Impact of viral eradication by direct-acting antivirals on clinical outcomes after curative treatment for hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: It is not clear that antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) after recovery from curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has an effect on suppressing recurrence or improving survival rates.

Objectives: We analyzed the impact of eradication by interferon (IFN)-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on clinical outcomes of patients with HCV-associated HCC who underwent curative treatment.

Design: This was a retrospective study.

Multiomics Analysis of Liver Molecular Dysregulation Leading to Nonviral-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development.

Chronic liver diseases exhibit diverse backgrounds, and it is believed that numerous factors contribute to progression to cancer. To achieve effective prevention of nonviral hepatocellular carcinoma, it is imperative to identify fundamental molecular abnormalities at the patient level. Utilizing cancer-adjacent liver tissues obtained from hepatocellular carcinoma patients (chronic liver disease), we conducted RNA-Seq and metabolome analyses.

Green coffee bean extract rich in chlorogenic acids prevents muscle capillary regression via inhibiting oxidative stress and enhancing angiogenesis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in disused skeletal muscle induces capillary regression, which disrupts the balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. We tested whether green coffee bean extract containing rich chlorogenic acid, which has antioxidant properties, can prevent capillary regression caused by muscle atrophy. The study included 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats, randomly assigned to four groups: control (CON), 2-week hindlimb unloading (HU), 2-week hindlimb unloading supplemented with coffee extract rich in chlorogenic acids (HU+50%CGA), and 2-week hindlimb unloading supplemented with trace amounts of chlorogenic acids (HU+5%CGA).

Usefulness of serum HBV RNA levels for predicting antiviral response to entecavir treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA is an important serum biomarker of hepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) transcriptional activity; however, its clinical characteristics remain unclear. This study evaluated the clinical utility of HBV RNA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We studied 87 CHB patients with serum HBV DNA levels ≥ 5.

Dietary RNA from Torula Yeast Prevents Capillary Regression in Atrophied Skeletal Muscle in Rats.

Chronic neuromuscular inactivity induces capillary regression within skeletal muscle. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of dietary nucleic acids in counteracting the capillary reduction linked to chronic neuromuscular inactivity in the soleus muscle. The study utilized four distinct groups of female Wistar rats: a control group (CON), a hindlimb-unloading group (HU), an HU group supplemented with DNA (HU + DNA), and an HU group supplemented with RNA (HU + RNA).

Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatitis C Virus Sustained Virologic Response Using a Random Survival Forest Model.

Purpose: Postsustained virologic response (SVR) screening following clinical guidelines does not address individual risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim is to provide tailored screening for patients using machine learning to predict HCC incidence after SVR.

Methods: Using clinical data from 1,028 SVR patients, we developed an HCC prediction model using a random survival forest (RSF).

Perforating pharyngeal injury caused by minor blunt trauma to the neck: A case report.

Background: Pharyngeal perforation has been documented as a consequence of substantial external force applied to the neck. Such trauma is frequently accompanied by additional organ injury and cervical fracture. In this report, we present an exceptionally rare instance in which minor blunt trauma to the neck resulted in pharyngeal injury without concomitant damage to other organs.

Serum IL-6 concentration is a useful biomarker to predict the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study aims to identify biomarkers for treatment response of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo+Bev) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: 96 patients who received Atezo+Bev or lenvatinib as a first-line systemic therapy were enrolled as the training group after propensity score matching (PSM), and 42 patients treated with Atezo+Bev were enrolled as the validation group. 17 serum cytokines were measured by Luminex multiplex assay at the start of treatment.

Total Synthesis of Euphorbialoid A.

Euphorbialoid A () belongs to the rare diterpenoid family of premyrsinanes and exhibits potent anti-inflammatory effects. The 5/7/6/3-membered carbocycle (ABCD-ring) of contains 11 contiguous stereocenters and seven oxygen-containing functional groups. Moreover, four of the six hydroxy groups of are concentrated in the southern sector and flanked by four structurally different acyl groups.

Prazosin improves insulin-induced anabolic signaling by protecting capillary regression in the soleus muscle of hindlimb-unloaded rats.

Purpose: Reduced capillary number in skeletal muscle due to disuse can hinder the delivery of insulin and amino acid delivery to muscle cells, diminishing insulin activity and muscle protein synthesis, ultimately contributing to anabolic resistance. However, it remains unknown whether mitigating capillary regression during inactivity improves anabolic resistance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing capillary number through the administration of prazosin, which can increase blood flow and prevent capillary regression, on anabolic resistance in skeletal muscle induced by disuse.

Alteration of Gene Expression After Entecavir and Pegylated Interferon Therapy in HBV-Infected Chimeric Mouse Liver.

Cross-sectional analyses using liver tissue from chronic hepatitis B patients make it difficult to exclude the influence of host immune responses. In this study, we performed next-generation sequencing using the livers of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected uPA/SCID mice with humanized livers before and after antiviral therapy (AVT) with entecavir and pegylated interferon, and then performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of gene expression alteration. After HBV infection, the expression of genes involved in multiple pathways was significantly altered in the HBV-infected livers.

Time trend of outcomes according to systemic therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-institution study.

Background: We have been able to use molecular targeted agents for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma since 2009, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved in recent years. We assessed the efficacy of systemic therapy in Hiroshima University Hospital by each era.

Methods: A total of 357 patients who were treated with sorafenib, lenvatinib, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy, or durvalumab plus tremeliumab combination therapy as first-line systemic therapy in our hospital from November 2009 to December 2023 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study.

A case of complete response to radiotherapy combined with durvalumab and tremelimumab in a patient with unknown primary hepatocellular carcinoma arising in the lumbar spine.

A 58-year-old man visited an orthopedic clinic complaining of pain in his right lower back and numbness in his lower limbs for one month. Imaging tests revealed a tumorous lesion from the left side of the second lumbar vertebra to the paraspinal muscles. CT-guided biopsy of the tumor was performed, and immunostaining results diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

EtAl/Light-Promoted Radical-Polar Crossover Reactions of α-Alkoxyacyl Tellurides.

Here, we report new radical-polar crossover reactions of α-alkoxy carbon radicals for constructing highly oxygenated molecules with contiguous stereocenters. The method employs a 370 nm UV light-emitting diode (LED) for the photoexcitation of α-alkoxyacyl telluride, and EtAl as the radical initiator and terminator. First, EtAl and UV LED promoted radical coupling between the α-alkoxyacyl telluride and cyclopentenone via C-Te bond homolysis, CO expulsion, and C-C bond formation.

Methylglyoxal reduces resistance exercise-induced protein synthesis and anabolic signaling in rat tibialis anterior muscle.

Resistance exercise provides significant benefits to skeletal muscle, including hypertrophy and metabolic enhancements, supporting overall health and disease management. However, skeletal muscle responsiveness to resistance exercise is significantly reduced in conditions such as aging and diabetes. Recent reports suggest that glycation stress contributes to muscle atrophy and impaired exercise-induced muscle adaptation; however, its role in the muscle response to resistance exercise remains unclear.

Novel anti-cancer effect of 2-arachidonoylglycerol via processing body formation in HCA-7 human colon cancer cells.

The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) has been reported to exhibit anticancer effects, including against colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the detailed mechanisms have not been clarified. Herein, we demonstrated that 2-AG suppressed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression induced by prostaglandin E in human colon cancer HCA-7 cells. The suppression of COX-2 expression by 2-AG was through the acceleration of processing body (P-body) formation followed by COX-2 mRNA degradation.

Relationship between cleaning frequency and pressure ulcer healing time in older people receiving home care.

Objective: The relationship between the healing time of pressure ulcers (PUs) and wound cleaning frequency among older people in homecare settings was investigated.

Method: This single-centre, prospective cohort study was conducted from April 2018 to March 2019. Patients who used home-visit nursing services, had National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel classification stage 2 PUs, and had their wounds cleaned at least twice a week were enrolled in the study.

Interactions between special education teachers and children with chronic complex conditions: A qualitative study.

Background: The number of children with complex medical conditions has increased in recent decades. In this context, a complex chronic condition is characterized by multiple morbidities that require intensive or continuous health care according to the level of severity. Given their various health conditions, it is challenging to provide special education to these children, but there is still insufficient evidence regarding the practical experiences of educators.

Niacin supplementation attenuates the regression of three-dimensional capillary architecture in unloaded female rat skeletal muscle.

Inactivity can lead to muscle atrophy and capillary regression in skeletal muscle. Niacin (NA), known for inducing hypermetabolism, may help prevent this capillary regression. In this study involving adult female Sprague-Dawley rats, the animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control (CON), hindlimb unloading (HU), NA, and HU with NA supplementation (HU + NA).

Peripheral T Cell Subpopulations as a Potential Surrogate Biomarker during Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The therapeutic benefits of the immunotherapeutic combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary. Therapeutic biomarkers might help improve outcomes for HCC patients receiving Atez/Bev therapy. The role of systemic immune profiles in HCC progression also remains unclear.