Feasibility of Hepatology-Directed Microwave Ablation in Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in North America: A Pilot Project.

In North America, the role of Hepatologists in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is limited. We conducted a pilot project wherein a Hepatologist participated directly in microwave ablation of HCC at an academic center in the United States (n = 14). The pilot project shows promising outcomes, with complete remission rate of 93%.

Vidutolimod in Combination With Atezolizumab With and Without Radiation Therapy in Patients With Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 or Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Blockade-Resistant Advanced NSCLC.

Introduction: Vidutolimod, a CpG-A TLR9 agonist, was investigated in a phase 1b study (CMP-001-003; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03438318) in combination with atezolizumab with and without radiation therapy (RT) in patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Patients with progressive disease after anti-programmed cell death protein 1 or programmed death-ligand 1 therapy received either vidutolimod and atezolizumab (part A) or vidutolimod, atezolizumab, and RT (part B). The primary objective was to evaluate the safety of vidutolimod and atezolizumab with and without RT. Key secondary end point was best objective response rate per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Results: Between March 28, 2018, and July 25, 2019, a total of 29 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of vidutolimod (part A, n = 13; part B, n = 16). Intratumoral injections of vidutolimod were administered successfully, including injection of visceral lesions. The most common treatment-related adverse events (≥30%) were flu-like symptoms and hypotension. No objective responses were observed; 23.1% and 50.0% of the patients in parts A and B, respectively, had stable disease as best response. In parts A and B, 15.4% and 25.0% of the patients, respectively, had tumor shrinkage (<30% decrease in tumor size, nonirradiated). Enrollment was stopped owing to lack of objective responses. In the two patients with initial tumor shrinkage in part A, a strong serum induction of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 was observed. Conclusions: Vidutolimod and atezolizumab with and without RT had a manageable safety profile, with minimal clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients with programmed cell death protein 1 or programmed death-ligand 1 blockade-resistant NSCLC.

Beyond warfarin: The advent of new oral anticoagulants.

New oral anticoagulants (NOAC) are the latest addition to anticoagulant armamentarium. Unlike traditional anti-coagulants like warfarin, lab monitoring and management of bleeding complications secondary to these agents is different. As more and more patients are being switched to these drugs, interventional radiologists in particular will benefit from a clinical review of NOAC.

Catheter-based transarterial therapies for hepatocellular cancer.

As the prevalence of liver cancer increases, so does the demand for nonsurgical, minimally invasive alternatives to surgery, since many patients have tumors that cannot be surgically resected. Catheter-based hepatic arterial procedures may be an option in patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer. The authors describe four catheter-based hepatic arterial procedures and outline the management of potential complications during the immediate postprocedural period.

Endothelium and the lipid metabolism: the current understanding.

The endothelium is a dynamic organ and responds to various physical and humoral conditions. The endothelium secretes several biologically active substances, both vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, which control these processes. Endothelial function is most commonly assessed as the vasodilatory response to stimuli. Several endothelium-dependent agonists have been identified, each of which acts through a membrane receptor. Nitric oxide which is continuously synthesized by the endothelium has a wide range of biological properties that maintain vascular homeostasis. It is a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation and thus has an important protective role. Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic patients is in large part due to a reduced bioavailability of NO. Traditional coronary risk factors, especially hypercholesterolemia, produce endothelial dysfunction even in patients with normal blood vessels. The underlying mechanisms involve a local inflammatory response, release of cytokines and growth factors, activation of oxidation-sensitive mechanisms in the arterial wall, modulation of intracellular signaling pathways, increased oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and quenching of nitric oxide. Clinical studies have shown a significant improvement in endothelial dysfunction following lowering of serum cholesterol levels, infusion of nitric oxide donors like L-arginine and exercise training. Clinical trials are underway examining the role of endothelin-1 receptor antagonists like bosentan in the prevention of graft atherosclerosis.

Drug-eluting stents. A review of the current literature.

Coronary interventions have revolutionized the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Stents, which were used initially for the complications arising from coronary angiography gradually, came to occupy a more prominent role in coronary interventions. However, restenosis remained a limiting factor from a therapeutic point of view. Recent development of drug-eluting stents is a step toward overcoming this problem. This development has elicited a great interest in both physician as well as patient communities. We have reviewed the available medical evidence regarding drug-eluting stents.

A diagnostic dilemma of atypical gallbladder appearance on Tc-99m HIDA cholescintigraphy resolved with SPECT/CT.

Tc-99m HIDA cholescintigraphy is the diagnostic procedure of choice for acute cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis is associated in vast majority of the cases with cystic duct obstruction. The demonstration of presence (cystic duct patency) or absence (cystic duct obstruction) of visualization of the gallbladder on cholescintigraphy is critical to the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. The visualization of the gallbladder rules out acute cholecystitis in most of the cases. Although, in most cases, determination of visualization or nonvisualization of gallbladder is straight forward, occasionally it can be challenging. We describe a patient with suspected acute cholecystitis, in whom an unusual appearance of the gallbladder on hepatobiliary scintigraphy was clarified with SPECT/CT, an approach that is rarely used in Tc-99m HIDA cholescintigraphy.

Modern imaging of the tracheo-bronchial tree.

Recent state-of-the-art computed tomography and improved three-dimensional (3-D) postprocessing techniques have revolutionized the capability of visualizing airway pathology, offering physicians an advanced view of pathology and allowing for appropriate management planning. This article is a comprehensive review of trachea and main bronchi imaging, with emphasis on the dynamic airway anatomy, and a discussion of a wide variety of diseases including, but not limited to, congenital large airway abnormalities, tracheobronchial stenoses, benign and malignant neoplasms and tracheobronchomalacia. The importance of multiplanar reconstruction, 3-D reconstruction and incorporation of dynamic imaging for non-invasive evaluation of the large airways is stressed.

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis presenting as hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

Thyroid disorder is a well-recognized side effect of amiodarone therapy. Thyrotoxicosis is less common than hypothyroidism. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is one manifestation of thyrotoxicosis, and is more often seen in Oriental and Latin American men than in other demographic groups. This phenomenon, however, has not been previously described in thyrotoxicosis due to amiodarone usage. We describe a case of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis in a 34-year-old man who presented with sudden lower extremity weakness, heat intolerance, and weight loss. Physical examination demonstrated fine tremors. Serum potassium level was 2.2 mEq/L on admission. Gastrointestinal and renal causes of potassium loss were excluded by history and physical examination. Further biochemical testing demonstrated abnormal thyroid function. The urinary potassium and serum bicarbonate, magnesium, and calcium levels were within normal limits. Lower extremity weakness resolved immediately after potassium replacement therapy. Methimazole therapy was initiated, and the patient was clinically euthyroid on discharge.