Rectal Paraganglioma.

A 57-year-old woman was admitted with lower abdominal pain and bloody bowel discharge. She was diagnosed with rectal tumor by colonoscopy, and a biopsy was performed. Surgery was performed, resulting in a diagnosis of rectal paraganglioma.

Detection of HBV core promoter and precore mutations helps distinguish flares of chronic hepatitis from acute hepatitis B.

Background And Aim: Acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B has to be distinguished from acute hepatitis, because treatment strategies differ between them.

Methods: Mutations in the core promoter and precore region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were determined in 36 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B, in whom alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased above 500 IU/L, as well as the 36 patients with acute hepatitis.

Results: Mutations in the core promoter (A1762T/G1764A) and precore region (G1896A) were more frequent in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis than acute hepatitis (81% vs 19%; P < 0.

Association between liver fibrosis and insulin sensitivity in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background: Several clinical studies have suggested a possible link between chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the development of diabetes mellitus. We investigated the association between liver fibrosis and glucose intolerance in HCV-infected patients by measuring insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function.

Method: A total of 83 chronic HCV-infected patients were recruited into this study.

The impact of newer treatment modalities on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. However, although the therapeutic approaches for HCC have progressed rapidly, it remains unknown whether the current management of patients with HCC has reduced its mortality. We analyzed changes of survival rate in patients with HCC over a 20-year period.

Serum cytokine and soluble cytokine receptor levels in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Although the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains poorly understood, proinflammatory cytokines seem to play an important role in the process of NASH. We have undertaken this study in order to elucidate the role of proinflammatory cytokines and their soluble receptors in NASH patients.

Methods: Serum cytokines and soluble cytokine receptors levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit in 23 patients with NASH, 21 patients with simple steatosis, and 18 healthy volunteers.

Enhanced expression of type I interferon and toll-like receptor-3 in primary biliary cirrhosis.

The pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains enigmatic. In order to address this issue, we analyzed by laser capture microdissection and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction the site-specific expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for cytokines (interferon (IFN)-alpha, -beta, -gamma, interleukin (IL)-1beta, -4, -6, -10, -12p40, -18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and toll-like receptors (TLRs) (TLR-2, -3, -4, -7, -9) in portal tract and liver parenchyma from patients with early-stage PBC. Expression of IFN-alpha, -beta and TLR-3 proteins was also studied by immunohistochemistry.

A case of amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis complicated with Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Abstract We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who suffered from amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated with Graves' ophthalmopathy. She had goiter, diplopia, and exophthalmos with polyarthralgia. We diagnosed Graves' ophthalmopathy with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-receptor antibodies (TBII and TSAb).