Kenjiro Akiyoshi

Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Liver Accompanied by a Daughter Nodule: Report of a Case

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver (MHL) is an uncommon benign tumor found primarily in children younger than 2 years of age. We report a rare case of MHL with a daughter nodule and atypical histological findings in a 14-month-old girl. On admission, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography showed a solid hypovascular mass with a central cystic area in the liver. Laparotomy revealed a tumor, 8 cm in size, occupying segment 5 and parts of segments 4 and 6 of the liver, and a small nodule, 10 mm in size, in segment 7. Thus, we performed a partial hepatic resection (S4–6) and tumor extirpation (S7). The histological findings of both tumors were the same, but atypical of MHL. Recent studies on the pathogenesis of this tumor have found neoplastic features such as genetic anomalies and malignant transformation. These findings suggest that the conventional approach of completely resecting the tumor whenever possible is the best treatment.

Extracellular Ca2+ uptake by T cells might help to make a diagnosis of acute rejection

To more non-invasively diagnose acute rejection, we focused on the uptake of extracellular Ca2+ by T cells as a result of the activation of Ca2+ release activated Ca2+ channels. A full thickness of the skin allograft model was established using BN rats as the donors and LEW rats as the recipients, and similar LEW rats as both donors and recipients in the control group. After transplantation, the grafts were staged histopathologically in both rats. The uptake of extaracellular 45Ca pre T cell was measured in the macrophage-treated and non-treated groups, and the ratios between the two groups were calculated and the results were compared according to the post-operative day. No histopathological findings of acute rejection were observed in the control group. The allograft model group showed acute rejection histopathologically beginning on day 2 and increased through day 5. The macrophage-treated model/non-treated model 45Ca uptake ratio (CAR) was significantly higher in the allograft rats on day 2. No significant difference was observed on day 4. Measuring the uptake of extracellular Ca2+ by recipient T cells using donor macrophages might be useful for making a diagnosis of acute rejection.