Search

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most frequent benign liver tumor, and it is a fiber-rich stiff lesion. Typically, FNH can be diagnosed by imaging without biopsy. However, liver biopsy and diagnostic resection may be required to differentiate atypical FNH from other liver tumors, such as hepatocellular adenoma (HCA). Therefore, improved noninvasive diagnostic methods are needed. We experienced 2 cases where combination of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helped diagnose FNH. A 36-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy with liver tumors measuring 40 mm in diameter each showed hypointense nodule centers, indicating a central scar, surrounded by hyperintense signals during the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. To rule out HCA, we performed MRE and liver biopsy. On MRE, the mean stiffness of the mass was 11.6 kPa (mean stiffness of the background liver was 1.7 kPa) and 11.1 kPa (mean stiffness of the background liver was 2.4 kPa) in the first and second patients, respectively. Histological examination of both specimens showed CK7-positive bile-ductular proliferations, abundant fibrous tissue, and few Ki-67-positive cells. Based on these results, we diagnosed these tumors as FNH. Combination of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and MRE can evaluate the character and stiffness of lesion and help in the diagnosis of FNH.

A functional linkage between light-harvesting and photocatalytic components is a pivotal issue for using solar energy in chemical conversions; however, this concept is far from being practically realized. Here, we constructed a system that integrates an artificially extended photosynthetic light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) and a light-harvesting 1-reaction center (RC) core complex (LH1-RC). A biohybrid LH2, whose light-harvesting ability was extended by a covalently attached hydrophobic fluorophore ATTO647N (LH2-ATTO) to cover the absorption gap of LH2, was assembled with LH1-RC in a lipid bilayer. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that upon an excitation of the ATTO, sequential excitation energy transfer (EET), ATTO → LH2 → LH1 → RC, was followed by a subsequent electron transfer in the RC with rates comparable to those in a native system. As a proof of concept, the functional linkage between light-harvesting and photocatalytic reactions was quantitatively demonstrated through the enhancement in the charge separation yield and photocurrent generation activity of LH2-ATTO/LH1-RC assembled on an electrode.