Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 158 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent LT.

Results: Twelve (7.6%) recurrences were observed. At multivariate analysis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 400 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] 8.4, p < 0.01) and total tumor diameter (TTD) > 8 cm (OR 7.4, p = 0.01) were the strongest predictors for recurrence. AFP-TTD criteria resulted in a low five-yr recurrence rate (4.9%) and an increased number of LT compared with the MC (22.2% increase). The five-yr disease-free survival rate was 74.4% in AFP-TTD Alvocidib cost criteria in patients, with a higher

effectiveness in stratifying the cohort with respect to the MC.

Conclusions: Both AFP and TTD are good independent predictors of HCC recurrence. Their combination appears to obtain a better selection of candidates for LT without worsening

patient survival and recurrence rates. This approach allows for an increase in the number of potentially transplantable patients.”
“Oxygen K-edge and Fe L-2,L-3-edge electron energy-loss near-edge structures PF-6463922 (ELNES) were measured for FeO6 octahedra and FeO4 tetrahedra in the brownmillerite Ca(Sr)FeO2.5 by focusing an electron probe at individual Fe sites using scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The observed site-resolved oxygen K-ELNES showed different features reflecting the local chemical bonding around the FeO6 octahedra and FeO4 tetrahedra. A pre-peak in the O K-edge spectra, which is attributed to a transition to an unoccupied O 2p band hybridized with the Fe-3d band, shows splitting in the spectrum BTK inhibitor of the FeO6 octahedral site. Additionally, for the oxygen linking the octahedral and tetrahedral Fe sites in CaFeO2.5, charge transfer was found to preferentially occur toward the tetrahedral Fe ions. In the case of SrFeO2.5, charge transfer from the oxygen located in the ac plane was biased toward the tetrahedral Fe atoms. Based upon an analysis of the pre-peak intensity of the O K-ELNES, it was concluded that

bonding between the oxygen and iron atoms at the tetrahedral site was more covalent in character than at the octahedral site. The strong covalent character of the tetrahedral sites would be one of the reasons for distortion in the FeO6 octahedra in Ca(Sr)FeO2.5, as exhibited by an extension along the b-axis. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3610526]“
“Oncolytic adenoviruses, such as ONYX-015, have been tested in clinical trials for currently untreatable tumors, but have yet to demonstrate adequate therapeutic efficacy. The extent to which viruses infect targeted cells determines the efficacy of this approach but many tumors down-regulate the Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR), rendering them less susceptible to infection. Disrupting MAPK pathway signaling by pharmacological inhibition of MEK up-regulates CAR expression, offering possible enhanced adenovirus infection.