Hepatitis B virus X induces cell proliferation in the hepatocarcinogenesis via up-regulation of cytoplasmic p21 expression.

Background: Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has been shown to induce hepatocarcinogenesis by disrupting the functions of intracellular molecules. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (Cip1/WAF1), known as a tumour-suppressor gene, has been reported to have paradoxical function, that is, acting as an oncogene, particularly when expressed in the cytoplasm. The effects of HBx on the expression and function of p21 also remain controversial.

A case of lamivudine-sensitive de novo acute hepatitis B induced by rituximab with the CHOP regimen for diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

A case of de novo acute hepatitis B that showed symptoms of general malaise and anorexia during rituximab therapy with the CHOP regimen for diffuse large B cell lymphoma is reported. Lamivudine was strikingly effective, showing a rapid recovery from liver damage with jaundice. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum became and stayed undetectable even after the withdrawal of lamivudine, although HBsAg remained positive over 42 months from the onset.

Successful treatment with lamivudine may correlate with reduction of serum ferritin levels in the patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis type B.

Purpose: To study the changes in serum ferritin levels in lamivudine (LAM)-treated patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis type B and determine whether successful treatment with LAM results in a reduction of serum ferritin levels.

Methods: Thirty patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were followed prospectively during their treatment with LAM for 12 months. Serum HBV DNA, ferritin levels, and emergence of YMDD mutants were monitored.

Progression of hypermethylation of the p16(INK4A) gene from normal liver to nontumorous liver and hepatocellular carcinoma: an evaluation using quantitative PCR analysis.

The aim of this study was to determine to what extent hypermethylation of the p16(INK4A) (p16) gene promoter is increased in nontumorous liver tissues compared with in normal liver, using two quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) methods and a bisulfite sequencing method. Methylation of the p16 gene was detected more frequently in nontumorous liver than in normal liver using the TaqMan PCR method. Methylation indices also were significantly higher in nontumorous than in normal liver.

Temporal treatment with interferon-beta prevents hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus X gene transgenic mice.

Background/aims: The preventive effect of interferon (IFN) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been confirmed clinically. We sought to determine whether the temporal administration of IFN-beta prevents hepatocarcinogenesis in a mouse model where HCC develops without necroinflammation.

Methods: Hepatocarcinogenic mice that are transgenic for the hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx-Tg) were treated with IFN-beta or saline (control) for three months, from 3 to 6 months of age, and the incidence of HCC was determined at 18 months of age.

Pelioid-type hepatocellular carcinoma with numerous eosinophilic infiltrations in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis.

A 65-year-old woman with liver injury was referred to our hospital in 1992. She was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) of Scheuer's histological classification stage IV. She was treated with 600 mg/day of ursodeoxycholic acid.

Early upsurge in anti-HBs titer possibly caused by the immunomodulative, not by the mutagenetic effect of interferon and ribavirin.

A patient with chronic hepatitis B and C undergoing treatment with interferon and ribavirin showed an upsurge in hepatitis B virus surface antibody (anti-HBs) titer, accompanied by a decrease in hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) during the early treatment phase. Simultaneously, elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was observed. Subsequently, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA titer decreased and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) to anti-HBe seroconversion occurred.