Correlation Between the Hepatic Expression of Human MicroRNA hsa-miR-125a-5p and the Progression of Fibrosis in Patients With Overt and Occult HBV Infection.

Aims: To evaluate the correlation between the hepatic expression pattern of hsa-miR-125a-5p and HBV-DNA and the progression of fibrosis in patients with overt or occult HBV infection.

Methods: We enrolled all the HBsAg-positive treatment naive patients (overt HBV group) and all the HBsAg-negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and with a positive HBV-DNA in their hepatic tissue (occult HBV group), who underwent a diagnostic liver biopsy between April 2007 and April 2015. Tissue concentrations of HBV-DNA and hsa-miR-125a-5p were then analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR.

Multicenter prospective study of angiogenesis polymorphism validation in HCC patients treated with sorafenib. An INNOVATE study protocol.

Introduction: Although sorafenib is the upfront standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), molecular predictors of efficacy have not been identified yet. In the ALICE-1 study, rs2010963 of VEGF-A and VEGF-C proved to be independent predictive factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in multivariate analysis. The ALICE-1 study results were confirmed in the ALICE-2 study, in which VEGF and VEGFR SNPs were analyzed.

Adherence to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines in field practice: Results of Progetto Epatocarcinoma Campania.

Background And Aim: The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) algorithm is the standard system for clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Data on adherence to this therapeutic paradigm are scarce. This field practice study aimed to provide a description of HCC cirrhotic patients in Southern Italy, to evaluate the adherence to BCLC guidelines and its impact on patients' survival.

Lowered expression of microRNA-125a-5p in human hepatocellular carcinoma and up-regulation of its oncogenic targets sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, and c-Raf.

Human microRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a) is expressed in most tissues where it downregulates the expression of membrane receptors or intracellular transductors of mitogenic signals, thus limiting cell proliferation. Expression of this miRNA generally increases with cell differentiation whereas it is downregulated in several types of tumors, such as breast, lung, ovarian, gastric, colon, and cervical cancers, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, and retinoblastoma. In this study, we focused on hepatocellular carcinoma and used real-time quantitative PCR to measure miR-125a expression in 55 tumor biopsies and in matched adjacent non-tumor liver tissues.

ITPase activity modulates the severity of anaemia in HCV-related cirrhosis treated with ribavirin-containing interferon-free regimens.

Background: To investigate the association between inosine triphosphatase (ITPase) activity and the degree of anaemia occurring during direct-acting antiviral (DAA)/ribavirin (RBV)-based therapy in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: In a multicentre, prospective study 227 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis treated with DAA and RBV were enrolled. All patients were screened for the rs1127354 and rs7270101 ITPA single nucleotide polymorphisms using direct sequencing.

Immune inflammation indicators and implication for immune modulation strategies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving sorafenib.

We evalueted a systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with the aim to explored their prognostic value in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib. 56 advanced HCC patients receiving sorafenib were available for our analysis. Lymphocyte, neutrophil and platelet were measured before beginning of treatment and after one month.

Boceprevir or telaprevir in hepatitis C virus chronic infection: The Italian real life experience.

Aim: To check the safety and efficacy of boceprevir/telaprevir with peginterferon/ribavirin for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 in the real-world settings.

Methods: This study was a non-randomized, observational, prospective, multicenter. This study involved 47 centers in Italy.

Occult HBV infection in HCC and cirrhotic tissue of HBsAg-negative patients: a virological and clinical study.

Aim: To evaluate the virological and clinical characteristics of occult HBV infection (OBI) in 68 consecutive HBsAg-negative patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis and HCC.

Methods: HBV DNA was sought and sequenced in plasma, HCC tissue and non-HCC liver tissue by PCRs using primers for HBV core, surface and x regions. OBI was identified by the presence of HBV DNA in at least two different PCRs.

The role of CEUS in characterization of superficial lymph nodes: a single center prospective study.

Accurate lymph node characterization is important in a large number of clinical settings. We evaluated the usefulness of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing between benign and malignant lymph nodes compared with conventional ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy.We present our experience for 111 patients enrolled in a single center.

Synchronous and metachronous gastric gist with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: report of 2 cases and a review of literature.

We report two cases of a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) synchronous and metachronous, respectively, with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a GIST involved 3 years after a ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Data from the literature and our cases seem to suggest that incidental GIST may occur synchronously and metachronously with other cancers more frequently than expected.

Sorafenib after RFA in HCC patients: a pilot study.

Background/aims: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of sorafenib after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methodology: 44 intermediate or advanced HCC patients received sorafenib treatment after debulking with RFA therapy. Time to progression (TTP), response rate (RR), duration of sorafenib treatment and adverse effects were evaluated.

Sorafenib off-target effects predict outcomes in patients treated for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: Sorafenib is the standard of care in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was aimed to identify clinical parameters that may predict survival in these patients.

Materials & Methods: In this observational study, a training (226 patients) and validation cohorts (54 patients) were analyzed for evaluating pretreatment and on-treatment parameters.

Efficacy of lifestyle changes in subjects with non-alcoholic liver steatosis and metabolic syndrome may be improved with an antioxidant nutraceutical: a controlled clinical study.

Introduction: The prevalence of liver steatosis is particularly high in subjects with signs of the metabolic syndrome, and current therapeutic guidelines mostly rely on lifestyle changes alone, which rarely achieve significant objective improvements. In the present study, we evaluated the possibility of monitoring objective improvements in these subjects, before and after a dietary regimen.

Methods: Overall, 78 subjects with metabolic syndrome and ultrasound confirmation of liver steatosis were included in an open, controlled study; all of these subjects were treated for 90 days with the standard regimen of diet and exercise.

Percutaneous treatment of hydatid liver cysts: an update.

Liver hydatidosis is the most common clinical presentation of cystic echinococcosis. Although liver cystic hydatidosis is considered a benign disease and many patients do not develop symptoms for years, its complications can be severe and life threatening (usually as a consequence of rupture in the biliary tree, in the peritoneum, in the bronchi, and of anaphylactic shock), thus, treatment is recommended for all viable and active hydatid liver cysts. Among the therapeutical options available for this disease, such as open and laparoscopic surgery and chemotherapy, percutaneous treatments have gained considerable interest over the last two decades, due to their efficacy, safety and high patient acceptability.

Characterization of dysplastic nodules, early hepatocellular carcinoma and progressed hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis with contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Background: During the progression from low-grade dysplastic nodule (DN) to progressed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intranodular portal tracts gradually disappear, while unpaired arteries develop increasingly. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is highly accurate in depicting intranodular vascularity. This study evaluates the usefulness of CEUS in the characterization of DN, early HCC and progressed HCC in cirrhotic livers.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis: are patients with neoplastic main portal vein invasion eligible for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of both the nodule and the portal venous tumor thrombus?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the results of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of both medium-sized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the accompanying main portal venous tumor thrombus in patients with cirrhosis.

Subjects And Methods: From January 2005 to January 2008, among 1,837 consecutively registered patients with HCC seen at our institution, 412 had HCC and portal venous invasion; 27 of the 412 had a single HCC nodule accompanied by main portal venous tumor thrombus. Thirteen patients (10 men, three women; mean age, 70 years; range, 66-74 years) with 13 HCC nodules 3.

Sonography and clinical outcome of viable hydatid liver cysts treated with double percutaneous aspiration and ethanol injection as first-line therapy: efficacy and long-term follow-up.

Objective: The objective of our study was to report our 19-year experience with sonography and the clinical outcome of viable hydatid liver cysts treated with double percutaneous aspiration and ethanol injection as first-line therapy.

Conclusion: Viable hydatid liver cysts can be safely and successfully managed with double percutaneous aspiration and ethanol injection as first-line-therapy.

Percutaneous treatment of Hydatid Liver Cyst.

Percutaneous treatment of Hydatid Liver Cyst (HLC) with scolicidal agent under ultrasound guidance is now worldwide used after the advent of Percutaneous-Aspiration-Injection and Re-Aspiration (PAIR) and its modifications. Although HLC represent a benign disease, treatment has to be considered mandatory in symptomatic cysts and recommended in viable cysts because of the risk of severe complications. In this article, clinical indications, PAIR technique with results and complications are discussed.

Contrast-enhanced sonography in the characterization of small hepatocellular carcinomas in cirrhotic patients: comparison with contrast-enhanced ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging.

Aim: To evaluate the role of low mechanical index (MI) contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) for the characterization of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in cirrhotic patients by comparing the results to ultrafast dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2003 and June 2004, 73 patients (49 male and 24 female; mean age, 63 years; age range, 40-84 years) with a single liver nodule (< or =30 mm) were selected to enter into the study. CEUS and MRI studies were performed in all patients on consecutive days.

Percutaneous needle aspiration of multiple pyogenic abscesses of the liver: 13-year single-center experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report 13 years of experience in the management of multiple pyogenic liver abscesses with only percutaneous needle aspiration of the abscess cavities under sonographic guidance.

Materials And Methods: From December 1991 to October 2004, 39 consecutively registered patients (29 men and 10 women; age range, 37-82 years; mean age, 64 years) with 118 pyogenic liver abscesses were treated with sonographically guided percutaneous needle aspiration at our institution. The number of pyogenic liver abscesses per patient ranged from two to 15 (mean, 3.

Complications after percutaneous saline-enhanced radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors: 3-year experience with 336 patients at a single center.

Objective: Our objective was to report the complications that occurred in a large series of patients with primary or metastatic liver tumors treated with percutaneous saline-enhanced radiofrequency ablation under sonographic guidance at a single center during 3 years of experience.

Subjects And Methods: Between September 2000 and October 2003, 336 consecutive patients (221 men and 115 women; age range, 44-78 years; mean, 67 years) with 407 malignant liver tumors were treated at our institution using radiofrequency ablation. Of these patients, 287 had hepatocellular carcinoma from cirrhosis, 47 had liver metastases (38 from colon, six from breast, two from lung, and one from cutaneous melanoma), and two had primary cholangiocarcinoma.

Contrast-enhanced sonographic appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis: comparison with contrast-enhanced helical CT appearance.

Objective: We sought to investigate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced sonography using a second-generation contrast agent for the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis by comparing the results to those obtained with contrast-enhanced helical CT.

Subjects And Methods: Between October 2002 and March 2003, 74 patients with cirrhosis (60 men and 14 women; age range, 47-80 years; mean age, 67 years) who had a single nodule of hepatocellular carcinoma were selected to be studied from a cohort of 437 patients with cirrhosis. The size range of the 74 nodules was 9-65 mm (mean, 28.

Helicobacter spp. and liver diseases.

To test whether Helicobacter species play a role in the enhancement of liver necro-inflammation and fibrosis and in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we sought DNA sequences of Helicobacter species in liver specimens from patients with viral-related chronic hepatitis, HCC or metastatic liver carcinoma. We enrolled 28 consecutive patients with ultrasound evidence of hepatic nodule(s) on their first liver biopsy: 21 had histological evidence of HCC (Group I) and 7 of metastatic liver carcinoma (Group II). In the same period we observed 27 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis on their first liver biopsy (Group III).