermediate-Sized (100-300 μm) Drug-Eluting Embolics for Transarterial Chemoembolization of Small Hepatocellular Carcinomas (≤3 cm).

Purpose: To compare oncologic outcomes of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using 70-150-μm and 100-300-μm drug-eluting embolics (DEEs) to treat small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 93 patients with small HCC (≤3 cm) who underwent their first TACE with DEEs: (a) 43 with 70-150-μm DEEs and (b) 50 with 100-300-μm DEEs. Initial tumor response was assessed using per-patient and per-lesion analyses.

Transarterial chemoembolization for omental vein tumor thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Background: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, recognizing major vascular invasions such as portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and hepatic vein tumor thrombosis (HVTT) is crucial for disease staging. Less documented is the invasion of other vessels. We report a case of omental vein tumor thrombosis (OVTT) in an HCC patient treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to transarterial chemoembolization: exploring the influence of prior transarterial chemoembolization and additional transarterial chemoembolization on survival outcomes.

Background: The selection of an efficacious treatment modality for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed as refractory to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) presents numerous challenges. In addition to systemic therapies, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) may serve as an alternative option. However, it is imperative to identify patients who are appropriate candidates for HAIC to confer a survival benefit.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Ischemic Cholecystitis after Transarterial Chemoembolization: Correlation with Cone Beam CT Findings.

Purpose: Acute cholecystitis is a complication of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) that occasionally requires surgical intervention. We aimed to analyze the incidence and risk factors of cholecystitis requiring surgical intervention in patients with embolic material uptake on cone beam CT (CBCT) performed immediately after various TACE procedures.

Materials And Methods: After a retrospective review of 2633 TACE procedures performed over a 6-year period, 120 patients with embolic material retention in the gallbladder wall on CBCT immediately after TACE were selected.

Complete and Incomplete Alcohol Sclerotherapy for Treatment of Symptomatic Hepatic Cysts: Comparison of Volume Reduction and Clinical Outcomes.

: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of incomplete alcohol sclerotherapy with complete treatment for hepatic cysts. : From 2005 to 2021, a total of 80 patients (19 males, 61 females; median age 65 years; age range, 42-86 years) who underwent alcohol sclerotherapy for symptomatic benign hepatic cysts were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. Complete treatment was defined as injecting 25-33% of the aspirated cyst volume with alcohol in 2-3 cycles, with a maximum of 100 mL per cycle.

Arterial-Portal Venous Shunt after Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: Risk factors and Impact on Patient Survival.

Introduction: The effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been well established. The differential impacts of drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) as opposed to conventional TACE (cTACE) on vascular changes, such as arterial-portal venous shunts (APSs), have been recognized. However, their subsequent effects on treatment outcomes have not been fully explored.

Policresulen to treat hypergranulation tissue around drainage tubes.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of policresulen for the treatment of hypergranulation.

Method: This was a retrospective study of patients with percutaneous catheters. Inpatients from two hospitals and those from outpatient clinics were included.

Usefulness of tumor perfusion on cone-beam CT after hepatic arterial infusion port implantation for evaluating tumor response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Purpose: To compare tumor perfusion on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) after hepatic artery infusion port implantation with the tumor response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with advanced HCC treated with HAIC from 2015 to 2020. We performed CBCT with contrast injection via a port on the day following implantation.

Impact of aortoceliac angle in implantation of subcutaneous hepatic artery port-catheter system for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy via femoral approach.

Background: In patients with an acute aortoceliac angle, the diagnostic catheter often fails to enter the common hepatic artery.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the impact of aortoceliac angle on the implantation of a port-catheter system via a femoral approach for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Material And Methods: A total of 399 patients with advanced HCC underwent percutaneous implantation of a port-catheter system for HAIC.

Upper tract heparin instillation for maintenance of ureteral stent patency.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of heparin packing after antegrade ureteral stent placement in the renal pelvis to protect against early dysfunction.

Method: From December 2019 to September 2021, 44 double J (DJ) stent placements were performed with heparin packing (heparin packing group). Between February 2008 and March 2014, 250 DJ stent placements without heparin packing were performed (control group).

Chemoembolization combined radiofrequency ablation vs. chemoembolization alone for treatment of beyond the Milan criteria viable hepatocellular carcinoma (CERFA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Many previous studies evaluated a combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, studies evaluating combination therapy for beyond-the-Milan criteria HCC are scarce.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with beyond-the-Milan criteria HCC who have viable tumour after first TACE will be enrolled in this multi-institutional, parallel, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. Patients with metastasis, vascular invasion, or a sum of tumour diameter > 8 cm will be excluded.

Push-pull monorail technique to overcome a difficult course through the left internal jugular vein.

Background: We assessed the outcomes of a push-pull monorail technique to overcome a difficult anatomical course through the left internal jugular vein in implantable port insertions.

Methods: From December 2018 to May 2021, a total of 5326 patients were referred for implantable port insertion in our interventional unit, among which 472 cases were requested for insertion on the left side. Our monorail technique was applied only when the catheter tip entered the azygos vein instead of the superior vena cava (n = 8).

Multidisciplinary treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cytotoxic chemotherapy-resistant tumor and most HCCs arise in a background of liver cirrhosis of various causes. Although the IMBrave150 trial showed remarkable advancements in the treatment of unresectable HCC with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AteBeva), therapeutic outcomes were unsatisfactory in more than half of the patients. Accordingly, many ongoing trials combine conventional modalities with new drugs such as immune checkpoint inhibitors for better treatment outcomes, and they are expected to benefit patients with limited responses to conventional treatment.

Percutaneous stone removal using a compliant balloon after papillary balloon dilatation.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous stone removal using a compliant balloon after papillary balloon dilatation.

Material And Methods: Between March 2014 and May 2020, 123 patients with choledocholithiasis, in whom endoscopy was unsuccessful, were enrolled in this study. The ampulla of Vater was dilated using a noncompliant balloon, and stone removal was attempted a pushing maneuver using an endoscopic stone extraction balloon.

Dual-Port versus Mono-Port Implantation for Intra-Arterial Chemoinfusion Therapy for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Anatomic Hepatic Artery Variation.

Purpose: To compare the feasibility and safety of mono-port catheter system and dual-port catheter system for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with anatomic hepatic artery variation and portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 22 patients with infiltrative or multiple HCC with unilateral or bilateral portal vein thrombosis who had hepatic artery variation. A mono-port or dual-port catheter system was determined according to the degree of blood supply to the entire tumor through the common hepatic and variant hepatic arteries.

Para-Axial Central Venous Stent Placement in Patients with Malignant Central Venous Obstruction with a Venous Port.

The authors performed a para-axial central venous stent (p-CVS) placement in 38 patients and implanted the stent without having to remove the functioning port. No difficulties were experienced in catheter function with p-CVS. In-stent stenosis was seen in 6 of 24 patients in the p-CVS group and in 6 of 18 patients in the intrastent venous stent placement group (P = .

Design and Electro-Thermo-Mechanical Behavior Analysis of Au/Si₃N₄ Bimorph Microcantilevers for Static Mode Sensing.

This paper presents a design optimization method based on theoretical analysis and numerical calculations, using a commercial multi-physics solver (e.g., ANSYS and ESI CFD-ACE+), for a 3D continuous model, to analyze the bending characteristics of an electrically heated bimorph microcantilever.

Shunt Overdrainage Caused by Displacement of the Pressure Control Cam after Pressure Adjustment.

Although the Codman-Hakim programmable valve is one of most popular shunt systems used in the clinical practice for the treatment of hydrocephalus, malfunctions related with this system have been also reported which lead to underdrainage or overdrainage of the cerebrospinal fluid. While obstruction of the ventricular catheter by tissue materials or hematoma and catheter disconnection are relatively common, the malfunction of the valve itself is rare. Herein, we report on a rare case of shunt overdrainage caused by displacement of the pressure control cam after pressure adjustment.

Acute Pontine Infarction due to Basilar Artery Dissection from Strenuous Physical Effort: One from Sexual Intercourse and Another from Defecation.

A basilar artery dissection (BAD) is an extremely rare disease. It can lead to hemorrhage or infarction involving the brain stem, and is often associated with grave outcome. However, little is known about the pathophysiology of BAD, and its proper managements are yet in controversy.

Sequential Sonographic Features of Primary Invasive Aspergillosis Involving Only the Thyroid Gland: A Case Report and Literature Review.

A 29-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with palpitation and neck swelling. Initial sonography showed an ill-defined hypoechoic lesion in the right thyroid gland, mentioning subacute thyroiditis. The patient received conservative care for one week.

Diazo-coupled calix[4]arenes for qualitative analytical screening of metal ions.

New chromogenic diazophenylcalix[4]arenes 1 and 2 were synthesized in cone conformation. Compound 1 with the ortho-carboxyl groups in CH(3)CN solution preferentially binds with alkaline earth and transition metal ions, whereas no significant changes in absorption spectra are observed in the presence of alkali metal ions. While 2 with the ortho-ester groups shows selective complexation properties towards transition metal ions over alkali and alkaline earth metal ions.

Ultrasonographic findings of the shoulder in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and comparison with physical examination.

The objectives of this study were: 1) to identify the ultrasonographic (US) abnormalities and 2) to compare the findings of physical examination with US findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with shoulder pain. We studied 30 RA patients. Physical examination was performed systemically as follows: 1) area of tenderness; 2) range of passive and active shoulder motion; 3) impingement tests; 4) maneuvers for determining the location of the tendon lesions.

Ultrasonographic findings of painful shoulders and correlation between physical examination and ultrasonographic rotator cuff tear.

The objectives of this study were to identify ultrasonographic (US) abnormalities and to compare physical examination with US findings, especially of rotator cuff abnormalities in patients with shoulder pain. A total of 120 patients with shoulder pain were prospectively studied. The physical examination of shoulders was performed as follows: (1) the area of tenderness; (2) the range of passive and active motion for abduction, forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation; (3) Neer and Hawkins's tests for shoulder impingement; and (4) maneuvers for determining the location of the tendon lesions.