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Serial changes in sonographic appearance after transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE) were studied in 22 patients who had hepatoma and one patient who had a hepatoblastoma. These changes were classified into three types. In cases of type 1, the internal echo of the entire tumor became remarkably echogenic with or without an acoustic shadow. In cases of type 2, echogenic areas or scattered echogenic spots with or without acoustic shadows were observed. In Type 3 cases, no changes in sonographic appearance were observed. Tumor diameters in all of the type 1 cases were less than 4.9 cm. Various size tumors were observed in the cases of type 2 and type 3. Transcatheter arterial embolization was completely effective or effective in 89 per cent of the type 1 and type 2 cases, but was not effective in 75 per cent of the type 3 cases. The sonographic changes correlated well with the effectiveness of TAE.

The Single Particle Irradiation system to Cell (SPICE) facility at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) is a focused vertical microbeam system designed to irradiate the nuclei of adhesive mammalian cells with a defined number of 3.4 MeV protons. The approximately 2-micrometer diameter proton beam is focused with a magnetic quadrupole triplet lens and traverses the cells contained in dishes from bottom to top. All procedures for irradiation, such as cell image capturing, cell recognition and position calculation, are automated. The most distinctive characteristic of the system is its stability and high throughput; i.e. 3,000 cells in a 5 mm x 5 mm area in a single dish can be routinely irradiated by the 2-micrometer beam within 15 min (the maximum irradiation speed is 400 cells per minute). The number of protons can be set as low as one, at a precision measured by CR-39 detectors to be 99.0%. A variety of targeting modes such as fractional population targeting mode, multi-position targeting mode for nucleus irradiation and cytoplasm targeting mode are available. As an example of multi-position targeting irradiation of mammalian cells, five fluorescent spots in a cell nucleus were demonstrated using the gamma-H2AX immune-staining technique. The SPICE performance modes described in this paper are in routine use. SPICE is a joint-use research facility of NIRS and its beam times are distributed for collaborative research.

Understanding the mechanism of resistance of genes to reactivation will help improve the success of nuclear reprogramming. Using mouse embryonic fibroblast nuclei with normal or reduced DNA methylation in combination with chromatin modifiers able to erase H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H2AK119ub1 from transplanted nuclei, we reveal the basis for resistance of genes to transcriptional reprogramming by oocyte factors. A majority of genes is affected by more than one type of treatment, suggesting that resistance can require repression through multiple epigenetic mechanisms. We classify resistant genes according to their sensitivity to 11 chromatin modifier combinations, revealing the existence of synergistic as well as adverse effects of chromatin modifiers on removal of resistance. We further demonstrate that the chromatin modifier USP21 reduces resistance through its H2AK119 deubiquitylation activity. Finally, we provide evidence that H2A ubiquitylation also contributes to resistance to transcriptional reprogramming in mouse nuclear transfer embryos.

In anatomical resection of the liver, transection of the hepatic vein or Glisson's pedicle is necessary. We examined the surgical records and outcome of 25 patients who underwent hepatectomy. An endovascular stapler with 36 and 60 mm staples was used for transection of the hepatic vein or Glisson's pedicle, and hepatic parenchyma including vessels. Surgery included also left lateral sectorectomy in 6 patients, right lateral sectorectomy in one, right hepatectomy in 12, left hepatectomy in two and trisegraenteetomy in 4. Endovascular stapling was used for transection of hepatic veins (n=25) in all patients and Glisson's pedicle (n=8). No failure of firing occurred during cutting. Injury of an aberrant bile duct occurred in one patient, but none suffered bleeding or bile leakage from the transected parts. Vascular transection using vascular stapler could be performed safely and rapidly during anatomical hepatic resection., Hepato-Gastroenterology

Background/Aims: We preliminarily examined the characteristics of patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted hepatic resection (LAPH) to clarify its advantages and limitations of this procedure. Methodology: We examined the demographics, surgical records and outcome in 9 patients undergoing LAPH between 2001 and 2007 by comparing results in 15 patients (control group) who did not undergo laparoscopy before 2000. Results: By comparing the control group, patient demographics were not different. Four patients underwent left lateral sectionectomy and others underwent partial hepatectomy. One patient needed combined resection of abdominal wall and left lateral sector because of direct invasion from a liver tumor. There was no remarkable morbidity or mortality in all patients. Mean operation time in the LAPH group was significantly longer than that in the control group (356+/-68 vs. 276+A59 minutes) (p=O.015), particularly in patients undergoing partial resection. Blood loss was not different between groups. Days of use of pain reliever and hospital stay in the LAPH group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (pO.OOl). These tendencies were similar in each operative procedure. Conclusions: LAPH can be safely performed even in patients with chronic liver injury and recovery of patients from operation was faster than that by conventional hepatectomy., Hepato-Gastroenterology, 56(90), pp.447-451; 2009