1,720,966 research outputs found
Activation of cytotoxic and natural killer T-cell system in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis.
No full textAbstract: The immune response in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is receiving renewed attention in consideration of the possible treatment with biological response modifiers. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma induce any modification in peripheral lymphocyte subsets. Lymphocytes were evaluated (number/percentage) in 61 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 35 with cirrhosis and 24 healthy controls. Using flow cytometry, 10 lymphocyte subpopulations were assayed, plus the CD4/CD8 ratio. Results demonstrated no change in the number of lymphocytes; cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma patients had significantly more HLA-DR+ (p=0.001) and CD3t/HLA-DR+ (activated T) (p=0.002) and fewer CD3+ (mature T) (p=0.02) cells than controls; hepatocellular carcinoma patients had significantly more CD3+/CD56+/CD16- (cytotoxic non-MHC restricted T cells) and CD25+ (IL-2 receptor positive cells). If the percentages of all cells with cytotoxic-T activity were pooled, a significant increase (p=0.03) was seen in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. In conclusion, in contrast to previous data, hepatocellular carcinoma patients reveal an increased number of cytotoxic non-MHC restricted T cells
Hepatocellular carcinoma in alcoholic cirrhosis: is sex hormone imbalance a pathogenetic factor?
No full textObjective: A sex hormone imbalance has been reported in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the serum levels of eight sex hormones in patients with alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related cirrhosis and HCC.
Methods: Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and sex hormone binding globulin were assayed in 81 patients with cirrhosis (59 men, 22 women) and 97 with HCC and cirrhosis (82 men, 15 women). Hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection was present in 58% of patients with cirrhosis and 69% of patients with HCC. Alcohol abuse was the aetiopathogenetic factor in the remaining patients.
Results: In men, mean testosterone levels were at the lower limit of the normal range for both patients with HCC and for controls with cirrhosis. Mean estradiol levels were increased both in patients with HCC and in those with cirrhosis, but patients with alcohol-related HCC had higher estradiol levels (P=0.0002). An index of sex hormone imbalance, the estradiol to testosterone ratio (ETR), was calculated. The ETR was significantly higher in patients with alcohol-related HCC (P=0.0002). Multiple regression analysis showed that the ETR correlated best with patients' diagnosis (P<0.05). In women, the ETR was significantly lower in patients with HCC than in controls with cirrhosis.
Conclusions: Men with alcohol-related HCC are characterized by an oestrogen and androgen imbalance and have a higher ETR than patients with other types of liver damage. Since sex hormones modulate hepatocellular proliferation, our data suggest that a sex hormone imbalance plays a role in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis
Fine-needle biopsy in focal liver lesions: the usefulness of a screening programme and the role of cytology and microhistology.
No full textWe evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of 244 ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsies (FNB) in 226 patients with suspected liver malignancies, A malignancy was detected in 166 cases (73%) -145 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), 21 metastases; benign lesions were aspirated in 60 cases (27%). The sensitivity of FNB was 93%, with 100% specificity, In the FNB false-negative cirrhotic nodules, a final diagnosis of HCC was reached on repeating the biopsy 1-8 months later. When both cytological and microhistological examinations were performed, the positive correlation between the two techniques was 80%, with a slightly higher sensitivity for microhistology (93%). The malignancies diagnosed were potentially resectable in 26% of cases. We experienced 1 acute complication of FNB and 1 case of needle tract tumour seeding. These results confirm that FNB is useful in diagnosing malignant liver tumours, We believe that US-guided FNB is the first-choice invasive technique for assessing focal benign lesions and malignant tumors in the liver
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
No full textThis retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of 244 sonographically guided fine- needle aspiration biopsy in 226 patients with ultrasonographically suspected hepatic malignant lesions. A final diagnosis of malignancy was established in 166 cases (73%) (145 hepatocellular carcinoma, 21 metastasis); benign lesions were aspirated in 60 cases (27%). The diagnostic sensitivity of this technique was 93%, with 100% specificity. When both cytology and microhistology were obtained, the positive correlation of the two techniques was 80% In the series of 244 fine-needle aspiration biopsy the authors had only one acute complication. They report one case of needle tract tumor seeding after biopsy. These results confirm the usefulness of sonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosing malignant hepatic tumors. The procedure is simple, safe, free of important side effects. The authors believe that ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy represents the first choice of invasive technique in the assessment of hepatic focal benign lesions and malignant tumours
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Local transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the palliative treatment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma
No full textHepatocellular carcinoma is a tumor with high mortality. Adequate oncological therapy is essential to modify the poor prognosis. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation has been proposed as a useful and well-tolerated treatment for unresectable carcinoma. In the study 51 patients with unresectable carcinoma (mean age 61.6, range 45-81, Child-Pugh A = 34 patients, Child-B = 13, Child-C = 4; Okuda I = 33 patients, Okuda II = 18) underwent chemoembolisation. A total of 122 procedure were performed, with a median number of 2.4 (range 1-6) per patient. One and two year survivals are 91% and 74% respectively (Child-A: 100% and 82%; Child-B: 100% and 63%; Child-C 0% at 1 year). The difference among the 3 groups is statistically significant (p = 0.001). Median overall survival is 20 months, with 22, 20 and 6 month in Child-A, B and C patients respectively (p = 0.006). Commonly reported side effects and biochemical changes included: fever, pain and increased serum amylase, transaminase levels. One patient developed a liver abscess and died of liver failure. In addition, in 18 patients (35%) mild to severe changes in glucose metabolism were also observed. Mild hyperglycemia was observed in 14 patients, with severe derangement in 4 patients (8%). It is suggested that careful evaluation of glucose metabolism is advisable in patients being considered for chemoembolisation. Their results confirm the usefulness of chemoembolisation in Child-A and B patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
- …
