Randomized phase I/II study of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor peptide vaccines for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-targeted peptide vaccines for the immunization of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had responded to transarterial chemoembolization.

Methods: Twenty-two patients were randomized 1:1 to receive VEGFR-targeted peptides or placebo. The primary end-point was the safety assessment of the immunization.

Elevated 2-oxoglutarate antagonizes DNA damage responses in cholangiocarcinoma chemotherapy through regulating aspartate beta-hydroxylase.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is resistant to systemic chemotherapies that kill malignant cells mainly through DNA damage responses (DDRs). Recent studies suggest that the involvement of 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) dependent dioxygenases in DDRs may be associated with chemoresistance in malignancy, but how 2-OG impacts DDRs in CCA chemotherapy remains elusive. We examined serum 2-OG levels in CCA patients before receiving chemotherapy.

Dried blood spot-based host genome analysis technique targeting pathological associations with hepatitis B: Development and clinical application in the Cambodian population.

Aim: Reports of patients with hepatitis B have highlighted associations between polymorphisms in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPB1, CXCL13, and CXCR5 genes and disease pathology. Owing to its potential to contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, we aimed to establish a reliable host genome analysis technique that can be used in countries with inadequate infrastructure.

Method: We compared multiple commercially available kits for dried blood spot (DBS)-based sample collection to develop a basic DBS-based host genome analysis technique.

Clusterin and Related Scoring Index as Potential Early Predictors of Response to Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a highly lethal malignancy, although several systemic therapeutic options are available, including sorafenib (SFN), which has been one of the standard treatment agents for almost a decade. As early prediction of response to SFN remains challenging, biomarkers that enable early prediction using a clinically feasible method are needed. Here, we report that the serum secretory form of clusterin (sCLU) protein and its related predictive index are potential beneficial biomarkers for early prediction of SFN response.

Seamless support from screening to anti-HCV treatment and HCC/ decompensated cirrhosis: Subsidy programs for HCV elimination.

Viral hepatitis poses a major public health problem in Japan. Chronic viral hepatitis is a progressive liver disease that eventually develops into liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Since nucleic acid analog therapy for hepatitis B and interferon-free therapy for hepatitis C have made it possible to control the disease status or eliminate the viruses, it is very important that more people receive hepatitis virus tests to confirm the presence of infection at an early stage, and that patients with hepatitis detected by the tests receive appropriate medical care.

Optimal management of lenvatinib therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma by balancing the therapeutic effect with the relative dose intensity.

Aims: We aimed to assess the optimal management of first or later-line lenvatinib therapy (LEN) for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), by clarifying the difference of degree between relative dose intensity (RDI) to achieve objective response (OR) and disease control (DC) by aiming at stable disease (SD), taking dose modifications into consideration.

Methods: One hundred uHCC patients who received LEN in first- or later-line settings, between April 2018 and December 2020 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The factors associated with overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), OR and DC were assessed.

Applicability of APRI and FIB-4 as a transition indicator of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Background And Aims: The usefulness of APRI or FIB-4 is well established as a non-invasive liver fibrosis marker at a point of diagnosis in patients with chronic liver disease. However, their applicability for the monitoring of progression of liver fibrosis over time is yet to be determined. We aimed to clarify the feasibility of APRI and FIB-4 for the longitudinal evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Loss of skeletal muscle mass affects the incidence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a case control study.

Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and systemic decreases in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. The influence or prognosis of various liver diseases in this condition have been widely investigated, but little is known about whether sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss are related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).

Methods: To clarify the relationship between MHE and sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Nationwide survey on activities of regional core centers for the management of liver disease in Japan: Cumulative analyses by the Hepatitis Information Center 2009-2017.

Aim: Regional core centers for the management of liver disease, which are located in every prefecture in Japan, not only take the lead in hepatitis care in their respective regions, but also serve a wide range of other functions, such as education, promotion of hepatitis testing, treatment, and research.

Method: Since fiscal year 2010, the Hepatitis Information Center has conducted surveys of regional core centers throughout Japan regarding information about their facilities, programs for patient support, training, and education of medical personnel.

Results: By compiling and analyzing the results of these surveys, we have elucidated the status of regional core centers and the issues they currently have.

Efficient and practical dissemination of information on viral hepatitis in Japan: an effort by the Hepatitis Information Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine.

One of the important missions of the Hepatitis Information Center is to disseminate information regarding liver disease. The Hepatitis Information Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) has been endeavoring to ensure that reliable and up-to-date information on liver disease is accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, and background. Described here are several initiatives with regard to the dissemination of information about liver disease including: ) Education tool for youth, ) Conversion of materials on liver diseases into audio format for the visually impaired, and ) Hepatic Disease Medical Navigation System (Hepatic Navi).

Cys34-cysteinylated human serum albumin is a sensitive plasma marker in oxidative stress-related chronic diseases.

The degree of oxidized cysteine (Cys) 34 in human serum albumin (HSA), as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is correlated with oxidative stress related pathological conditions. In order to further characterize the oxidation of Cys34-HSA at the molecular level and to develop a suitable analytical method for a rapid and sensitive clinical laboratory analysis, the use of electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ESI-TOFMS) was evaluated. A marked increase in the cysteinylation of Cys34 occurs in chronic liver and kidney diseases and diabetes mellitus.