Does artificial ascites induce the heat-sink phenomenon during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the hepatic subcapsular area?: an in vivo experimental study using a rabbit model.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the heat-sink phenomenon induced by artificial ascites on the size of the ablation zone during percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the hepatic subcapsular area in an in vivo rabbit model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 21 percutaneous rabbit liver RF ablations were performed with and without artificial ascites (5% dextrose aqueous solution). The rabbits were divided into three groups: a) control group (C, n = 7); b) room temperature ascites group (R, n = 7); and c) warmed ascites group (W, n = 7).

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for the hepatocellular carcinoma abutting the diaphragm: assessment of safety and therapeutic efficacy.

Objective: To assess the safety and therapeutic efficacy of a percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) abutting the diaphragm.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively assessed 80 patients who underwent a percutaneous RF ablation for a single nodular (< 4 cm) HCC over the last four years. Each patient underwent an ultrasound-guided RF ablation using internally cooled electrodes for the first-line treatment.

Clinical spectrum of reflux esophagitis among 25,536 Koreans who underwent a health check-up: a nationwide multicenter prospective, endoscopy-based study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux is a commonly encountered condition, but detailed data on reflux symptoms in Asian countries are lacking.

Goals: To evaluate the prevalence and to document the clinical spectrum of endoscopic reflux esophagitis (RE).

Study: A total 25,536 subjects underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination as part of a health check, and completed a gastroesophageal reflux questionnaire.

The role of peroxiredoxin III in the ototoxic drug-induced mitochondrial apoptosis of cochlear hair cells.

Conclusion: Peroxiredoxin (Prx) III plays a protective role in cisplatin- and gentamicin-induced apoptosis via a mitochondria-dependent pathway in cochlear hair cells.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the depletion of endogenous Prx III on oxidative damage to mitochondrial components and on apoptotic events with the use of RNA interference.

Materials And Method: .

The clinical significance in healthy men of the association between obesity related plasma hemodilution and tumor marker concentration.

Purpose: We investigated the association between body mass index and the concentration of tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and prostate specific antigen, as well as the association between body mass index changes and tumor marker concentration changes in a population of healthy men.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated data on 8,776 men screened for tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and prostate specific antigen) at least 3 times annually during an annual examination from 2001 to 2007. We assessed the tumor marker test findings for a trend in the age, alanine aminotransferase and creatinine adjusted tumor marker concentration by body mass index.

Okadaic acid promotes angiogenesis via activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1.

Okadaic acid, a potent tumor promoter and an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A, has also been characterized as an angiogenic inducer in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo. To elucidate the roles of okadaic acid on angiogenic processes, we conducted in vitro angiogenesis assays. In this study, we report that okadaic acid potently stimulated tube formation, migration, and invasion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Okadaic acid protects human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced apoptosis.

1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) has been shown to selectively inhibit mitochondrial function and induce a parkinsonism-like syndrome. MPP(+) stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces cell death in vitro. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of okadaic acid on MPP(+)-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

Clinical significance of the leptin and leptin receptor expressions in prostate tissues.

Aim: To evaluate the expression of leptin and leptin receptor in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa), and to investigate whether they are associated with the development and progression of PCa.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the expression of leptin and leptin receptor in BPH and PCa. PCa was divided into three groups: localized PCa, locally advanced PCa and metastatic PCa.

High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy: an overview for radiologists.

High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy is a novel, emerging, therapeutic modality that uses ultrasound waves, propagated through tissue media, as carriers of energy. This completely non-invasive technology has great potential for tumor ablation as well as hemostasis, thrombolysis and targeted drug/gene delivery. However, the application of this technology still has many drawbacks.

Growth rate of new hepatocellular carcinoma after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation: evaluation with multiphase CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate with serial follow-up CT examinations the growth rate of new hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developing after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and to determine an appropriate follow-up interval for imaging.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-two new HCCs appearing after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in 59 patients who underwent follow-up multiphase CT were retrospectively identified. The volume of the new HCCs at follow-up CT was measured on a PACS monitor with an area measuring tool and summation-of-areas technique.

Needle tract implantation after percutaneous interventional procedures in hepatocellular carcinomas: lessons learned from a 10-year experience.

Percutaneous interventional procedures under image guidance, such as biopsy, ethanol injection therapy, and radiofrequency ablation play important roles in the management of hepatocellular carcinomas. Although uncommon, the procedures may result in tumor implantation along the needle tract, which is a major delayed complication. Implanted tumors usually appear as one or a few, round or oval-shaped, enhancing nodules along the needle tract on CT, from the intraperitoneum through the intercostal or abdominal muscles to the subcutaneous or cutaneous tissues.

Ferucarbotran-enhanced 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging using parallel imaging technique compared with triple-phase multidetector row computed tomography for the preoperative detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To compare diagnostic performance of ferucarbotran-enhanced 3.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using parallel imaging technique with that of triple-phase multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) for the preoperative detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Eighty-six consecutive patients with a total of 128 surgically proven HCCs were enrolled in this study.

Local tumor progression after radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors: analysis of morphologic pattern and site of recurrence.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to assess the morphologic pattern and exact site of local tumor progression with relation to various risk factors after radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors.

Conclusion: Local tumor progression after radiofrequency ablation shows mostly the peripheral nodular type. The site of local tumor progression shows a higher concordance rate with insufficient ablative margin than contiguous vessel and subcapsular location.

Upregulation of DSCR1 (RCAN1 or Adapt78) in the peri-infarct cortex after experimental stroke.

Down syndrome candidate region 1 (DSCR1; also known as RCAN1 or Adapt78) has been shown to be induced by calcium overload and oxidative stress which are included in the pathogenic hallmarks of the ischemic diseases. After ischemic stroke, inflammatory responses play an important role in the exacerbation of neuronal loss. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of DSCR1 in the mouse cortex after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term results in a large series.

Background: Intraoperative radiofrequency (RF) ablation with or without surgical resection currently plays one of important roles in modern hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. We evaluated long-term follow-up results including prognostic factors of intraoperative RF ablation for HCC that was difficult to treat percutaneously.

Methods: A total of 133 patients (male, 22 female, mean age 55.

Planning sonography to assess the feasibility of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinomas.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the feasibility rate and the reasons for infeasibility of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) at planning sonography.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 248 patients who had been referred for planning sonography at our department between October 2005 and February 2006. We reviewed the radiologic reports of 256 planning sonography examinations in terms of the rate of feasible cases and the reasons for infeasibility.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: analysis of 80 patients treated with two consecutive sessions.

This study investigated the reasons for some patients requiring two consecutive sessions of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We reviewed our database of 1,179 patients (1,624 treatments) with HCCs treated by percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided RF ablation over 6 years. We retrospectively evaluated 80 patients who required a second session after the first session.

[Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease: relation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to carotid atherosclerosis].

Background/aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes, which are all features of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether NAFLD is associated with carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: The study population comprised 659 subjects without hepatitis B and C infections and who did not consume alcohol.

Spectrum of CT findings after radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors.

Image-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been used to treat both resectable and nonresectable hepatic tumors. A precise imaging assessment of the therapeutic response and of any complications is mandatory after ablation. Contrast material-enhanced ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging all may be useful for this assessment.

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor may modulate the post-transcription pathway of interleukin-6 expression in prostate carcinoma cells.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) can stimulate a variety of tumors including prostatic carcinoma. Research has recently shown that IL-6 may act to stimulate the progression of prostatic cancer. To date, little research has been performed to better understand the nature of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the expression of IL-6.

Radiofrequency ablation of liver adjacent to body of gallbladder: histopathologic changes of gallbladder wall in a pig model.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the histopathologic changes of gallbladder wall surrounding radiofrequency ablation zones in pig livers and to assess the risk factors for thermal injury of gallbladder wall in terms of distance of the electrode, electrode direction in relation to the gallbladder wall, and time of sacrifice of the animal.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed in 15 pigs using an internally cooled single electrode with a 1-cm electrically active tip under sonographic guidance. Twenty-three hepatic ablation zones abutting the gallbladder were analyzed in three phases on the basis of the distance of the electrode (group A, 0.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with artificial ascites for hepatocellular carcinoma in the hepatic dome: initial experience.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with artificial ascites for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the hepatic dome.

Materials And Methods: Sonographically guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with artificial ascites was performed in 25 patients with 34 HCCs using an internally cooled electrode radiofrequency system. At least one hepatic dome tumor in each patient was considered difficult to treat percutaneously because of partially visible tumor (n = 16) or poor electrode path (n = 9) on planning sonography.

Is Metabolic Syndrome One of the Risk Factors for Gallbladder Polyps Found by Ultrasonography during Health Screening?

Background/aims: We conducted this study to identify the risk factors for finding gallbladder polyps (GBP) in Korean subjects during health screening, and to determine the nature of the association between the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and the development of GBP METHODS: A total of 1,523 subjects were enrolled, comprising 264 with GBP (81 women and 183 men) and 1,259 controls (696 women and 563 men with normal GB). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), insulin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipids, liver enzymes, hepatitis B antigens (HBs Ag), and hepatitis C antibodies (HCV Ab) were measured. MS was considered to be present when three or more of the NCEP-ATPIII (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria were satisfied.

Evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from ARDS patients with regard to apoptosis.

Background: Apoptosis is thought to play an important role in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We evaluated the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from ARDS patients focusing on apoptosis.

Methods: The study enrolled 31 ARDS patients and 20 healthy controls.