Fig 4 -

Microscopic examination shows epithelial sloughing (arrow) and necrosis with denaturation (arrowheads) at the site of ablation, which has replaced the granulation tissue and fibrotic changes (asterisk); A, B, hematoxylin & eosin; C, Masson’s trichrome.</p

Cholangioscopic view before and 35 days after ethanol ablation in the swine model.

Cholangioscopic view before and 35 days after ethanol ablation in the swine model.</p

Details and outcomes of endoscopic biliary ethanol ablation.

Details and outcomes of endoscopic biliary ethanol ablation.</p

Fig 2 -

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography images obtained before (A) and 35 days after (B) ethanol ablation. Stricture formation is observed at the ablated site, and dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct is observed 35 days after ablation.</p

Fig 1 -

Prototype of the newly developed multi-hole balloon catheter equipped with a 30-mm long balloon of 6, 8, or 10 mm diameter, which has 600 holes of 10 μm diameter on two-thirds of the surface on the distal side of the balloon (A). When ethanol is injected into the balloon, the balloon expands initially until the full size is achieved; subsequently, a small amount of ethanol gradually oozes out of the balloon through the holes (B).</p

Bench test of the novel multi-hole balloon catheter.

Bench test of the novel multi-hole balloon catheter.</p

The mucosa at the site of ablation shows the formation of scar stricture on macroscopic examination 35 days after ethanol ablation.

The mucosa at the site of ablation shows the formation of scar stricture on macroscopic examination 35 days after ethanol ablation.</p

Evaluation of liver fibrosis-related parameters in CSAA- and CDAA-diet-fed rats.

<p>Representative photomicrographs showing the fibrosis of CSAA and CDAA diet on liver histology in rats. Liver tissues were stained with Masson’s trichrome staining. Rats were fed CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with saline, or CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with nicotine, for 6 weeks. Arrows indicate the hepatic fibrosis in the liver. Original magnification, ×100 (A). Quantitative analysis of changes in the Masson’s trichrome staining blue colored area in the respective groups (B). The expression of <i>Acta2</i> was normalized to that of 18s ribosomal RNA in each sample, and expressed as the magnitude of change relative to gene expression after 6 weeks of feeding CSAA diet co-administered with saline (C). Evaluation of immunohistochemical staining of hepatic αSMA-positive cells in CSAA- and CDAA-diet-fed rats co-administered the saline control or nicotine for 6 weeks. Arrows indicate αSMA-positive cells (D). Quantitative analysis of changes in the numbers of αSMA-positive cells in the respective groups (E). Data are expressed as means ± SE of six to eight rats. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 compared with the respective groups).</p

Taqman probe ID for real time PCR.

<p>Taqman probe ID for real time PCR.</p

Evaluation of liver inflammation-related parameters in CSAA- and CDAA-diet-fed rats.

<p>Representative photomicrographs showing the inflammation of CSAA and CDAA diet on liver histology in rats. Paraffin-embedded liver sections were stained with H-E staining. Rats were fed CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with saline, or CSAA diet and CDAA diet, co-administered with nicotine, for 6 weeks. Arrows indicate the inflammatory foci in the liver. Original magnification, ×200 (A). The relative expression of <i>TNF-α</i>, <i>CD68</i>, <i>IL1β</i>, <i>IL6</i>, <i>Bax</i> and <i>Cas3</i> mRNA in the liver was evaluated 6 weeks after feeding (B). The expression of target genes was normalized to that of 18s ribosomal RNA in each sample, and expressed as the magnitude of change relative to gene expression after 6 weeks of feeding CSAA diet co-administered with saline. Data are expressed as means ± SE of six to eight rats. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 compared with the respective groups).</p