Evolution of viral load and changes of polymerase and precore/core promoter sequences in lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus during adefovir therapy.

Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) has demonstrated clinical activity against both wild-type and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV). We analyzed the evolution of viral load and the changes of polymerase and precore/core promoter sequences in lamivudine-resistant virus during ADV therapy. The authors studied 14 patients who had breakthrough hepatitis after lamivudine therapy.

[Clinical significances of serum soluble fas and soluble fas ligand in chronic hepatitis B].

Background/aims: Apoptosis via Fas/FasL system is thought to be involved in the development of hepatocyte death in viral hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis C, sFas/sFasL system was reported to control liver injury induced by Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis. To determine the role of sFas/sFasL system in chronic hepatitis B, we analyzed serum sFas/sFasL in 58 HBV patients and 29 healthy controls.

Early virological response predicts outcome during extended lamivudine retreatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B who relapsed after initial HBeAg responses.

Background And Aim: Studies from hepatitis B virus endemic areas have shown less durable lamivudine-induced responses and have raised issues about the management of a post-treatment relapse.

Methods: From January 2000 to June 2004, all 51 patients (43 HBeAg-positive and eight HBeAg-negative) were retreated with lamivudine for at least 12 months. All had a post-treatment relapse after HBeAg responses (HBeAg loss/seroconversion) during the first therapy.

[Clinical and biochemical parameters of nutrition to predict hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients].

Background/aims: Protein-calorie malnutrition is a common complication in cirrhosis. Protein restriction for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) may cause disease progression and poor prognosis. Therefore, we evaluated important clinical parameters for nutritional state in cirrhotic patients with or without HE to predict the development of HE.

Association between human leukocytes antigen alleles and chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the Korean population.

Background/aim: Recent data have shown that the clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be influenced by the host genetic factor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether particular human leukocytes antigen (HLA) molecules are associated with the susceptibility to HCV infection in the Korean population.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-seven patients with chronic HCV infection and 206 normal individuals were examined for HLA class I and II molecules.

[Immunohistochemical expression of the p53 and Ki-67 proteins in Barrett's esophagus in Korea].

Background/aims: Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant lesion of the esophagus in which normal squamous epithelium is replaced by intestinalized columnar epithelium. In Korea, adenocarcinoma associated with Barrett's esophagus is rare compared with that of Western country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and Ki-67 in Barrett's esophagus which had predictive value for cancer risk in Korea.

Timing of lamivudine administration according to Child class in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Few clinical trials have investigated the use of lamivudine (LAM) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis related to chronic hepatitis B. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of extended LAM treatment and to determine the timing of LAM administration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Methods: A total of 17 patients were treated with LAM 100 mg/day.

[A case of portal vein thrombosis associated with acute pancreatitis and cholangitis].

Portal vein thrombosis is a rare complication accompanied with acute pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis. The main pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis in pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis are suggested to be venous compression by pseudocyst and an imbalance between the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. In this case report, we experienced a 63 year old male who developed portal vein thrombosis later in the course of the treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis with cholangitis/cholecystitis without any symptom or sign.

Long-term results of lamivudine monotherapy in Korean patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: response and relapse rates, and factors related to durability of HBeAg seroconversion.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the long-term effects of lamivudine in 461 Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated for more than 12 months.

Methods: The annual rates of virological response and breakthrough were examined and the predictive factors for post-treatment relapse in 114 patients who achieved hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss or seroconversion after lamivudine therapy were also analyzed.

Results: During follow-up, the rates of HBeAg seroconversion after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years of treatment were 22.

Preconditioning by extracorporeal liver support (MARS) of patients with cirrhosis and severe liver failure evaluated for living donor liver transplantation -- a pilot study.

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of preconditioning molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) treatment on patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF), who were awaiting living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Patients And Methods: Between January and December 2001, 10 consecutive AoCLF patients (with progressive hyperbilirubinemia (>20 mg/dl) and hepatic encephalopathy grade > or =2) were studied. MARS was used in eight of these patients who were evaluated for LDLT during 2001.

[The detection of antigenic protein of HCV in gastric mucosa].

Background/aims: As a preliminary study to test the possibility of oral transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV), many investigations in order to detect the extrahepatic localization of HCV have been performed. In this study, we examined the presence of HCV viral proteins in gastric mucosa.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining to NS3 protein were done to detect the HCV virus in gastric mucosa.

Spontaneous regression of a large hepatocellular carcinoma with skull metastasis.

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare phenomenon. This case of a 65-year-old Korean man with HCC and metastatic frontal bone mass that regressed after radiotherapy for frontal bone mass without any other therapeutic modalities is described. The clinical diagnosis of HCC was made because of the presence of a liver mass on abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan, high serum alpha-fetoprotein value and tissue diagnosis on frontal bone biopsy.

Transarterial chemo-lipiodolization can reactivate hepatitis B virus replication in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is a well-known complication in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of HBV reactivation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing transarterial chemo-lipiodolization, and to clarify factors contributing to HBV reactivation.

Methods: From April 2001 to September 2002, 146 HBsAg positive patients newly diagnosed as HCC were enrolled in the study.

The human cervical cancer oncogene protein is a biomarker for human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Human cervical cancer oncogene (HCCR) was identified and appeared to function as a negative regulator of p53 gene. The objective of this study was to validate HCCR expression as a candidate marker for human hepatocellular carcinoma. HCCR epitope was identified as Y(355)LGTRR(360).

[A case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the ovary].

Although advances in imaging technology have allowed for earlier detection of disease, hepatocellular carcinoma is usually asymptomatic and discovered at an advanced stage with metastasis. The most common sites of metastasis include lung, peritoneum, adrenal gland, and bone, but rarely, the nasal cavity, orbit, gallbladder, and ovary can be metastatic sites. We experienced a case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the ovary in a living patient.

[Prediction of hepatic fibrosis using serum hyaluronic acid in patients with chronic liver disease].

Background/aims: The extent of hepatic fibrosis is important in chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy is essential for diagnosis of fibrosis. However, biopsy is invasive and may not represent the whole liver state.

[The role of hepatitis C virus core protein on liver fibrogenesis: a study using an in vitro co-culture system].

Background/aims: The study of liver fibrogenesis by hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been limited due to the lack of an efficiency in vitro culture systems. In the present study, we investigated whether or not HCV core protein is directly related to liver fibrogenesis through stimulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Methods: Human and rat HSC were isolated and we established an in vitro co-culture system of a stable HepG2-HCV core cell line which was transfected with HCV core gene and primary HSC.

[Usefulness of plasma tumor M2-pyruvate kinase in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer].

Background/aims: Pyruvate kinase (PK) is a key enzyme of glycolysis. Different isoforms of this enzyme are tissue-specifically expressed (M2-PK, M1-PK, R-PK, L-PK). The concentration of the dimeric M2-PK is increased in a metabolic state of tumor cells.

Rapidly progressing Budd-Chiari syndrome complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma.

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a disorder caused by occlusion of the hepatic vein or inferior vena cava. The clinical presentation include abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, ascites, leg edema, collateral venous dilatation of the body trunk, and portal hypertension. In addition, BCS can cause hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in some patients, although its pathogenesis is not yet completely understood.

Analysis of CYP2E1 polymorphism for the determination of genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer in Koreans.

Background: Interindividual genetic differences in susceptibility to chemical carcinogens are among the most important host factors in human cancer. The present study was undertaken to reveal the association between the polymorphism of CYP2E1 (CYP2E1/PstI and CYP2E1/DraI) with genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer development in Koreans.

Methods: In the present study, 120 gastric cancer patients and 145 controls with no history of tumors were analyzed.

[A study for clinical correlation of neuropsychological test and brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy].

Background/aims: The aim of the study was to correlate neuropsychological test results with regional cerebral biochemistry determined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).

Methods: The patients with liver disease were divided into 4 groups; group 1 chronic hepatitis; group 2, liver cirrhosis (LC) without a history of HE; group 3, LC with a history of HE of no manifestation, and group 4, LC with overt HE. All patients were examined using neuropsychological tests and brain MRS.

[Effect of Helicobacter pylori on gastric epithelial cell kinetics and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in gastric carcinogenesis].

Background/aims: We investigated apoptosis, cell proliferation and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the gastric epithelial cells of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-negative and positive patients.

Methods: TUNEL staining, immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67, p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) and Bax were performed on paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from 11 H.

[A case of pheochromocytoma with hyperamylasemia].

Pheochromocytoma, a catecholamine-producing tumor of the chromaffin tissue, may present with various features. Herein, we report case of 66-year-old woman with pheochromocytoma accompanying hyperamylasemia and acute abdomen. She was admitted to another hospital due to myocardial infarction 5 months ago.

[Suppression of tumor formation and induction of natural killer cell activity in BALB/c nude mice by human B7-1 (CD80) gene transfer subcutaneously injected with human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Huh-7)].

Background/aims: Immunogene therapy is extensively studied for a therapeutic modality of various cancers. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of immunogene therapy using the T-cell costimulatory molecule and human B7-1 (CD80, hB7-1) in an in vivo human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model.

Methods: The stable HCC cell line expressing hB7-1 gene was established using retroviral vector (Huh-7/hB7-1).