Initial Alpha-Fetoprotein Response Predicts Prognosis in Hepatitis B-related Solitary HCC Patients After Radiofrequency Ablation.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma but recurrence is problem.

Goals: To identify prognostic factors including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for overall survival and intrahepatic recurrence after RFA.

Patients And Methods: Not only naïve but also previously treated patients with solitary hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma <5 cm were prospectively enrolled and a ≥50% decrease from baseline to 1 month after RFA was defined as an initial AFP response.

Disease Phenotype, Activity and Clinical Course Prediction Based on C-Reactive Protein Levels at Diagnosis in Patients with Crohn's Disease: Results from the CONNECT Study.

Background/aims: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an easily measured index of disease activity, but its ability to predict clinical course is controversial. We therefore designed a study to determine whether the CRP level at Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosis is a valuable indicator of the disease phenotype, activity, and clinical course.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 705 CD patients from 32 institutions.

Prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasm after kidney transplantation: surveillance based on the results of screening colonoscopy.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasms increases in kidney transplant recipients and to define the appropriate duration for surveillance colonoscopy after kidney transplantation (TPL).

Methods: Our study consisted of 248 kidney transplant patients who underwent a colonoscopy at Seoul National University Hospital from 1996 to 2008. For each patient, two or more age- and sex-matched controls were identified from a population of asymptomatic individuals.

Mortality associated with proton pump inhibitors in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Background And Aim: The aims of this study were to investigate whether acid suppressive therapy increases the risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and to define factors associated with mortality in cirrhotic patients with SBP.

Methods: Cirrhotic patients who had undergone paracentesis after hospitalization were included. Those patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of SBP.

Noninvasive fibrosis indices predict intrahepatic distant recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma following radiofrequency ablation.

Backgrounds & Aims: Intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) occurs as a result of direct dissemination or de novo oncogenesis. Hepatocellular carcinogenesis is related to the progression of cirrhosis, and noninvasive fibrosis scoring systems reflect the severity of hepatic fibrosis. Hence, the aim of this study was to elucidate the correlation between noninvasive fibrosis indices and intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR) of HCC after RFA.