ATA Index: A novel score for predicting fibrosis stage in chronic viral hepatitis.

Background And Aim: This study was designed to predict the fibrosis stage with a clinical scoring system that may reduce the need for liver biopsy.

Materials And Methods: The study cohort included the treatment of 430 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 170 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) of naive patients. The patients were divided into two groups as mild to moderate and severe fibrosis.

Interferon Treatment Duration in Patients With Chronic Delta Hepatitis and its Effect on the Natural Course of the Disease.

Background: Interferon is the only treatment option in chronic delta hepatitis (CDH). A CDH database (333 patients, 161 with interferon treatment history) was analyzed for effects of treatment duration on virologic response and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Ninety-nine CDH patients who received at least 6 months of interferon were selected.

Association Between Level of Hepatitis D Virus RNA at Week 24 of Pegylated Interferon Therapy and Outcome.

Background & Aims: Interferon is the only effective treatment for chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. No rules have been set for stopping treatment based on viral kinetics. We analyzed data from an international study of hepatitis D treatment to identify factors associated with outcomes of pegylated interferon treatment, with and without adefovir.

Utility of endoscopy for diagnosis of barrett in a non-Western society: endoscopic and histopathologic correlation.

Barrett esophagus is metaplastic transformation of esophageal squamous epithelium to columnar cells. A total of 1370 patients who had undergone upper endoscopy because of dyspeptic complaints were enrolled in the study. Age, sex, alcohol and smoking habits, body mass index, type and duration of symptoms (heartburn, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting), and use of proton pump inhibitors were evaluated in all patients and recorded on standardized forms.

Manometric assessment of esophageal motor function in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Introduction/aim: Primary biliary cirrhosis is associated with other autoimmune diseases including Sjögren's syndrome, and scleroderma. Esophageal dysmotility is well known in scleroderma, and Sjögren's syndrome. The aim of this study is to investigate whether any esophageal motor dysfunction exists in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Role of immunohistochemistry for hepatitis D and hepatitis B virus in hepatitis delta.

Background & Aims: Immunohistochemical assessment of liver tissue in chronic delta hepatitis (CDH) is underinvestigated. Aim of the study was (i) to assess variables associated with hepatitis D antigen (HDAg), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) staining in the liver.

Methods: Demographic, biochemical and virologic data collected from the HIDIT 1 study were used.

Genome-wide transcriptional reorganization associated with senescence-to-immortality switch during human hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Senescence is a permanent proliferation arrest in response to cell stress such as DNA damage. It contributes strongly to tissue aging and serves as a major barrier against tumor development. Most tumor cells are believed to bypass the senescence barrier (become "immortal") by inactivating growth control genes such as TP53 and CDKN2A.

Pegylated interferon-based treatment in patients with advanced liver disease due to chronic delta hepatitis.

Background/aims: The safety and efficacy of interferons in advanced delta hepatitis have not been explored. The aim of this subanalysis of a multicenter clinical trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of 48 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (180 μg weekly) with or without adefovir (10 mg daily) in patients with chronic delta hepatitis-induced advanced liver disease and in those with non-advanced liver disease.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients with advanced and 27 patients with non-advanced liver disease were assessed.

HBeAg-positive hepatitis delta: virological patterns and clinical long-term outcome.

Background And Aims: The presence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-eAg in patients with hepatitis B is associated with higher HBV replication and with an increased risk to develop liver-related clinical endpoints defined as liver related death, liver transplantation, development of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HBeAg in patients co-infected with the hepatitis D virus (HDV).

Methods: We studied virological markers of HBV and HDV infection and as well as biochemical and clinical features of liver disease in a cohort of 534 anti-HDV-positive patients.

Anti-HDV immunoglobulin M testing in hepatitis delta revisited: correlations with disease activity and response to pegylated interferon-α2a treatment.

Background: The role of anti-HDV immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing in patients receiving pegylated interferon-α therapy for hepatitis delta is unknown. We performed anti-HDV IgM testing in a well defined cohort of HDV-infected patients who were treated with pegylated interferon-α2a plus adefovir, or either drug alone.

Methods: Sera from 33 HDV-RNA-positive patients from the international HIDIT-1 trial were available for anti-HDV IgM testing (ETI-DELTA-IGMK-2 assay, DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy) before therapy, at treatment weeks 24 and 48, and at 24 weeks after the end of treatment.

Serum connective tissue markers as predictors of advanced fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and D.

Background/aims: Liver biopsy to assess fibrosis is invasive and prone to sampling error. While algorithms of serum markers to predict fibrosis stage have been described for chronic hepatitis C, these cannot be applied equally well to hepatitis B.

Methods: We therefore determined 9 serum fibrosis markers, liver biochemical tests and ultrasound parameters in 109 consecutive adult patients with chronic hepatitis B and D.

Peginterferon plus adefovir versus either drug alone for hepatitis delta.

Background: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) results in the most severe form of viral hepatitis. There is no currently approved treatment. We investigated the safety and efficacy of 48 weeks of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a plus adefovir dipivoxil, peginterferon alfa-2a alone, and adefovir dipivoxil alone.

The characteristics and clinical outcome of drug-induced liver injury: a single-center experience.

Background And Goals: The aim of this cohort study was to determine the characteristics and clinical outcome of 170 patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in a single center.

Study: Between January 2001 and June 2007, a total of 170 individuals who were diagnosed with DILI were retrospectively analyzed. The median follow-up period was 110.

Quantitative HBsAg and HDV-RNA levels in chronic delta hepatitis.

Unlabelled: Abstract Background: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) causes severe liver disease.

Aims: To investigate the quantitative HDV-RNA, HBsAg and hepatitis B virus (HBV)DNA levels in correlation to histological, biochemical and demographical parameters in patients with chronic HDV infection as similar data in a large series of HDV patients are missing.

Methods: Eighty HDV patients were recruited in Germany, Turkey and Greece; quantitative determination of HDV-RNA, HBsAg and HBV-DNA was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, the Architect HBsAg assay and Cobas TaqMan HBV test respectively.

Aflatoxin exposure in viral hepatitis patients in Turkey.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer and a major public health problem worldwide. Differences in distribution of hepatocellular carcinoma incidence are probably due to different levels of exposure to hepatocellular carcinoma risk factors: chronic infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin exposure in developing countries, and smoking and alcohol abuse in developed countries. Aflatoxin is one of the most important of the environmental toxins that contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in the regions where dietary foodstuffs (peanuts, corn, Brazil nuts, pistachios, spices and figs) are highly contaminated.

Endoscopic management of biliary parasitic diseases.

Unlabelled: AIM/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and June 2007, 3,548 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were performed for extrahepatic cholestasis, cholangitis, and choledocholithiasis. The results of ERCPs were evaluated retrospectively and examined carefully to investigate the management and endoscopic therapy of biliary parasites.

Results: Of the 3,548 patients who underwent ERCP, 24 (0.

PPAR-alpha L162V polymorphism in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Several lines of evidence suggest that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha may be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. L162V polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha gene enhances the transactivation activity of this transcription factor. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and clinical correlates of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha L162V polymorphism in hepatitis virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adjuvant therapeutic plasma exchange in liver failure: assessments of clinical and laboratory parameters.

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) seems to be an effective approach for clearing toxins, immune-mediated antigens, and other particles from the circulation. The aim of this study was to analyze the positive effects of TPE on clinical and biochemical parameters of liver failure.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2001 and March 31, 2005 individuals (men/women, 17/14; median age, 42.

Pegylated interferon-alpha plus taurine in treatment of rat liver fibrosis.

Aim: To investigate the antifibrotic effects of peginterferon-alpha 2b and taurine on oxidative stress markers and hepatocellular apoptosis.

Methods: Sixty rats with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis were divided into 4 groups (n=15). Group 1 was left for spontaneous recovery (SR).

Antituberculous therapy-induced fulminant hepatic failure: successful treatment with liver transplantation and nonstandard antituberculous therapy.

Standard antituberculous therapy including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide is widely used for the treatment of active tuberculosis. Its most important side effect is hepatotoxicity, ranging from asymptomatic transaminitis to fulminant hepatic failure. A 19-year-old woman was admitted to our unit due to jaundice and unconsciousness.

Hepatitis B core antigen expression pattern reflects the response to anti-viral treatment.

Background: In hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients, response predictors to current treatment regimens are not well known. Hepatocyte cell cycle may influence hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expression, which is a major target for antiviral immune response. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the role of HBcAg expression in liver tissue and the rate of hepatocyte proliferation in response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis B.

Long-term prognosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: is pharmacological therapy actually necessary?

Background And Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises a wide spectrum of liver injury, ranging from steatosis and steatohepatitis to cirrhosis. Reasons for the different natural course in individuals with NAFLD are still unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the natural course of disease in individuals with NAFLD who did not receive pharmacological therapy.

Percutaneous transhepatic venoplasty: an alternative treatment for Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Background/aims: In patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome due to short segment hepatic vein stenosis where percutaenous transluminal venoplasty is not successful, percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty may be a valid treatment option. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of this procedure for the treatment of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, in whom transluminal cannulation was unsuccessful.

Methods: Ten patients with short segment occlusion of the hepatic veins were treated by percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty between January 1997 and January 2000.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha L162V polymorphism in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and genotype 1 hepatitis C virus-related liver steatosis.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) plays important roles in lipid metabolism. A recently discovered L162V polymorphism of the PPARalpha gene is associated with enhanced transcriptional activity. In this study, the frequency of L162V was investigated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver steatosis.

P21 expression and its relation to disease activity and hepatocyte proliferation in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background/aims: P21 protein, a cell cycle regulatory protein expressed in the liver, acts as an inhibitor of cyclin dependent kinase and prevents progression of the cell cycle. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the relationships between P21 protein expression and hepatocyte proliferation, hepatitis B virus replication, and hepatitis activity.

Methods: A total of 66 patients with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis were included in the study.