No abstract

␣ (IL-1R␣), IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemotactic protein 1, nerve growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor in a volume higher than both BMMSCs and NHDFs. Thus, our findings suggest that ATMSCs may account for their broad therapeutic efficacy in animal models of liver diseases and in the clinical settings for liver disease treatment. STEM CELLS 2008;26: 2705-2712 Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

Our data highlight the properties of ASC as having a special affinity for hepatocyte differentiation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo. Thus, ASC may be a superior choice for the establishment of a therapy for injured liver.

The authors indicated no potential conflicts of interest. REFERENCES 1. Bordignon KC, Neto MC, Ramina R, et al: Patterns of neuroaxis dissemination of gliomas: Suggestion of a classification based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Surg Neurol 65:472-477, 2006; discussion 65:477, 2006 2. Engelhard HH, Corsten LA: Leptomeningeal metastasis of primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. Cancer Treat Res 125:71-85, 2005 3. Gururangan S, McLaughlin CA, Brashears J, et al: Incidence and patterns of neuraxis metastases in children with diffuse pontine glioma. J Neurooncol 77:207-212, 2006 4. Stupp R, Mason WP, van den Bent MJ, et al: Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma. N Engl J Med 352:987-996, 2005 5. Wen PY, Kesari S, Drappatz J: Malignant gliomas: Strategies to increase the effectiveness of targeted molecular treatment. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 6:733-754, 2006 6. Jackman DM, Holmes AJ, Lindeman N, et al: Response and resistance in a non-small-cell lung cancer patient with an epidermal growth factor receptor mutation and leptomeningeal metastases treated with high-dose gefitinib.

In elderly patients emergent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is a high risk procedure. We prospectively assessed the value of percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis in 38 consecutive elderly (> or = 80 years) patients. All 38 underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance for acute cholecystitis (25 calculous, 13 acalculous). Eight (21%) patients had acute severe medical problems, such as shock and respiratory distress. Thirty-one (82%) patients had chronic severe underlying diseases, including cardiovascular and neurologic diseases. Cholecystostomy was successful in all 38 patients. Prompt clinical improvement was obtained in 36 (95%) patients. Morbidity and mortality rates were 3% and 3%, respectively. After cholecystostomy, 10 patients with cholelithiasis underwent elective cholecystectomy without serious complications. Two patients underwent percutaneous cholecystolithotomy, which produced complete resolution of symptoms. Four of 12 patients with and none of 12 without cholelithiasis had recurrent cholecystitis after catheter removal during a mean follow-up of 1.8 years. A second cholecystostomy was successful in these four patients. Elderly patients are often poor surgical candidates because of severe cholecystitis or concomitant medical problems. Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a safe, effective treatment for acute cholecystitis even in elderly patients. For calculous cholecystitis, cholecystostomy can be followed by elective surgery, if possible, or by nonsurgical treatment or expectant conservative management in high-risk patients. Cholecystostomy may be a definitive treatment for acalculous cholecystitis.