Decreased Bleeding-Related Adverse Events Using Track Embolization with Gelatin Sponge Slurry after Percutaneous Liver Biopsy: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of track embolization using gelatin sponge slurry in percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided liver biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the 543 patients who underwent percutaneous US-guided liver biopsies between September 2018 and August 2021, 338 who did not undergo track embolization and 105 who underwent track embolization were included in the analysis. All procedures were performed with 18-gauge coaxial core biopsy needles. Patients' laboratory data were reviewed. Patients in both groups were subdivided into the following 2 groups: (a) those with targeted biopsy for a focal liver lesion and (b) those with nontargeted biopsy for a liver parenchyma. Moreover, postbiopsy events, such as transfusion and transarterial embolization, were assessed. To minimize selection bias, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. RESULTS: After PSM, all factors that could affect bleeding risk were well-matched and well-balanced between the 2 groups (P > .474). In the non-track embolization group, 17 (16.2%) patients experienced major or minor bleeding-related adverse events (AEs). In contrast, in the track embolization group, only 5 (4.8%) patients experienced major or minor bleeding-related AEs, which was significantly lower than that in the non-track embolization group (P = .007). All 5 (4.8%) cases of major bleeding-related AEs were observed in the non-track embolization group (P = .024). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a retrospective analysis was performed using PSM for percutaneous US-guided liver biopsy. Track embolization using gelatin sponge slurry is significantly superior in the prevention of bleeding-related AEs after US-guided liver biopsy.

Superior gluteal artery injury in pelvic ring injury and acetabular fracture: Single center observational study.

BACKGROUND: Intrapelvic hemorrhage following pelvic fractures, including pelvic ring and acetabular fractures, originates from the venous system and the fracture. Arterial injury often causes significant bleeding and hemodynamic instability. The superior gluteal artery (SGA) is a frequently injured artery in patients with pelvic fractures. This study investigated the incidence and pattern of SGA injuries associated with pelvic fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with pelvic fractures who visited our institution between January 2016 and April 2022. Patients who underwent angiography for suspected arterial injury and SGA embolization were identified. Furthermore, the demographics and patterns of pelvic fractures were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 2042 patients with pelvic fractures visited our trauma emergency department and 498 patients (24.4%) underwent embolization for arterial injuries. Of these, 30 patients (1.5% of the total and 6.0% of the patients who underwent procedures) received embolization therapy of the main trunk of the SGA. The mean age of patients was 51.2 (23-85 years), and the injury mechanisms were all high-energy injuries. There were 19 pelvic ring injuries, eight acetabular fractures, and three combined injuries. Acetabular fractures involved mostly both columns. The three combined injuries were lateral compression involving both columns, vertical shear involving both columns, and lateral compression with T-type fractures. Twelve (40.0%) occurred through the sciatic notch of different patterns. CONCLUSIONS: SGA injury occurred in 1.5% of all pelvic fractures and was identified in 6% of patients receiving embolization. SGA injury occurs through various injury mechanisms and fracture patterns, even in the absence of a fracture in the sciatic notch. However, no conclusions could be drawn in this study on the association between SGA injuries, injury mechanisms, and fracture patterns. Since the prediction of SGA injury by fracture pattern is limited, angiography should be performed regardless of fracture pattern when an injury is suspected.

Complete Posterior Urethral Disruption Accompanied by Complex Pelvic Fractures: Clinical Outcomes of Fluoroscopic Primary Posterior Urethral Realignment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of fluoroscopic primary posterior urethral realignment (PPUR) for complete posterior urethral disruption (PUD) accompanied by complex pelvic fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 15 male patients (median age, 58 years; range, 32-76 years) with traumatic PUD treated with fluoroscopic PPUR between 2016 and 2019 at a regional trauma center were retrospectively analyzed. The technical success (continuity of the ruptured urethra in PUD by Foley catheter placement) rate of fluoroscopic PPUR, trauma mechanism, concurrent embolization for pelvic arterial hemorrhage, time from the hospital visit to the start of the procedure, procedure time, Foley catheterization duration, and delayed complications were investigated. RESULTS: Fluoroscopic PPUR was technically successful for 13 of 15 (87%) patients. Concurrent embolization for pelvic arterial hemorrhage was performed in 11 of 15 (73%) patients. The mean time between the hospital visit and procedure initiation was 181.6 minutes ± 83.2. The mean procedure time was 66.3 minutes ± 26.6. The mean Foley catheterization duration for 13 patients (technical success group) was 52.3 days ± 39.8 (median, 40 days; range, 21-177 days). Symptomatic urethral stricture developed in 9 of 13 (69.2%) patients after the procedure; 7 underwent visual internal urethrotomy, 4 required regular urethral dilatation, and 2 needed urethral stent insertion. Three of 13 (23%) patients did not have delayed complications during the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: PPUR with fluoroscopic guidance appears safe and effective for achieving the continuity of the ruptured urethra in PUD. It enables PPUR without general anesthesia and the lithotomy position in patients with complex pelvic fractures.

Clinical Results of Distal Embolization in Grade V Splenic Injury: Four-Year Experience from a Single Regional Trauma Center.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the benefits and risks of splenic artery embolization (SAE) in patients with American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade V blunt spleen injury (BSI) MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 88 patients treated with SAE between April 2013 and May 2017 at a regional trauma care center were reviewed retrospectively. The BSI grade according to the AAST spleen injury scale (revised version 2018) was determined by using computed tomography (CT) images. A total of 42 patients (46.6%) had AAST grade V injury and were included in the analysis. Patient demographics, angiographic findings, embolization techniques, and technical and clinical outcomes, including splenic salvage rate and procedure-related complications, were examined. RESULTS: SAE was performed within 2 hours after admission for 78.5% of the patients. All patients underwent selective distal embolization (n = 42). Primary clinical success rate was 80.9% (n = 34), and secondary clinical success rate was 88.1% (n = 37). The clinical failure group consisted of 5 patients. Four patients underwent splenectomy, and 1 patient died due to acute respiratory distress syndrome after embolization. The splenic salvage rate was 85.7% (n = 36). No patient had sepsis at follow-up (median, 247.0 days; interquartile range, 92.0-688.0). Clinical success rates (P = .356) and spleen salvage rates (P = .197) of patients who were hemodynamically stable (n = 19) showed no significant differences from those who were unstable (n = 23). CONCLUSIONS: Distal embolization of grade V BSI is a safe and feasible procedure which is effective for successful spleen salvage.

Long-term clinical study and multiscale analysis of in vivo biodegradation mechanism of Mg alloy.

There has been a tremendous amount of research in the past decade to optimize the mechanical properties and degradation behavior of the biodegradable Mg alloy for orthopedic implant. Despite the feasibility of degrading implant, the lack of fundamental understanding about biocompatibility and underlying bone formation mechanism is currently limiting the use in clinical applications. Herein, we report the result of long-term clinical study and systematic investigation of bone formation mechanism of the biodegradable Mg-5wt%Ca-1wt%Zn alloy implant through simultaneous observation of changes in element composition and crystallinity within degrading interface at hierarchical levels. Controlled degradation of Mg-5wt%Ca-1wt%Zn alloy results in the formation of biomimicking calcification matrix at the degrading interface to initiate the bone formation process. This process facilitates early bone healing and allows the complete replacement of biodegradable Mg implant by the new bone within 1 y of implantation, as demonstrated in 53 cases of successful long-term clinical study.

Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC 5273 isolated from Kimchi ameliorates diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in C57BL/6 mice.

This study was designed to select potent cholesterol-lowering probiotic strains on HepG2 cell and investigate the effect of selected strain, Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC 5273 and LRCC 5279 in hypercholesterolemic mice. In the results, LP5273 group showed significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol compared to HCD group. In addition to significantly up-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of LXR-α and CYP7A1, intestinal LXR-α and ABCG5 were significantly up-regulated in LP5273 group. With activation of hepatic and intestinal LXR-α and its target genes, fecal cholesterol and bile acid excretion were increased in LP5273 fed mice. These results suggest that LP5273 ameliorates hypercholesterolemia in mice through the activation of hepatic and intestinal LXR-α, resulting in enhancement of fecal cholesterol and bile acids excretion in the small intestine. The results of present study suggest mechanistic evidences for hypocholesterolemic effects of L. plantarum spp., and may contribute to future researches for prevention of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease.

Thin-section computed tomography findings in 104 immunocompetent patients with adenovirus pneumonia.

Background To date, there has been no computed tomography (CT) evaluation of adenovirus pneumonia in a large number of immunocompetent patients. Purpose To describe the thin-section CT findings of immunocompetent patients with adenovirus pneumonia. Material and Methods We prospectively enrolled 104 patients with adenovirus pneumonia from a military hospital. CT scans of each patient were retrospectively and independently assessed by two radiologists for the presence of abnormalities, laterality and zonal predominance of the parenchymal abnormalities, and dominant imaging patterns and their anatomic distributions. Results CT findings included consolidation (n = 92), ground-glass opacity (GGO; n = 82), septal thickening (n = 34), nodules (n = 46), bronchial wall thickening (n = 32), pleural effusion (n = 16), and lymphadenopathy (n = 3). Eighty-four patients (81%) exhibited unilateral parenchymal abnormalities and 57 (57%) exhibited lower lung zone abnormalities. The most frequently dominant CT pattern was consolidation with surrounding GGO (n = 50), with subpleural (70%) and peribronchovascular (94%) distributions. Consolidation-the second-most common pattern (n = 33)-also exhibited subpleural (79%) and peribronchovascular (97%) distributions. The dominant nodule pattern (n = 14) exhibited mixed (64%) and peribronchovascular (100%) distributions. A dominant GGO pattern was only observed in four patients; none had central distribution. Conclusion Although the manifestations of adenovirus pneumonia on CT are varied, we found the most frequent pattern was consolidation with or without surrounding GGO, with subpleural and peribronchovascular distributions. Parenchymal abnormalities were predominantly unilateral and located in the lower lung zone. If dominant consolidation findings are present in immunocompetent patients during the early stages, adenovirus pneumonia should be considered.

A one-step colorimetric acid-base titration sensor using a complementary color changing coordination system.

We report the development of a colorimetric sensor that allows for the quantitative measurement of the acid content via acid-base titration in a single-step. In order to create the sensor, we used a cobalt coordination system (Co-complex sensor) that changes from greenish blue colored Co(H2O)4(OH)2 to pink colored Co(H2O)6(2+) after neutralization. Greenish blue and pink are two complementary colors with a strong contrast. As a certain amount of acid is introduced to the Co-complex sensor, a portion of greenish blue colored Co(H2O)4(OH)2 changes to pink colored Co(H2O)6(2+), producing a different color. As the ratio of greenish blue and pink in the Co-complex sensor is determined by the amount of neutralization reaction occurring between Co(H2O)4(OH)2 and an acid, the sensor produced a spectrum of green, yellow green, brown, orange, and pink colors depending on the acid content. In contrast, the color change appeared only beyond the end point for normal acid-base titration. When we mixed this Co-complex sensor with different concentrations of citric acid, tartaric acid, and malic acid, three representative organic acids in fruits, we observed distinct color changes for each sample. This color change could also be observed in real fruit juice. When we treated the Co-complex sensor with real tangerine juice, it generated diverse colors depending on the concentration of citric acid in each sample. These results provide a new angle on simple but quantitative measurements of analytes for on-site usage in various applications, such as in food, farms, and the drug industry.

Dental Hetero-Graft Materials with Nano Hydroxyapatite Surface Treatment.

We report the development of hydroxyapatite nanoparticle (HAp NP)-functionalized hetero-graft materials (HGMs) for dental applications. These HGMs were prepared by attaching platelet-, needle-, and sphere-shaped HAp NPs to the surface of xenograft materials through chemical conjugation. Although all three HAp NPs contributed to increase the surface area of bone graft material (BGM), the shape of the HAp NPs was a determining factor. Platelet HAp NPs were most effective, because they caused a 48.9% increase in BGM surface area whereas the influence of the spherical NP was only a 6.7% increase. This suggests that geometric factors regarding both the attached HAp NPs and graft material surface are essential in controlling the surface roughness of graft materials. Among the three HAp NPs, it was the platelet HAp NPs that helped to increase the efficacy of the BGM most significantly. Compared with BGM with no HAp NP attachment, HGM with platelet HAp NP ('platelet-HGM) treatment had ~46.1% higher cell attachment and proliferation rate. The MTT assay also showed that the HAp NP-treated hetero-graft materials had negligible cytotoxicity.

Predictive factors for size change of aorta in patients with acute blunt traumatic aortic injury.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the changes in aorta size, the factors affecting size changes in patients with acute blunt traumatic aortic injury and to evaluate the adequacy of the current 120% thoracic endovascular aortic repair graft oversizing policy. DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective review study was conducted using the prospectively collected medical records of 45 patients (mean age: 53.5 years, male: 39 patients) with blunt traumatic aortic injury treated at a level 1 trauma center between 2012 and 2021. Aortic diameter was measured by computed tomography angiographic images at four different levels [ascending aorta (A), isthmus (B), descending thoracic aorta (C), and infrarenal aorta (D)] on arrival and follow-up (median time interval, 13 days). Associated factors including patient characteristics and hemodynamic parameters on arrival and follow-up were collected to determine their influence on changes in the aorta. RESULTS: The mean diameter of all four aortic levels increased on follow-up computed tomography compared to initial computed tomography (A: + 11.77%, B: + 10.19%, C: + 7.71%, D: + 12.04%). Patient age and injury severity score influenced changes in the diameter of the ascending aorta (P < 0.05). Patient age and blunt traumatic aortic injury grade were significantly associated with changes in the infrarenal aortic diameter (P < 0.05). Three cases of type 1 endoleak were observed at follow-up but all were spontaneously resolved without further intervention at next computed tomography follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute blunt traumatic aortic injury, aortic diameter is significantly smaller by about 10% under shock and is not considered a basis for oversizing the currently implemented 120% thoracic endovascular aortic repair graft sizing. However, in young patients under the age of 40, the change is significantly large and subsequent computed tomography follow-up is required.

Pulmonary Artery Periadventitial Hematoma in a Patient with Aortic Intramural Hematoma: A Case Report.

A pulmonary artery periadventitial hematoma is a rare complication of a Stanford type A intramural hematoma. As the proximal ascending aorta and pulmonary artery share a common adventitial layer, extravasated blood from the intramural hematoma in the ascending thoracic aorta may extend to beneath the adventitia of the pulmonary artery. The authors describe a case involving a 66-year-old male with acute chest pain who presented with a pulmonary artery periadventitial hematoma associated with a Stanford type A intramural hematoma.

Anti-inflammatory effects of the Zingiber officinale roscoe constituent 12-dehydrogingerdione in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells.

Ginger has long been used worldwide as a spice, seasoning, and wine and is also used as a traditional medicine. There have been no previous studies of the potential beneficial effects of the ginger constituent 12-dehydrogingerdione (12-DHGD). We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of 12-DHGD on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. The cytotoxicity of 12-DHGD was measured using the MTT assay, and production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) and the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was measured by ELISA. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was measured using Griess reagent and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NO (iNOS) enzymes was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Treatment of Raw 264.7 cells with 12-DHGD significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated production of NO (at 12-DHGD concentrations of 150 and 200 ng/ml), IL-6 (at 50, 100, 150, and 200 ng/ml), and PGE2 (at 200 ng/ml). Consistent with the effects on NO and PGE2 production, 12-DHGD treatment also inhibited the LPS-stimulated increase in iNOS and COX-2 mRNA levels. However, 12-DHGD did not affect production of IL-1ß or TNF-α in response to LPS. 12-DHGD, a constituent of ginger, is a potent inhibitor of proinflammatory mediator production in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells.

[Intervention for Chest Trauma and Large Vessel Injury]. / 흉부 및 대혈관 외상의 ì¸í„°ë²¤ì ˜.

Trauma is an injury to the body that involves multiple anatomical and pathophysiological changes caused by forces acting from outside the body. The number of patients with trauma is increasing as our society becomes more sophisticated. The importance and demand of traumatology are growing due to the development and spread of treatment and diagnostic technologies. In particular, damage to the large blood vessels of the chest can be life-threatening, and the sequelae are often severe; therefore, diagnostic and therapeutic methods are becoming increasingly important. Trauma to non-aortic vessels of the thorax and aorta results in varying degrees of physical damage depending on the mechanism of the accident and anatomical damage involved. The main damage is hemorrhage from non-aortic vessels of the thorax and aorta, accompanied by hemodynamic instability and coagulation disorders, which can be life-threatening. Immediate diagnosis and rapid therapeutic access can often improve the prognosis. The treatment of trauma can be surgical or interventional, depending on the patient's condition. Among them, interventional procedures are increasingly gaining popularity owing to their convenience, rapidity, and high therapeutic effectiveness, with increasing use in more trauma centers worldwide. Typical interventional procedures for patients with thoracic trauma include embolization for non-aortic injuries and thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic injuries. These procedures have many advantages over surgical treatments, such as fewer internal or surgical side effects, and can be performed more quickly than surgical procedures, contributing to improved outcomes for patients with trauma.

Overlapping stent insertion for a treatment-resistant seroma after arteriovenous fistulation using prosthetic grafts.

An arteriovenous fistula was required for permanent vascular access in a patient undergoing hemodialysis due to progressive chronic kidney disease associated with short bowel syndrome. In the present report, we discuss the case of a patient who underwent arteriovenous grafting because there was no proper native vein as a route, following which a seroma developed near the arterial anastomosis. Despite several surgical treatments, seroma not only recurred but also affected dialysis by compressing the graft. A stent was inserted into the graft to withstand the pressure from the seroma, and because one stent could not withstand the pressure, the stent overlapped where it received the most compression. Since then, the patency of graft has been well maintained for more than 2 years. Increasing the radial force of overlapping stents would be an alternative plan to help solve the problematic repeated compressible seroma despite multiple surgical treatments.

Comparison between Kissing Stents and Direct Surgical Bypass for Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease.

Background: The optimal management strategy for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) remains debatable. This study compared early and late outcomes between direct surgical bypass and kissing stents for AIOD treatment. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data, including age, sex, risk factors, comorbidities, symptoms, TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II classification, operation time, perioperative complications, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay, from a cohort of 46 patients treated for AIOD (24 with kissing stents and 22 with direct surgical bypass) at Pusan National University Hostpital from January 2007 to December 2016. The primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates in both groups were compared. Results: The hospital stay (direct surgical bypass vs. kissing stents: 16.36±5.19 days vs. 9.08±10.88 days, p=0.007) and operation time (direct surgical bypass vs. kissing stents: 316.09±141.78 minutes vs. 99.54±37.95 minutes, p<0.001) were significantly shorter for kissing stents. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates in the direct surgical bypass group were 95.5%, 95.5%, and 95.5%, respectively, at 1 year; 86.4%, 86.4%, and 95.5% at 3 years; and 77.3%, 77.3%, and 95.5% at 5 years. The primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates in the kissing stent group were 100.0%, 100.0%, and 100.0%, respectively, at 1 year; 95.8%, 95.8%, and 100.0% at 3 years; and 95.8%, 95.8%, and 100.0% at 5 years. Conclusion: Except for special cases wherein endovascular revascularization is difficult, kissing stents are more advantageous for TASC II C and D lesions.

Blunt Trauma in Children: Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Embolization, 10-Year Experiences in a Single Trauma Center.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is an established approach for controlling hemorrhage in adults with acute abdominal and pelvic trauma. However, its application in pediatric trauma is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TAE in a population of pediatric patients with blunt trauma. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in pediatric patients (<18 years) who underwent TAE for blunt trauma between February 2014 and July 2022. The patients were categorized into subgroups based on age and body weight. Patient demographics, injury severity, transfusion requirements, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Exactly 73 patients underwent TAE. Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%), and clinical success was achieved in 83.6%. The mortality and complication rates were 4.1% and 1.4%, respectively. The mean duration of hospitalization was 19.3 days. Subgroup analysis showed that age, body weight, and sex did not significantly affect clinical success. The injury severity score and transfusion requirement were predictors of clinical success, with lower values associated with better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: TAE is effective and safe for managing blunt pediatric trauma in younger and lighter patients. Injury severity and transfusion requirement are predictors of clinical success.

Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2023 Expert consensus-based practical recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced in 1977 with the administration of chemotherapeutic agent to gelatin sponge particles through the hepatic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was established as conventional TACE using Lipiodol in the 1980s. In the 2000s, drug-eluting beads were developed and applied clinically. Currently, TACE is a commonly used non-surgical treatment modality for patients with HCC who are unsuitable for curative treatment. Considering the vital role of TACE in the management of HCC, it is crucial to organize current knowledge and expert opinions regarding patient preparation, procedural techniques, and post-treatment care in TACE, which can enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety. A group of 12 experts in the fields of interventional radiology and hepatology, convened by the Research Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association (KLCA), has developed expert consensus-based practical recommendations in TACE. These recommendations have been endorsed by the Korean Society of Interventional Radiology and provide useful information and direction in performing TACE procedure as well as pre- and post- procedural patient care.

Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2023 expert consensus-based practical recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced in 1977 with the administration of chemotherapeutic agent to gelatin sponge particles through the hepatic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was established as conventional TACE using Lipiodol in the 1980s. In the 2000s, drug-eluting beads were developed and applied clinically. Currently, TACE is a commonly used non-surgical treatment modality for patients with HCC who are unsuitable for curative treatment. Considering the vital role of TACE in the management of HCC, it is crucial to organize current knowledge and expert opinions regarding patient preparation, procedural techniques, and post-treatment care in TACE, which can enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety. A group of 12 experts in the fields of interventional radiology and hepatology, convened by the Research Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association (KLCA), has developed expert consensus-based practical recommendations in TACE. These recommendations have been endorsed by the Korean Society of Interventional Radiology and provide useful information and direction in performing TACE procedure as well as pre- and post- procedural patient care.

Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2023 Expert Consensus-Based Practical Recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced in 1977 with the administration of chemotherapeutic agent to gelatin sponge particles through the hepatic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was established as conventional TACE using Lipiodol in the 1980s. In the 2000s, drug-eluting beads were developed and applied clinically. Currently, TACE is a commonly used non-surgical treatment modality for patients with HCC who are unsuitable for curative treatment. Considering the vital role of TACE in the management of HCC, it is crucial to organize current knowledge and expert opinions regarding patient preparation, procedural techniques, and post-treatment care in TACE, which can enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety. A group of 12 experts in the fields of interventional radiology and hepatology, convened by the Research Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association (KLCA), has developed expert consensus-based practical recommendations in TACE. These recommendations have been endorsed by the Korean Society of Interventional Radiology and provide useful information and direction in performing TACE procedure as well as pre- and post-procedural patient care.

Effects of Pt junction on electrical transport of individual ZnO nanorod device fabricated by focused ion beam.

The electrical transport of individual ZnO nanorod devices manufactured by focused ion beam (FIB) was investigated by the direct measurement of electrical resistance at electrode junctions of cross-sectioned devices using two nanoprobes. The cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements were also performed to evaluate the crystallinity at the center and edge of the cross-sectioned ZnO nanorods. The electrical transport of the individual ZnO nanorod device depends strongly on the crystallinity of the ZnO nanorod itself and the carbon contents at Pt junctions. The ZnO-Au junction of the device acted as the fastest path for electrical transport.