Background: Three-dimensional (3D) anatomic analysis was carried out, using helical computed tomography (helical CT), to evaluate its usefulness in two cases of large intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (IPSVS). Methods: Case 1, a 74-year-old man with type-C hepatitis, underwent hepatic angiography to confirm suggested IPSVS of the left hepatic lobe in 1994. Case 2, a 62-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis associated with type-B hepatitis, was hospitalized for evaluation of suspected hepatocellular carcinoma in 1994. Hepatic angiography disclosed a large IPSVS in the right hepatic lobe. Retrospective evaluation of CT showed that the size of this shunt had increased over the 5 years 3D anatomic analysis was carried out, and the shunt vessels were clearly demonstrated. Conclusion: 3D anatomic analysis using helical CT was less invasive and useful for evaluating large IPSVS.
To test the clinical usefulness of computed radiography (CR) with a storage phosphor plate in upper gastrointestinal radiographic examinations, a newly devised phantom gastric mucosa was used.Simulated small elevated and depressed lesions were created on a phantom gastric mucosa made from a styrofoam "plate". Twenty-four sets of each CR and screen-film radiographs (SR) were obtained using phototimed exposures. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) study and visual ranking using these images were performed.There was no significant difference between the ROC curves of CR and SR. By visual ranking, CR was equal to or better than SR in most cases. In no case was SR definitely superior to CR.CR can be safely applied to upper gastrointestinal roentgenologic examinations.
We report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma located in the middle mediastinum as a solitary mass. Histologically, lymphatic tissues remained together with nests of squamous cell carcinoma which were occupying the greater part of the mass. Examinations of the whole body failed to detect a primary site of the squamous cell carcinoma. It is considered that the carcinoma cells reflect metastasis from a primary-unknown carcinoma (most likely TO lung squamous cell carcinoma) or that they originated from benign epithelial inclusions in a mediastinal lymph node.
Steroid binding assay using the dextran coated charcoal (DCC) method was applied to human tissues including tumors of the digestive organs, and the results were compared with those of enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) and immunocytochemical assay (ICA) with monoclonal antibody against human estrogen receptor of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Using the DCC method, estrogen receptor activity was detected in 6 of 26 cases (23.1%) with gastric carcinoma, 3 of 16 hepatocellular carcinoma cases (18.8%), 1 of 3 gallbladder carcinoma cases (33.3%), and both of the 2 cases (100%) with normal liver tissue. However, using EIA, no ER activity was detected in any case. Moreover, ER positive cells were not found by immunohistochemical staining in the gastric carcinoma cases or in normal liver tissue, both of which showed ER activity by the DCC method. These results suggest that the estrogen receptor like material exists in cytosol of the human digestive tumors and normal liver tissue, but that the specificity of the antibodies against estrogen receptor molecules in these tumors may be different from that of the breast tumors.
The A1 adenosine receptor of rat brain membranes has been solubilized with digitonin and purified approximately 150-fold by affinity chromatography. The digitonin-solubilized receptor, which can be labeled with 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]dipropylxanthine([3H]DPCPX), was adsorbed on xanthine amine congener (XAC)-linked agarose. The interaction of the solubilized receptor activity with the affinity gel was biospecific. Adenosine agents blocked adsorption of solubilized receptor activity to the XAC-agarose with the appropriate A1 adenosine selectivity. For agonists, 8-cyclopentyladenosine greater than (R)-phenylisopropyladenosine greater than CV-1808, whereas, for antagonists, 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT) greater than XAC greater than isobutylmethylxanthine = theophylline. The same A1 adenosine receptor specificity was observed for elution of [3H]DPCPX binding activity from the gel. XAC-agarose adsorbed 65-80% of the solubilized [3H]DPCPX binding activity and, after the gel was washed, 30-40% of the adsorbed activity could be eluted with 100 microM CPT, with specific binding activity of approximately 60 pmol/mg of protein. The order of potency of adenosine agonists [8-cyclopentyladenosine greater than (R)-phenylisopropyladenosine greater than 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine greater than (S)-phenylisopropyladenosine] and antagonists (DPCPX greater than XAC greater than CPT greater than isobutylmethylxanthine) with the affinity-purified preparation was found to be similar to that of the solubilized adenosine A1 receptor. This affinity chromatography procedure should prove to be valuable in the isolation and molecular characterization of A1 adenosine receptors.
Pseudocirrhosis is a radiological diagnosis of cirrhosis without histological evidence and occurs as a complication of liver metastases from solid tumors. A 50-year-old man without any previous history of liver disease was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the left upper lung lobe and liver metastasis. After chemotherapy, the liver metastases shrank; however, over time, the liver shrank and showed cirrhosis-like morphological changes. His performance status deteriorated due to ascites and leg edema, and chemotherapy was terminated. Physicians treating lung adenocarcinoma with liver metastases should be aware that pseudocirrhosis is a rare but important complication that can worsen performance status (PS) and hinder treatment continuation.
