BACKGROUND: We wanted to differentiate small hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from hypervascular pseudolesion (HPL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We reviewed small hypervascular foci (< or = 2 cm in diameter) on dynamic MRI in patients with chronic liver disease, which were followed-up with serial MRI examinations. RESULTS: Twenty of 34 hypervascular foci were larger at follow-up; 19 of 20 foci had characteristics suggesting HCC; and 14 foci did not grow or disappeared and were judged to be HPLs. There were no differences in the initial sizes and follow-up periods between HCCs and HPLs. On initial MRI, nine of 19 HCCs (47%) and one of 14 HPLs (7%) appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted images. The difference between HCCs and HPLs on T2-weighted images was statistically significant (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: HPLs are seen frequently as small hypervascular foci on dynamic MRI in patients with chronic liver disease. Hyperintensity of the foci on T2-weighted images differentiates HCCs from HPLs.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An anaesthetic dose of ethanol inhibits cyclic AMP formation by altering the function of GS protein.

The effects of ethanol on cerebral gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor and its related signal transduction systems were studied. [3H]GABA binding to cerebral GABAB receptors in crude synaptic membranes from rat brain was unaffected by ethanol at concentrations up to 100 mM, although 100 mM ethanol suppressed not only the basal but also forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in cerebral cortical membrane vesicles. The suppressive effect of baclofen and the stimulatory effect of forskolin on cAMP formation was also found to be unaltered by ethanol. Pretreatment of the membrane vesicles with islet-activating protein (IAP), which eliminates the function of Gi protein by its ribosylation, had no effect on the suppressive effects of ethanol on basal and forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation. In contrast, pretreatment of membrane vesicles with 'low pH', which is known to suppress the function of Gs protein, eliminated the suppressive effect of ethanol on cAMP formation. These results suggest that an anaesthetic dose of ethanol, which is below that necessary to cause changes in receptor binding, may not affect the functions of GABAB/Gi, G(O) protein/adenylate cyclase system, but suppresses cAMP formation systems which are coupled with Gs protein.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical study of an enteral branched-chain amino acid solution in decompensated liver cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy.

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Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The medical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan: a review with implications for HCC seen in the west.

The problem and approaches to the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma as seen in Japan are reported. Current Japanese methods for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma and the methods used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma are described. Included in the latter discussion is a description of the untoward effects of each treatment. Finally an alogorithm for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is presented based upon the Japanese experience.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of variable dose X-ray fluoroscopic system--aimed at reduction of X-ray exposure during interventional radiologic procedure.

Recent advancement in IVR by the catheterization technique has raised the problem of increased X-ray exposure dose. To minimize this problem, we developed an X-ray fluoroscopy system with which the operator can select the X-ray dose according to the required image quality. The optical system features an optical iris that adjusts the amount of light input to the camera tube (the optical iris is usually fixed). If a rough fluoroscopic image with low S/N is acceptable, the optical iris is opened and the fluoroscopic dose is automatically reduced. This reduces exposure dose to 30-60% of the conventional dose.

Angiography↗