Regular Alpha-Fetoprotein Tests Boost Curative Treatment and Survival for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients in an Endemic Area.

Guidelines vary on alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening. This study aims to reassess AFP's role in HCC surveillance, utilizing a comprehensive, recent, nationwide cohort. Utilizing the National Health Claims Database from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, this research included data from 185,316 HCC patients registered between 2008 and 2018.

Improved on-treatment fibrosis-4 during antiviral therapy and lower hepatocellular carcinoma risk in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B.

Normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels is one of the goals of hepatitis B treatment. However, ALT levels in cirrhosis patients might be normal or mildly elevated regardless of ongoing inflammation. Therefore, we examined whether on-treatment ALT and other potential on-treatment indicators could be clinical surrogates of antiviral therapy in HBV-related cirrhosis.

Clinical Outcomes and Validation of Ursodeoxycholic Acid Response Scores in Patients with Korean Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background/aims: The ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) response score (URS) was developed to identify poor responders to UDCA before treatment, in order to offer timely and proactive intervention. However, validation of the URS in Asian population is warranted.

Methods: A total of 173 Asian patients diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) between 2007 and 2016 at seven academic institutions in Korea who started UDCA treatment were analyzed to validate the performance of URS.

Direct-Acting Antivirals and the Risk of Hepatitis B Reactivation in Hepatitis B and C Co-Infected Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hepatitis B (HBV) reactivation was observed to be more than 10% in patients receiving interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C (HCV) co-infection. At present, when direct-acting antiviral (DAA) has become the main treatment for HCV, there are few large-scale studies on the reactivation of HBV in these population. We studied HBV reactivation risk and prophylactic HBV treatment efficacy in HBV/HCV co-infected patients receiving DAA therapy.

The effect of mHealth-based exercise on Insulin Sensitivity for patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma and insulin resistance (mISH): protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The importance of insulin resistance is gaining increasing attention as it plays an important role in carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although exercise is the most important intervention for lowering insulin resistance, it is not easy for HCC patients to maintain high compliance and do appropriate exercise. Mobile health (mHealth) with wearable devices can be the solution to carry out an adjusted and supervised exercise that can normalize insulin resistance in patients with HCC.

Trends in radiotherapy administration in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: Analysis of a Korean tertiary hospital registry of hepatocellular carcinoma patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2017.

Purpose: To present the trends in radiotherapy for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at a single tertiary referral hospital in South Korea.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected registry data of patients newly diagnosed with HCC between January 2005 and December 2017 at the Samsung Medical Center. Trends in radiotherapy, delivery techniques, tumor stage, and age were evaluated.

Efficacy of a Synbiotic Containing DKGF1 and in Elderly Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background/aims: There is increasing evidence that supplementation with pre- and probiotics appears to have positive effects on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a new synbiotic formulation on gastrointestinal symptoms in elderly patients with IBS.

Methods: Sixty-seven IBS patients aged ≥60 years were randomly assigned to either a placebo group (n=34) or a synbiotic group (n=33).

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Increases Pyogenic Liver Abscess Risk: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background/aims: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase gastric pH and alter the gut microbiome. An increased risk for infectious diseases has been reported in PPI users. However, little is known about the association of PPI use with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) incidence risk.

Liver Stiffness-Based Risk Prediction Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. We established and validated a liver stiffness (LS)-based risk prediction model for HCC development in patients with NAFLD. A total of 2666 and 467 patients with NAFLD were recruited in the training and validation cohorts, respectively.

Controlled attenuation parameter value and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients under antiviral therapy.

Background: Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) can evaluate hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, prognostic implications of CAP value remain unclear. We evaluated the association between CAP and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with CHB under antiviral therapy and maintained virologic response.

The Association Between Breastfeeding and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Parous Women: A Nation-wide Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Breastfeeding has multiple effects on maternal health outcomes. However, the effect of breastfeeding on NAFLD in parous women remains unclear.

Approach And Results: A total of 6,893 Korean parous women aged 30-50 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were assessed for the association between breastfeeding and NAFLD.

Characterization of Gut Microbiome in Korean Patients with Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new concept where the presence of both fatty liver and metabolic abnormality are necessary for diagnosis. Several studies have reported that altered gut microbiome is closely associated with metabolic diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the studies on MAFLD population are scarce.