Immune Determinants in the Acquisition and Maintenance of Antibody to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Adults After First-Time Hepatitis B Vaccination.

Global implementation of a birth-dose hepatitis B (HB) vaccine has significantly reduced the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Durable and sufficient titers of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) are desirable for vaccinees to gain resistance to HBV exposure. However, the existence of primary nonresponders and vaccinees who lost anti-HBs over time remains a challenge for the strategy of HBV elimination.

Prognostic Index for Survival in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Third-Generation Agents.

We retrospectively evaluated clinical data from patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with third-generation chemotherapy agents prior to treatment, to determine a reliable method for predicting prognosis in such patients. We analyzed 100 patients who received third-generation agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, irinotecan, and vinorelbine) for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Factors significantly related to prognosis were evaluated using the Cox regression model, and the prognostic index (PI) was determined by combining these factors.

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia as a prognostic factor in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine whether neutropenia could be an indicator of good prognosis in patients treated with gemcitabine (GEM) for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: A total of 178 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, who were treated with first-line (n = 121) or second-line (n = 57) GEM, were included in our analyses. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine the effect of the grade of GEM-induced neutropenia on prognosis.

Practical prognostic index for survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine or S-1.

Background/aims: We performed this retrospective cohort study to identify prognostic factors for unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with current standard therapy using gemcitabine (GEM) or S-1 and to stratify patients prior to treatment using a prognostic index (PI).

Methodology: We analyzed 182 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, who had received GEM or S-1 as first-line chemotherapy. Factors that contributed to the prognosis were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model.

[Analysis of the risk factors for severe neutropenia in advanced non-small cell lung cancer after the first course of chemotherapy with third-generation agents].

  We retrospectively evaluated clinical data before therapy to determine the risk factors for severe neutropenia in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with third-generation agents. We analyzed 100 patients who received such agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, irinotecan, or vinorelbine) for advanced NSCLC. The endpoint of the survey was the occurrence of severe neutropenia (grade 4).

Factors involved in resistance to early treatment of acute cholangitis patients.

Background/aims: Severity-based treatment is not homogenously effective for acute cholangitis patients and some are resistant to early treatment. We performed a retrospective cohort study involving acute cholangitis patients and analyzed factors strongly associated with resistance to early treatment.

Methodology: The subjects were 94 patients admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Showa University Hospital and diagnosed with acute cholangitis.

Factors predicting the appearance of neutropenia in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer undergoing gemcitabine therapy.

Background/aim: Factors predicting the appearance of neutropenia were evaluated in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer undergoing gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) therapy.

Methodology: The subjects were 92 patients who were diagnosed with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer and underwent GEM therapy. Mono- and multivariate analyses were performed concerning each evaluated factor.

Analysis of the risk factors for myelosuppression after chemoradiotherapy involving 5-fluorouracil and platinum for patients with esophageal cancer.

Background/aims: Myelosuppression is a serious adverse effect of chemotherapy, but its risk factors remain largely unknown. The present study retrospectively evaluated clinical data obtained before therapy to clarify the risk factors for myelosuppression after chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methodology: One-hundred-and-eight patients who received 5-fluorouracil combined with platinum and 60Gy radiation for esophageal cancer were analyzed.

[Cost-effectiveness analysis of chemotherapy with GEM or S-1 for patients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer].

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer, we compared two regimens containing either gemcitabine (GEM) or S-1.

Methods: We developed a decision tree that showed the clinical processes of non-resectable pancreatic cancer patients. We calculated the probabilities of endpoint and life months gained (LMG) based on previously reported articles.

Clinical predictive factors for preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labour or preterm premature ruptured membranes?

Background: Independent predictive factors of preterm delivery were evaluated using clinical data at hospitalisation by multivariate analysis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify independent predictive factors related to preterm delivery by multivariate analysis of clinical data at hospitalisation of patients with threatened preterm delivery or premature rupture of membranes (PROM), and to realise the early and highly reliable prediction of preterm delivery in pregnant women at risk.

Methods: The subjects were 200 patients, which diagnosed with threatened preterm delivery or PROM and admitted at gestational ages of 22-35 weeks.

Association studies of the IL-23R gene in autoimmune thyroid disease in the Japanese population.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), are caused by interplays of genetic factors and environmental triggers. Interleukin-23 and its receptor (IL-23R) guide T cells towards the Th17 phenotype. IL-23R single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to be associated with several autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) in Caucasians.

Scoring system for predicting response to chemoradiotherapy, including 5-Fluorouracil and platinum, for patients with esophageal cancer.

We have retrospectively evaluated clinical data before therapy to enable reliable prediction of the response of esophageal cancer to chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We analyzed 108 patients who received 5-fluorouracil and platinum combined with 60 Gy radiation for esophageal cancer. Factors significantly related to response were extracted by use of logistic regression analysis, and a response score (RS) was prepared by combining these factors.

Bleeding index after the first course of endoscopic treatment for esophageal varices in liver cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: We retrospectively evaluated variable clinical data on admission to reliably predict bleeding from esophageal varices after the first course of endoscopic treatment in liver cirrhosis patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methodology: We analyzed 27 clinical factors from the medical records of 118 patients who received their first course of endoscopic treatment for esophageal varices. Factors significantly related to bleeding were extracted using Cox's regression model, and the bleeding index was prepared by combining these factors.

[Cost effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin/fluorouracil and nedaplatin/fluorouracil for patients with esophageal cancer].

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimens for patients with esophageal cancer, we compared two regimens consisting of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) or 5-FU and nedaplatin (CDGP) with radiotherapy.

Methods: Medical records of 108 patients with esophageal cancer who received CRT of 5-FU+CDDP (CDDP group) or 5-FU+CDGP (CDGP group) were analyzed. In both groups, most of the patients were men with a pathological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma.

Prognostic index for survival in patients after treatment for primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

We retrospectively evaluated clinical factors affecting long-term survival after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to predict the reliability of the prognosis of patients with HCC. We analyzed 157 patients who received treatment for HCC. The prognostic index (PI) was evaluated using the Cox regression model.

Efficacy and safety of prednisolone in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

A retrospective cohort study involving 29 Japanese patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was performed to clarify factors that predict the efficacy of prednisolone and the occurrence of various serious adverse effects. Independent predictors were identified by logistic analysis and with use of the Cox proportional hazard model. Responses to prednisolone were noted in 28 patients, who were classified into the complete remission group (52%) or the relapse group (48%).

[A case of repeated seroconversion to HBe antibody due to co-infection with Mutant- and wild-type hepatitis B virus clones].

It is reported that co-infection with different hepatitis B virus (HBV) clones in a patient with chronic hepatitis B induces rare serotypes (adywr) or abnormal laboratory data such as negative HBs antigen, in the presence of positive HBV DNA. In this study, we experienced a case of repeated seroconversion to HBe antibody in a patient with chronic hepatitis B. Since seroconversion is considered to be related to genetic mutations, we investigated the HBV genes in this male patient in his 30's.

Prognostic index of cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study was carried out in Japanese patients to clarify the state of liver cirrhosis complicated by hepatic encephalopathy with and without hepatocellular carcinoma and its prognosis. The subjects were 100 patients with liver cirrhosis complicated by hepatic encephalopathy. Clinical data were investigated, and prognostic factors were extracted using Cox's proportional hazard model.

Risk factors for infections in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) frequently have complications with bacterial infections, and these infections increase the mortality rate. However, a detailed analysis of infections associated with LC patients has not yet been performed.

Methods: We analyzed 325 patients with LC with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were hospitalized between 1997 and 1999.

Analysis of background factors influencing long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon.

Objective: Interferon (IFN) therapy has been used as antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CH-C); however, complete response to the therapy is observed in only about 30% of patients in Japan. Background factors involved in the responsiveness to IFN therapy, and progression to liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after IFN therapy have not yet been sufficiently investigated.

Methods: One hundred twenty-one patients with CH-C who received IFN therapy at Showa University Hospital between 1984 and 1999 were analyzed.