[Is Balloon-Occluded Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Effective in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma That Is Unresponsive to Conventional Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization ?].

We previously reported that the antitumor response of balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(BTACE) is better than that of conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(C-TACE). Thus far, little attention has been paid on the efficacy of B-TACE using the same antitumor agents for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)that is unresponsive to C-TACE, which is defined as C50% necrosis of the targeted nodules or the appearance of new lesions in the liver 1-3 months following one C-TACE procedure. Therefore, this study focused on the efficacy of B-TACE using the same antitumor agents for HCC that is unresponsive to C-TACE.

Elevated serum uric acid level was a notable adverse event during combination therapy with sofosbuvir and ribavirin.

Aim: Combination therapy with sofosbuvir and ribavirin (SOF/RBV) has been recently available for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 2 (CHG2) in Japan. The domestic phase III clinical trial showed a high antiviral effect with a relatively safe adverse event (AE) profile. Our aim was to report an important AE detected during treatment.

Factors predicting overall response and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the factors predicting overall response and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE).

Methods: Sixty-six patients treated with B-TACE at a Japanese tertiary referral hospital between January 2011 and August 2015 were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Results: The overall response was classified as complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease in 35 (53.

Safety and efficacy of balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using miriplatin for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: Balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) using a microballoon catheter was performed to administrate miriplatin, and the early therapeutic efficacy and safety of the procedure were evaluated.

Methods: Out of 158 patients who received miriplatin using B-TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma, 49 patients with a single lesion at either stage I or II (according to the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan) were evaluated in comparison with 48 matched patients who received miriplatin using conventional TACE (C-TACE).

Results: The mean total dose and median dose of miriplatin in each group were 32.

Spleen stiffness correlates with the presence of ascites but not esophageal varices in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Although spleen stiffness has recently been identified as potential surrogate marker for portal hypertension, the relationship between spleen stiffness and portal hypertension has not been fully elucidated. We attempted to determine the relationship between the liver or spleen stiffness and the presence of ascites or esophageal varices by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging. A total of 33 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients (median age 68; range 51-84) were enrolled.

Transileocolic vein obliteration for bleeding rectal varices with portal thrombus.

We report a case of rectal varices treated successfully with transileocolic vein obliteration (TIO). A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of fresh bloody stools in January 2011. Emergent colonoscopy revealed fresh blood in the rectum and tortuous rectal varices.

Hepatocyte growth factor promotes lung carcinogenesis in transgenic mice treated with diethylnitrosamine.

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was initially discovered as a mitogen for hepatocytes, but it is also known to be related to carcinogenesis in many other organs. However, the role of HGF in lung carcinogenesis is not fully-understood. In this study, we investigated the role of HGF in lung carcinogenesis using HGF transgenic mice.

[Clinical evaluation of transcatheter arterial chemolipiodolization of miriplatin for multiple hepatocellular carcinoma].

The safety and efficacy of miriplatin-lipiodol suspension were investigated in 174 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). We assessed 29 patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)for whole-liver multinodular HCC(mHCC), compared with 145 patients who underwent TACE for non-multinodular HCC(n-mHCC)as the controls. In the mHCC group, a treatment effect(TE)of 4 was obtained in 0%, TE3 in 38%, TE2 in 31%, and TE1 in 31%.

Respiratory effects of balloon occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices: a prospective controlled study.

Background And Aim: We evaluated the respiratory effects of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) performed for the treatment of gastric varices complicating liver cirrhosis.

Methods: From 2005 to 2009, we performed BRTO in 20 patients with gastric fundal varices, by intravariceal injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate (EO) as the sclerosant. We studied the effect of BRTO on the respiratory gas exchange, chest X-ray findings, computed tomography (CT) findings, pulmonary function parameters, and (99m) Tc-MAA lung perfusion scintigraphy findings.

[A survival case of hepatocellular carcinoma with splenic metastasis: metachronous rupture at the liver primary and splenic metastatic lesion].

A 78-year-old man was referred to our hospital in March 2003 for rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hemostasis was obtained by emergency angiography. In December 2004, metastasis to the right lung appeared and right lower lobectomy was carried out.

Pilot clinical trial of the use of alpha-tocopherol for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection often develop liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to test the chemopreventive effect of alpha-tocopherol on hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with liver cirrhosis and a history of HCV infection. Eighty-three patients with liver cirrhosis and with positive history of HCV infection were divided at random into two groups.

CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice is inhibited by hepatocyte growth factor overexpression but stimulated by NK2 overexpression.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibits acute liver injury. NK2 acts as an antagonist to HGF in vitro, but its in vivo function has reached no consensus conclusions. We have investigated in vivo effects of HGF and NK2 on CCl4-induced acute liver injury.

Ink4a/arf deficiency promotes ultraviolet radiation-induced melanomagenesis.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), already known for its highly aggressive behavior and resistance to conventional therapy, has evolved into a health crisis by virtue of a dramatic elevation in incidence. The underlying genetic basis for CMM, as well as the fundamental role for UV radiation in its etiology, is now widely accepted. However, the only bona fide genetic locus to emerge from extensive analysis of CMM suppressor candidates is INK4a/ARF at 9p21, which is lost frequently in familial and occasionally in somatic CMM.

Severe manifestation of acute hepatitis A recently found in Gunma, Japan.

Background: The incidence of acute hepatitis A infection in Japan peaked 10 years ago and has been decreasing since then. However, an increase in severe cases of the disease has been documented recently. We experienced an outbreak in 1998-1999, and compared the clinical features of the disease in 1998-1999 (recent outbreak) and in 1987-1988 (past outbreak) in our prefecture (Gunma).

Hepatocyte growth factor promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through c-Met autocrine activation and enhanced angiogenesis in transgenic mice treated with diethylnitrosamine.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a mitogen for hepatocytes, but it is not clear whether HGF stimulates or inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis. We previously reported that HGF transgenic mice under the metallothionein gene promoter developed benign and malignant liver tumors spontaneously after 17 months of age. To elucidate the role of HGF in hepatocarcinogenesis, diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was administered to HGF transgenic mice.