Incidence of and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal complications in patients taking low-dose aspirin in Japan.

Background/aims: Low-dose aspirin is widely used for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, administration of low-dose aspirin is associated with an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal complications, such as upper gastrointestinal erosions, ulcers and bleeding. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence and various clinical factors of upper gastrointestinal complications associated with low-dose aspirin treatment.

Outcomes and factors influencing survival in cirrhotic cases with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter study.

Background: Spontaneous rupture is rare complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with high mortality rate in cirrhotic cases. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing prognosis in cases of spontaneously ruptured HCC and to investigate the outcomes of the treatments employed, especially transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted in 48 cirrhotic patients with spontaneous rupture of HCC.