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Background: We investigated the usefulness of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) from diffusion-weighted images (DWI) obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria. Methods: We enrolled 102 patients who had undergone surgical resection for HCC within Milan criteria, and calculated their minimum ADC using DWI-MRI. We divided patients into ADCHigh (n=72) and ADCLow (n=30) groups, and compared clinicopathological factors between the two groups. Results: The ADCLow group showed higher protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) levels (p=0.04) and higher rates of infiltrative growth (p=0.06) compared with the ADCHigh group. In overall survival, the ADCLow group showed significantly worse prognosis than the ADCHigh group (p<0.01). Univariate analysis identified infiltrative growth, high PIVKA-II, and low ADC value as prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis identified only low ADC value as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: ADC values can be used to estimate the prognosis of HCC within Milan criteria.

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Background Light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation has been used in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into a variety of cell types. This study investigated the effect of green LED (GLED) irradiation on the differentiation of adipocyte-derived mesenchymal cells into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) and the mechanism of its action. Methods HLCs in the hepatocyte maturation phase were irradiated with GLED (520 nm, 21 W/m2, 5 min/day for 10 days). The cells were then assessed for expression of hepatocyte maturity genes and opsin 3 (OPN3), hepatocyte function, viability, apoptosis, and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and calcium ions (Ca2+). Results GLED irradiation increased Alpha-1 antitrypsin and Ornithine transcarbamylase gene expression, promoted Cytochrome P450 3A4 activity and urea synthesis, and elevated intracellular ROS, ATP and Ca2+ levels. OPN3 expression was significantly more upregulated in GLED-irradiated HLCs than in the non-irradiated HLCs. No significant difference in cell viability or apoptosis was observed between GLED-irradiated and non-irradiated HLCs. Conclusions GLED irradiation can promote hepatocyte maturation and functions through OPN3. GLED irradiation also stimulated mitochondrial function via Ca2+/ATP/ROS activation. GLED irradiation has potential to support cell-based transplantation in patients.