Differential expression of organic anion transporters in rats subjected to 70% or 90% hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Differences in hepatic organic anion transporters were compared in rats to identify a causative factor for early stage acute hepatic failure after 70% or 90% hepatectomy (Hx). METHODOLOGY: Male Wistar rats (8 weeks, 250-330g) were randomly assigned to one of two groups for 70% Hx or 90% Hx, and sacrificed at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, or 72 hours after Hx. Posthepatectomy expression of the bile salt export pump (Bsep), multidrug resistance proteins 2 and 3 (Mrp2, Mrp3), sodium-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (Ntcp), and organic anion transporting polypeptides 1 and 2 (Oatp1, Oatp2) were analyzed by Northern blotting. Serum liver function tests were also performed. RESULTS: Postoperative survival rates at 72 hours after 70% and 90% Hx were 100% and 50%, respectively. mRNA expression of Bsep and Mrp3 was increased after 90% Hx, while decreased after 70% Hx. These values were significantly greater at 12 and 24 hours after 90% Hx than after 70% Hx (p < 0.05). In contrast, Mrp2 expression was downregulated to a half of the preoperative level after 90% Hx, while increased after 70% Hx. mRNA expression of uptake transporters (Ntcp, Oatp1, Oatp2) was decreased after 70% Hx and 90% Hx with a similar extent. Total serum bilirubin and bile acid levels were significantly increased after both hepatectomy procedures with a greater extent after 90% Hx. CONCLUSIONS: Alteration of mRNA expression of Bsep, Mrp2 and Mrp3 may be characteristic behavior in the early stage of acute liver failure.

Transarterial infusion chemotherapy with epirubicin in water-in-oil-in-water emulsion for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in the residual liver after hepatectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the midterm results of transarterial infusion (TAI) with water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion containing an anticancer agent for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of TAI of W/O/W emulsion containing epirubicin for 18 consecutive patients with recurrent HCC after surgical resection. Fourteen patients were males and four were females; their ages ranged from 51 to 86 years (mean 69.8 years). TAI was repeated every 1-6 months based on the response of the tumor. A total of 41 TAI procedures were performed for 18 patients. Angiographically, recurrent HCC appeared a single nodule in nine patients and was multinodular in other nine patients. TAI was performed selectively in 27 procedures and non-selectively in 14 procedures. Maximum response within 3 months was rated as follows: a complete response (CR, complete disappearance of tumor and no evidence of new lesions); partial response (PR, a reduction of <50% in total volume of all tumors calculated from the two longest perpendicular diameters without a new lesion); no response (NC, a reduction of <50% in total volume or an increase of <25% without a new lesion); or progression of disease (PD, an increase of >25% in total volume or evidence of new lesions). Survival time was defined as the time from the date of first TAI to the date of death or last follow-up (median follow-up time: 17 months) and the survival curve was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The CR rate was 33% and the effective response rate (CR rate+PR rate) was 78%. Survival from the time of initial TAI was 94% at 1 year, 76% at 2 years, and 76% at 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: TAI of W/O/W emulsion may be an effective treatment for patients with recurrent HCC after surgical resection.

Unimolecular decomposition of formic acid in the gas phase--on the ratio of the competing reaction channels.

The thermal decomposition of formic acid was reinvestigated in the gas phase using two types of shock tubes. It was confirmed that the unimolecular decomposition proceeds through a main channel of dehydration (k1) and a minor decarboxylation channel (k2). This result is in good agreement with our previous study (J. Chem. Phys. 1984, 80, 4989). Furthermore, it was confirmed that the dehydration process is in the second-order region and that the decarboxylation is in the falloff region, in the temperature range of 1300-2000 K and over the total density of (0.5-2.5) x 10(-5) mol cm(-3). The experimental ratios between the two channels, k2/k1, are compared with those of theoretical calculations by conventional transition state theory and the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory.