Double cancer in different hepatic lobes: hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepatic tumors with elements of both hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma are occasionally encountered; however, the independent and simultaneous occurrence of different epithelial malignant tumors in different lobes is rare. This is a case report of resected double cancer in different lobes of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 73 year old Japanese man, with hepatic mass and a history of peritonitis and hepatitis, underwent laparotomy and hepatic resection of the posterior inferior and the left lateral segment, and cholecystectomy for cholecystlithiasis with left-sided gallbladder at our hospital in 1991. RESULTS: The tumor, located in the posterior inferior segment, a yellow-white, round, highly circumscribed mass with a thick capsule, was about 9.0 by 8.0 cm in size. The other tumor located in the left lateral segment, grayish-white on the cut section, was approximately 5.0 by 4.0 cm. CONCLUSION: In our case, it is unlikely the tumor in the right lobe metastasized to the left lobe and transformed into a different type. The two tumors showed clearly different microscopic features. Improved imaging will increase the frequency and number of double cancer diagnosis. This additional data may shed light on the pathogenesis and etiology of double cancer.

Culture of postimplantation rat embryos in rabbit serum for the identification of the growth factor in fractionated rat serum.

The growth factor for postimplantation rat embryos was investigated on the basis of the serum species-specificity in supporting embryonic development in culture. We used rabbit serum as a basal medium for the culture of head-fold stage rat embryos, and examined the effects of various fractions of rat serum on their development. In rabbit serum alone, rat embryos developed poorly. With the rat serum ultrafiltrate of molecular weight (MW) < 300,000, embryonic development improved, but not with the ultrafiltrate of MW < 100,000. With dialyzed rat serum or the globulin fraction of rat serum, embryonic development improved, but the albumin fraction had no effect. It was concluded from these results that some macromolecular growth factor for cultured postimplantation rat embryos was present in the globulin fraction of rat serum. The molecular weight of this growth factor was estimated to be between 65,000 and 300,000. Rabbit serum was considered to be suitable as a medium for the identification of this growth factor.

[Studies on the teratogenic potential of 2,2'-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) in rats].

2,2'-Methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), an antioxidant, was given orally to pregnant Wistar rats by stomach intubation at the dose levels of 93.5, 187 or 375 mg/kg body weight during days 7 to 17 of pregnancy, and the effects of the compound on dams and fetal developments were examined. In the dams at the two higher doses of 187 and 375 mg/kg, toxic signs such as hair fluffing and diarrhoea were observed, and their body weight gain and food consumption were suppressed. Two dams, which showed marked diarrhoea in the highest dose group, died. However, there was no evidence of fetal malformation attributable to treatment with the compound in any of the dose groups treated, although a slight increase in fetal death was found in the highest dose group. It is concluded that 2,2'-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) has a weak lethal effect on fetal development but not a teratogenic effect in the rat.

[Studies on the teratogenic potential of 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-buthylphenol) in rats].

2,2'-Methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-buthylphenol), an antioxidant, was given orally to pregnant Wistar rats by stomach intubation at the dose levels of 187, 375 or 750 mg/kg body weight during days 7 to 17 of gestation, and the effects of the compound on dams and fetal development were examined. In dams at the two higher doses of 375 and 750 mg/kg, toxic signs such as hair fluffing and diarrhoea were observed, and their body weight gain and food consumption were suppressed. Two dams which showed marked diarrhoea in the highest dose group of 750 mg/kg died. However, there was no evidence of fetal malformations attributable to the treatment of the compound in any of the dose group tested, though a slight increase in fetal death was found in the highest dose group. It is concluded that 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-buthylphenol) has a weak lethal effect on fetal development but not a teratogenic effect in the rat.

Comparisons of the toxicokinetic parameters in rats determined for low and high dose of gamma-chlordane.

Toxicokinetic parameters of gamma-chlordane (GCD) after oral administration of various doses of radio-labelled GCD (50 micrograms/kg-10 mg/kg) were compared. Absorption of GCD were about 80% in both 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg groups. Distributions of GCD (50 micrograms/kg and 10 mg/kg) into the liver and kidney were rapid and those into adipose tissues were relatively slow. Concentrations of GCD in adipose tissues became highest at 16 hr after administration and became about 10 times more than those in the liver. The initial concentrations of GCD calculated by two-compartment open model in high dose group (10 mg/kg) were about 200-300 times higher than those in low dose group (50 micrograms/kg). Half lives of GCD in low dose group had a tendency to be a little longer than those in high dose group. This difference seemed to be caused by the accumulation of oxychlordane in low dose group.