Progression Rates by Age, Sex, Treatment, and Disease Activity by AASLD and EASL Criteria: Data for Precision Medicine.

Background & Aims: Antiviral treatment criteria are based on disease progression risk, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance recommendations for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) without cirrhosis is based on an annual incidence threshold of 0.2%. However, accurate and precise disease progression estimate data are limited.

Transition rates to cirrhosis and liver cancer by age, gender, disease and treatment status in Asian chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: Increasing hepatitis-related mortality has reignited interest to fulfill the World Health Organization's goal of viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. However, economic barriers have enabled only 28% of countries to implement countermeasures. Given the high disease burden among Asians, we aimed to present age, sex, disease activity and treatment-specific annual progression rates among Asian chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients to inform health economic modeling efforts and cost-effective public health interventions.

Incidence, Factors, and Patient-Level Data for Spontaneous HBsAg Seroclearance: A Cohort Study of 11,264 Patients.

Introduction: Spontaneous hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance, the functional cure of hepatitis B infection, occurs rarely. Prior original studies are limited by insufficient sample size and/or follow-up, and recent meta-analyses are limited by inclusion of only study-level data and lack of adjustment for confounders to investigate HBsAg seroclearance rates in most relevant subgroups. Using a cohort with detailed individual patient data, we estimated spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance rates through patient and virologic characteristics.

Factors Associated With Rates of HBsAg Seroclearance in Adults With Chronic HBV Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a marker for clearance of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but reported annual incidence rates of HBsAg seroclearance vary. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide more precise estimates of HBsAg seroclearance rates among subgroups and populations.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library for cohort studies that reported HBsAg seroclearance in adults with chronic HBV infection with more than 1 year of follow-up and at least 1 repeat test for HBsAg.

Correction: Spontaneous Evolution in Bilirubin Levels Predicts Liver-Related Mortality in Patients with Alcoholic Hepatitis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Viral Hepatitis in Korea: Past, Present, and Future.

Unlabelled: Korea has been one of the endemic areas of hepatitis B virus (HBV; exclusively genotype C) infection since ancient times. The epidemiology of HBV in Korea is easily expected to have changed over the last two decades owing to the high coverage rate of universal HBV vaccination. The main mode of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may have been effectively blocked since 1992 when compulsory blood screening for anti-HCV was implemented, and consequently, the prevalence of anti-HCV is also expected to have markedly decreased during the last two decades.

Sorafenib inhibits cancer side population cells by targeting c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase signaling.

Sorafenib is a systemic chemotherapeutic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of sorafenib in cancer stem cell‑like cells, such as side population (SP) cells, in HCC and to analyze the signaling pathway for drug‑resistance. To evaluate the anticancer effects of sorafenib, Huh7 and Huh‑BAT cells were treated with sorafenib, fluorouracil (5‑FU), and sorafenib plus 5‑FU.

Body Fat Distribution and Risk of Incident and Regressed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background & Aims: Some studies have examined correlations between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or between VAT and NAFLD. We investigated the longitudinal association between body fat distribution (VAT vs SAT) and incidence and regression of NAFLD, adjusting for risk factors, in a large population-based cohort.

Methods: We collected data from adults who underwent abdominal ultrasonography (to identify liver fat), abdominal fat computed tomography scan, and blood tests from March 2007 through December 2008.

Clinical outcomes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to (1) evaluate the clinical outcomes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae (EK) and (2) investigate the relationship between the adequacy of initial antibiotic treatments and patient outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cirrhotic patients with SBP caused by EK. We evaluated the 30-day mortality rate and used Cox proportional hazard models to identify risk factors for mortality.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Entecavir and Tenofovir in Nucleos(T)ide Analogue-Experienced Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

The efficacy of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir (TDF) for the treatment of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-experienced chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients has been little studied. Here, we compare the efficacy of both ETV and TDF in NA-experienced CHB patients without detectable genotypic resistance. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive NA-experienced patients who had neither current nor previous genotypic resistance and had received ETV or TDF for at least 6 months.

Hepatoprotective effect of vitamin C on lithocholic acid-induced cholestatic liver injury in Gulo(-/-) mice.

Prevention and restoration of hepatic fibrosis from chronic liver injury is essential for the treatment of patients with chronic liver diseases. Vitamin C is known to have hepatoprotective effects, but their underlying mechanisms are unclear, especially those associated with hepatic fibrosis. Here, we analyzed the impact of vitamin C on bile acid induced hepatocyte apoptosis in vitro and lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced liver injury in vitamin C-insufficient Gulo(-/-) mice, which cannot synthesize vitamin C similarly to humans.

Synergistic anti-tumor efficacy of doxorubicin and flavopiridol in an in vivo hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Purpose: A previous study showed that flavopiridol increased doxorubicin sensitivity in hypoxic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by increasing apoptosis through suppressing hypoxia-inducible N-myc downstream-regulated gene-1 (NDRG1) expression. However, this has not been investigated in an in vivo HCC model. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate whether the combination of doxorubicin and flavopiridol has a synergistic anti-tumor effect in an in vivo HCC model.

Post-treatment intracranial hemorrhage of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of post-treatment intracranial hemorrhage of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 81 patients who have been diagnosed of brain metastases from HCC and underwent surgery, radiosurgery and/or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) between January 2000 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Intracranial hemorrhage was present in 64 patients (79%) at the time of diagnosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with coronary artery calcium score in diabetes patients with higher HbA1c.

Background: In patients with diabetes, studies investigating the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) have shown conflicting results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between NAFLD and CACS in diabetic patients.

Methods: This is the cohort study performed in Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Healthcare Center.

Comparison of transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic resection for large solitary hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score analysis.

Purpose: To compare long-term survival after hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization of large solitary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Materials And Methods: Analysis of 91 and 68 consecutive patients with large (≥ 5 cm) solitary HCCs who underwent hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization, respectively, was performed. Overall survival and time to progression (TTP) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Hepatitis B virus-related glomerulonephritis: not a predominant cause of proteinuria in korean patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/Aims. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can form immune complexes which may result in various types of glomerulonephritis (GN). However, proteinuria can occur because of other kidney diseases besides HBV-related GN (HBV-GN).

Comparison of the efficacies of entecavir 0.5 and 1.0 mg combined with adefovir in patients with chronic hepatitis B who had failed on prior nucleos(t)ide analogue treatments.

Entecavir (ETV) plus adefovir (ADV) combination therapy is one of the useful treatment option for the patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who had failed on prior nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) treatments. This study compared the efficacies of the combinations of ETV 0.5 mg plus ADV and ETV 1.

The effect of therapeutic vaccination for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Although oral nucleos(t)ide analogues can lead to suppression of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA to undetectable levels efficiently, they usually fail to achieve seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which indicates eradication of HBV infection. In this study, the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination in patients with chronic HBV infection was evaluated by comparing to the control patients. Patients who had achieved complete virologic response following oral nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment for at least 6 months were included.

Forns index predicts recurrence and death in patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

Background & Aims: Advanced liver fibrosis is associated with recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate whether noninvasive fibrosis indices could predict intrahepatic recurrence and death after curative resection of HCC.

Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC between 2006 and 2010 at a single tertiary hospital were included.

Comparison of the effects of transarterial chemoembolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma between patients with and without extrahepatic metastases.

Background/aims: Sorafenib is a standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] stage C). However, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has also been widely used as a treatment for patients with advanced HCC, even if they have extrahepatic metastases (EHM). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of TACE for advanced HCC patients with EHM upon initial diagnosis, as compared with those patients without EHM.

Tenofovir monotherapy versus tenofovir plus lamivudine or telbivudine combination therapy in treatment of lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy is a therapeutic option for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants resistant to lamivudine (LAM). We evaluated the antiviral efficacy and safety of TDF alone compared to those of TDF plus LAM or telbivudine (LdT) combination in patients harboring HBV variants with genotypic resistance to LAM. This multicenter retrospective study included consecutive patients who had LAM-resistant HBV variants and were treated with TDF alone (monotherapy group) or TDF combined with LAM or LdT (combination therapy group) for at least 6 months.

Association of VARS2-SFTA2 polymorphisms with the risk of chronic hepatitis B in a Korean population.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most serious risk factor for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, several genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified important variants associated with the risk of CHB in Asian populations. Specifically, our previous GWAS identified the VARS2-SFTA2 gene region as one of the genetic risk loci for CHB.

JNK signaling in hepatocarcinoma cells is associated with the side population upon treatment with anticancer drugs.

Liver cancer is one of the most drug-resistant cancer types, and cancer stem cells are related to drug resistance. c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling is involved in drug resistance, and the side population of cells (SP cells) can be used as a model to study liver cancer stem cells. We sought to evaluate the relationship between SP cells and JNK signaling in hepatocarcinoma cells.

Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system and survival of untreated hepatocellular carcinoma in a hepatitis B virus endemic area.

Background And Aim: A uniform staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is needed. In this study, the discrimination abilities of HCC staging systems (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC], Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC], Cancer of the Liver Italian Program, and Okuda stage) were compared during the course of untreated HCC.

Methods: We included consecutive 80 patients diagnosed with HCC, but were not treated for HCC, at a single medical center in Korea.

A novel prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma: protein disulfide isomerase.

Background/aims: Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) has been implicated in the survival and progression of some cancer cells, by compensating for endoplasmic reticulum stress by upregulating the protein-folding capacity. However, its prognostic role in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been investigated.

Methods: We collected HCC tissues from 83 HCC patients who underwent surgical resection for an immunohistochemical study of PDI.