l-carnitine supplementation vs cycle ergometer exercise for physical activity and muscle status in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Serum carnitine is decreased in hemodialysis patients, which induces muscle atrophy. Thus, we examined the different effects of l-carnitine and exercise on exercise activity and muscle status in hemodialysis patients. Twenty patients were divided into l-carnitine and cycle ergometer groups and were followed for 3 months.

Identification of heterozygous p.Y150C and p.V274M mutations in the HJV gene in a Japanese patient with a mild phenotype of juvenile hemochromatosis: A case report.

Juvenile hemochromatosis (JH) is known as a progressive iron-storage disease, and causes severe organ impairments, including cardiomyopathy and liver cirrhosis. However, JH is a rare genetic disorder, and information for genetic mutations and phenotypes is limited. Here, we report a case of JH with heterozygous p.

The Value of MRI and Clinical Features in Differentiating Between Cellular and Fibrous Solitary Fibrous Tumors.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of MRI in differentiating between fibrous and cellular solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 17 patients with histopathologically confirmed SFTs, including 10 patients with fibrous SFTs and seven patients with cellular SFTs. We evaluated the differences between fibrous and cellular SFTs with regard to clinical data and MRI findings, such as tumor margin definition, signal intensity, heterogeneity on T1- and T2-weighted images, presence of capsules, intratumoral cystic changes, flow signal void, perilesional edema, enhancement pattern on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), and mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging predicts malignant potential in small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Poor differentiation and microvascular invasion are indicators of poor outcome after hepatectomy for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aims: We investigated whether gadoxetic acid-enhanced and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could predict these factors before hepatectomy.

Methods: Between July 2008 and April 2012, 75 patients who underwent hepatectomy for small HCCs (diameter: ≤3cm, tumor number: ≤3) were consecutively enrolled.

Efficacy of peritoneovenous shunt for treating tolvaptan-resistant refractory ascites in a cirrhotic patient with portal vein thrombosis: A case report.

Peritoneovenous shunt is normally used for the treatment of refractory ascites. However, its efficacy in treating tolvaptan-resistant refractory ascites has not been reported thus far. In addition, the impact of peritoneovenous shunt on the prognosis of cirrhotic patients remains controversial.

Infantile hemangioma of the liver in an adult: a case report and review of the literature.

Infantile hemangioma (IH), a representative vascular liver tumor, usually occurs in infancy or early childhood but rarely in adults. In this study, we describe a case of IH in a 47-year-old female and we also review the literature. A plain computed tomography (CT) image revealed five hypoattenuating masses in the liver.

Serum albumin level is a notable profiling factor for non-B, non-C hepatitis virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A data-mining analysis.

Aim: Various factors are underlying for the onset of non-B, non-C hepatitis virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC). We aimed to investigate the independent risk factors and profiles associated with NBNC-HCC using a data-mining technique.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study and enrolled 223 NBNC-HCC patients and 669 controls from a health checkup database (n = 176 886).

Quantification of hepatic iron concentration in chronic viral hepatitis: usefulness of T2-weighted single-shot spin-echo echo-planar MR imaging.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of single-shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging (SSEPI) sequence for quantifying mild degree of hepatic iron stores in patients with viral hepatitis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 34 patients with chronic viral hepatitis/cirrhosis who had undergone histological investigation and magnetic resonance imaging with T2-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequence (T2-GRE) and diffusion-weighted SSEPI sequence with b-factors of 0 s/mm(2) (T2-EPI), 500 s/mm(2) (DW-EPI-500), and 1000 s/mm(2) (DW-EPI-1000). The correlation between the liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio, which was generated by regions of interest placed in the liver and paraspinous muscles of each sequence image, and the hepatic iron concentration (µmol/g dry liver), which was assessed by spectrophotometry, was analyzed by linear regression using a spline model.

CD14 expression and Kupffer cell dysfunction in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: superparamagnetic iron oxide-magnetic resonance image and pathologic correlation.

Background And Aim: Kupffer cell (KC) function and CD14 expression contributes to pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, these relationships remain unclear. We investigated the relationship of KC function with superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (SPIO-MRI), histopathological severity of NASH, and number of CD14-positive KCs in NASH.

Correlation of Kupffer cell function and hepatocyte function in chronic viral hepatitis evaluated with superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy using technetium-99m-labelled galactosyl human serum albumin.

Kupffer cells contribute to the pathogenesis of liver injury in chronic liver disease, yet it is difficult to assess Kupffer cell function either ex vivo or in vivo, since supporting data are limited. The aim of this study was to clarify the relation between Kupffer cell function and hepatocyte function by analyzing the correlation between conventional indices of hepatic functional reserve and both superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI (SPIO-MRI) and technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy (Tc-99m-GSA) in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Consecutive 46 patients (16 patients with chronic hepatitis and 30 patients with cirrhosis) who underwent both SPIO-MRI and Tc-99m-GSA were examined.

Periostin, a matrix protein, has potential as a novel serodiagnostic marker for cholangiocarcinoma.

Differentiating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) from other hepatic malignancies is crucial in deciding on treatment modalities and predicting clinical outcomes in patients. Periostin is a secreted protein from stromal cells and regulates the development of cancer cells through interaction with the extracellular matrix. Given that proliferation of fibrous stromal cells is a pathological feature of CCA, we examined the potential use of periostin as a serodiagnostic marker for this disease.

Evaluation of the mean and entropy of apparent diffusion coefficient values in chronic hepatitis C: correlation with pathologic fibrosis stage and inflammatory activity grade.

Purpose: To determine whether mean and entropy apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values obtained at diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can help detect and stage histopathologic liver fibrosis and grade inflammation activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and the requirement for informed consent was waived. The study included 55 patients with focal hepatic lesions and either chronic hepatitis C (n = 43) or normal hepatic function (control subjects) (n = 12).

Chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis on MR imaging.

This article focuses on the current role of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection and characterization of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. In particular, the characteristic MR imaging features of morphologic changes and focal manifestations of chronic liver disease are highlighted.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of soft tissue tumors: usefulness of the apparent diffusion coefficient for differential diagnosis.

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of using the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to differentiate soft tissue tumors.

Materials And Methods: We examined 88 histologically proven tumors (44 benign, 8 intermediate, 36 malignant) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images. Images of the tumors were obtained using a single-shot, spin-echo type echo-planar imaging sequence.

Supplement improves nutrition and stresses caused by examination-associated fasting in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Aim: Cirrhotic patients tend to develop malnutrition by fasting, yet the importance of nutritional care during examination-associated fasting has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the effects of a nutritional supplement on nutrition and stresses caused by examination-associated fasting in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Twenty-nine cirrhotic patients were enrolled in this study.

Evaluation of small (

Purpose: To evaluate the detectability and signal intensities of small (
Materials And Methods: Pathologically confirmed DNs (n=13) and w-HCCs (n=31) with a median largest dimension of 1.