Abstract:The Hinode satellite (formerly Solar-

The proton conductivity of Nafion 117 was measured under various conditions of humidity and temperature usin a four-electrode ac impedance method. The conductivity of this membrane without heat-treatment was ca. 7.8 X 10 S cm' at ambient temperature and 100% relative humidity; it varied strongly with the humidity and heat-treatment of the membrane. After heat-treatment, the membrane showed a slight dependence of conductivity on temperature. From 21 to 45°C, its conductivity at a given relative humidity decreased with increasing temperature, while from 45 to 80°C it increased with temperature.Nafion 117® is a proton conducting ion-exchange membrane which is now receiving much attention due to its use as an electrolyte in the polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which is of great interest for electric vehicle propulsion.' The performance of the PEMFC is strongly dependent on the humidification of the membrane, since membrane resistance changes drastically with water content. The water balance of the fuel cell is also extremely complicated. During the cell reaction in the PEMFC, the anode side (fuel side) of the membrane is readily dried up by the electro-osmotic drag of the proton, while the water produced in the cathode reaction diffuses back to the anode side. Analysis of the performance of a PEMFC requires reliable conductivity data for the membrane electrolyte at different humidities in combination with water uptake,4-1 water diffusion,8 gas diffusion properties,914 etc.

able because the patients is a poor surgical risk, TAE has To assess intrahepatic metastasis (IM) and multicenbeen considered the treatment of choice. However, the value tric occurrence (MO) after initial treatment of small heof TAE is limited if the small HCCs have intracapsular or patocellular carcinomas (HCC) ß 2 cm in diameter, we extracapsular invasion. performed clinical and pathological studies in 112 pa-PEIT has been shown to be highly effective in patients with tients who underwent percutaneous ethanol injection HCCs ß3 cm in diameter. with HCC were admitted to Ogaki Municipal Hospital, and 163 of the 750 were found to have an HCC ß2 cm in diameter. One hundred and twelve of these patients who had undergone PEIT or hepatic Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most maligresection were selected for this retrospective study. All cases were nant neoplasms in Japan. Because of recent progress in the diagnosed histologically. Fifteen patients were diagnosed by specific development of new diagnostic modalities, the incidence of imaging diagnosis (histological confirmation was made by analysis detection of small HCCs has increased.1-4 Therapeutic ap-of specimens obtained at surgery) and 97 patients were diagnosed proaches to HCC also have progressed markedly in recent by percutaneous liver tissue core biopsy with ultrasound guidance. years through the development of hepatic resection, trans-The PEIT was performed according to previously published methcatheter arterial embolization, and percutaneous ethanol in-ods 24 in 82 patients who had not undergone surgery because of imjection therapy (PEIT). [5][6][7] The surgical resectability rate of paired liver function or who had requested this type of therapy.Briefly, after administration of a local anesthetic, the needle was HCC, however, has remained low, this is, because most pa- A 25 ). In this series, radical hepatectomy represented the removal of Received December 29, 1995; accepted September 25, 1996. all tumors from the liver. and/or helical with contrast medium were performed every 3 months.

Hypointense nodules with a maximum diameter of at least 15 mm often become hypervascular. Therefore, patients with hypointense nodules characterized by a maximum diameter of 15 mm or greater should be observed carefully because of the high incidence of vascularization.

able because the patients is a poor surgical risk, TAE has To assess intrahepatic metastasis (IM) and multicenbeen considered the treatment of choice. However, the value tric occurrence (MO) after initial treatment of small heof TAE is limited if the small HCCs have intracapsular or patocellular carcinomas (HCC) ß 2 cm in diameter, we extracapsular invasion. performed clinical and pathological studies in 112 pa-PEIT has been shown to be highly effective in patients with tients who underwent percutaneous ethanol injection HCCs ß3 cm in diameter. with HCC were admitted to Ogaki Municipal Hospital, and 163 of the 750 were found to have an HCC ß2 cm in diameter. One hundred and twelve of these patients who had undergone PEIT or hepatic Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most maligresection were selected for this retrospective study. All cases were nant neoplasms in Japan. Because of recent progress in the diagnosed histologically. Fifteen patients were diagnosed by specific development of new diagnostic modalities, the incidence of imaging diagnosis (histological confirmation was made by analysis detection of small HCCs has increased.1-4 Therapeutic ap-of specimens obtained at surgery) and 97 patients were diagnosed proaches to HCC also have progressed markedly in recent by percutaneous liver tissue core biopsy with ultrasound guidance. years through the development of hepatic resection, trans-The PEIT was performed according to previously published methcatheter arterial embolization, and percutaneous ethanol in-ods 24 in 82 patients who had not undergone surgery because of imjection therapy (PEIT). [5][6][7] The surgical resectability rate of paired liver function or who had requested this type of therapy.Briefly, after administration of a local anesthetic, the needle was HCC, however, has remained low, this is, because most pa- A 25 ). In this series, radical hepatectomy represented the removal of Received December 29, 1995; accepted September 25, 1996. all tumors from the liver. and/or helical with contrast medium were performed every 3 months.

No abstract

Background: The effectiveness of tumor markers in evaluating outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be clarified. Summary: The usefulness of the HCC tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) was reviewed. Elevations in these tumor markers at the time of HCC diagnosis correlate with disease progression as assessed by both imaging studies and pathologic examinations. The combination of these three tumor markers results in good predictive ability for patient survival after diagnosis. In addition, combination at the time of HCC diagnosis of these three tumor markers (as a measure of tumor progression) and serum albumin and bilirubin levels (as indicators of remnant liver function) can be used for HCC staging and further predicts prognosis in patients with HCC. Key Message: The prognosis of patients with HCC can be well discriminated based solely on serum markers. Staging of HCC with serum markers is objective; if stored serum samples are available, HCC stages can be standardized across different countries and time periods.

Abstract:The Hinode satellite (formerly Solar-