A multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of five potexviruses infecting cactus plants using dual-priming oligonucleotides (DPOs) primers.

Five potexviruses, namely, cactus virus X (CVX), opuntia virus X, pitaya virus X (PiVX), schlumbergera virus X (SchVX) and zygocactus virus X (ZyVX), have been reported in cactus plants. In this report, a multiplex RT-PCR assay, based on specific dual-priming oligonucleotide (DPO) primers, was developed to detect these five viruses simultaneously in field samples. Using 18 field plants comprising 16 cactus species, these viruses were detected among nine of the 18 plants, including the simultaneous detection of CVX, PiVX, SchVX and ZyVX co-infecting an Aporocactus flagelliformis and a Notocactus leninghausii f.

Effect of antiviral therapy in reducing perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus and maternal outcomes after discontinuing them.

Background/aims: There have been numerous efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with antiviral agents during pregnancy. However, there are limited data regarding the outcomes of pregnant women after delivery. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral agents in preventing MTCT of HBV and maternal long-term outcomes.

Detection of Co-Infection of f. with Six Virus Species in South Korea.

Co-infection with two virus species was previously reported in some cactus plants. Here, we showed that f. can be co-infected with six different viruses: cactus mild mottle virus (CMMoV)-Nl, cactus virus X (CVX)-Nl, pitaya virus X (PiVX)-Nl, rattail cactus necrosis-associated virus (RCNaV)-Nl, schlumbergera virus X (SchVX)-Nl, and zygocactus virus X (ZyVX)-Nl.

Aronia melanocarpa Extract Ameliorates Hepatic Lipid Metabolism through PPARγ2 Downregulation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Studies have demonstrated that anthocyanin-rich foods may improve hyperlipidemia and ameliorate hepatic steatosis. Here, effects of Aronia melanocarpa (AM), known to be rich of anthocyanins, on hepatic lipid metabolism and adipogenic genes were determined.

On-treatment and off-treatment efficacy of entecavir in a real-life cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background And Aims: Entecavir (ETV) is a potent nucleoside analogue with high genetic barrier to resistance. In this study, real-life clinical experiences in the long-term use of ETV and the durability of its off-treatment effectiveness were analyzed.

Materials And Methods: This study was based on a large real-life cohort of 2240 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with ETV between January 2006 and December 2012 using a centralized electronic data repository.

Low skeletal muscle mass is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Korean adults: the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Sarcopenia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) share similar pathophysiological mechanisms, and the relationship between sarcopenia and NAFLD has been recently investigated. The study investigated whether low skeletal muscle mass is differentially associated with NAFLD by gender in Korean adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A Decade-old Change in the Screening Rate for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among a Hepatitis B Virus-infected Population in Korea.

Background: Evaluating a change in the screening rate for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is critical for understanding screening implementation, and whether targeted population groups are receiving proper screening. This study examined recent nationwide changes in HCC screening use among hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected populations after the introduction of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program and predictors of screening adherence.

Methods: We analyzed 165 and 276 participants ≥40 years of age who were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive from 2001 (14,936 participants) to 2010-2011 (9159 participants) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, respectively.

[Recurrence of multiple focal nodular hyperplasia in a young male patient].

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common benign hepatic tumor that is usually found in women. Diagnosis of FNH mainly depends on imaging studies such as color Doppler flow imaging, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. It is characterized by the presence of stellate central scar and is nowadays incidentally diagnosed with increasing frequency due to advances in radiologic imaging technique.

Can "healthy" normal alanine aminotransferase levels identify the metabolically obese phenotype? Findings from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey 2008-2010.

Background: There is no established parameter with which to screen metabolically obese phenotypes.

Aim: The aim of the study was to revise the upper limit of normal (ULN) of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and to investigate the predictive value of updated ALT levels for metabolic obese phenotype stratified according to body mass index (BMI).

Methods: We analyzed a nationally representative data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A pilot study of autologous CD34-depleted bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation via the hepatic artery in five patients with liver failure.

Background Aims: Many rodent experiments and human studies on stem cell therapy have shown promising therapeutic approaches to liver diseases. We investigated the clinical outcomes of five patients with liver failure of various causes who received autologous CD34-depleted bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) transplantation, including mesenchymal stromal cells, through the hepatic artery.

Methods: CD34-depleted BM-MNCs were obtained from five patients waiting for liver transplantation by bone marrow aspiration and using the CliniMACS CD34 Reagent System (Miltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany), and autologous hepatic artery infusion was performed.

Clinical factors predictive of insufficient liver enhancement on the hepatocyte-phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: Estimating liver parenchymal enhancement prior to gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is crucial to accurate detection and characterization of focal hepatic lesions. We aimed to clarify the factors predictive of liver enhancement in a relatively large sample of patients.

Methods: Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR images of 328 patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A in 223 patients, class B in 71 patients, and class C in 34 patients) were analyzed retrospectively.

Outcome after discontinuing antiviral agents during pregnancy in women infected with hepatitis B virus.

Background: Women who are taking antiviral agents and become pregnant have several options that include, continuing therapy, ceasing drugs, or switching to safer drugs. However, there are limited data on the outcome in pregnant women after withdrawal of antiviral agents.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the outcome of stopping antiviral agents in pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Should lamivudine monotherapy be stopped or continued in patients infected with hepatitis B with favorable responses after more than 5 years of treatment?

Regarding the limited evidence for determining the optimal duration of antiviral treatment for hepatitis B, the long-term outcome of patients with favorable responses to over 5 years of lamivudine monotherapy was investigated. Two hundred seventy-one patients who had received lamivudine for at least 5 years were enrolled. Ultimately, 72 patients without YMDD mutations and showing hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels <2.

Comparative study between doxorubicin-eluting beads and conventional transarterial chemoembolization for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely used treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. In order to maximize its therapeutic efficacy, doxorubicin-loaded drug-eluting beads have been developed to deliver higher doses of the chemotherapeutic agent and to prolong contact time with the tumor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting bead (DC bead®) TACE in comparison with conventional TACE (cTACE).

Predictive value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT for transarterial chemolipiodolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the correlation of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) with clinical features and the prediction of treatment response.

Methods: A total of 83 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing ¹⁸F-FDG PET before transarterial chemolipiodolization with systemic chemo-infusion between October, 2006 and May, 2009 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients included 68 men and 15 women (mean age, 60 ± 10.

Family history influences the early onset of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between a positive family history of primary liver cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in Korean HCC patients.

Methods: We studied a total of 2242 patients diagnosed with HCC between January 1990 and July 2008, whose family history of primary liver cancer was clearly described in the medical records.

Results: Of the 2242 patients, 165 (7.

Differences in the patterns and outcomes of enhanced viral replication between hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during transarterial chemolipiodolization.

Background/aims: Enhanced replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is well described in the setting of moderate to severe immunosuppression. The aims of this retrospective study were to determine the incidence of enhanced HCV replication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing transarterial chemolipiodolization (TACL) and to identify the factors associated with enhanced replication of HCV. The clinical pattern of enhanced HCV replication was compared with hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during TACL.

Frequency of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in Korean patients with chronic HCV infection.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in innate immunity, especially in the response to viral infections, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are the primary receptors of NK cells that mediate innate immunity. KIRs are also involved in acquired immunity, because some KIRs are expressed on the surface of certain subsets of T cells.

RPL36 as a prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ribosomal proteins (RP) play key roles in the regulation of apoptosis, multidrug resistance and carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ribosomal protein L36 (RPL36) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to correlate it with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome. Liver specimens were obtained from 60 HCC patients who had undergone a partial hepatectomy.

Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Hepatitis B Core Antibody-Positive Grafts in Korea, a Hepatitis B-endemic Region.

Background/aims: The exclusion of hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)-positive donors from liver transplants (LTs) due to the risk of transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) does not appear to be practical in Korea, where hepatitis B is endemic. This study assessed the risk of de novo HBV infection in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative LT recipients receiving a liver from HBcAb-positive donors.

Methods: Of 341 adult living donor LTs conducted at our institution between March 2001 and September 2008, 176 donors (51.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplasia involving the pyloric channel by retroflexion in the duodenum.

Background: Tumors involving the pyloric channel have been considered as difficult lesions for successful endoscopic resection. We studied the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using retroflexion in the duodenum to resect the gastric neoplasia involving the pyloric channel.

Aim: To compare the treatment outcomes of a new ESD technique using retroflexion to those without retroflexion in the duodenum.

Drug-eluting bead loaded with doxorubicin versus conventional Lipiodol-based transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study of Asian patients.

Objective: Lipiodol transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a drug-eluting bead (DEB) has been developed to enhance drug delivery to the tumor and reduce its systemic availability. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial injection of DEB loaded with doxorubicin versus conventional, Lipiodol-based TACE regimens in Asian patients with HCC.