Second-line triple therapy in failures with vonoprazan-based triple therapy for eradication of .

Gastric acid inhibition during treatment is important for the eradication of () infection. A novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, vonoprazan (VPZ), has been demonstrated to achieve high eradication rates; however, the efficacy of second-line treatment in failures of VPZ-based triple therapy has not been well studied. The aim of the current study was to determine the efficacy of VPZ in a first-line regimen for eradication, and the efficacy of a second-line regimen using metronidazole (MTZ) in failures with the first-line regimen.

Aspartate aminotransferase-immunoglobulin complexes in patients with chronic liver disease.

Aim: To determine the complex of AST and immunoglobulin and to investigate its clinical significance in patients with liver disease.

Methods: The complex of AST and immunoglobulin was determined by encounter immunoelectrophoresis and its clinical significance was investigated in 128 patients with liver disease.

Results: AST was bound to immunoglobulin of anti-immunoglobulin A (IgA) class, but any binding to anti-immunoglobulin G and anti-immunoglobulin M classes was not observed.

[Comparison of activities of daily living for a convalescent rehabilitation ward and general ward for stroke patients].

We investigated changes in the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) of stroke patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward and a general ward using a Functional Independent Measure (FIM). The subjects were 109 patients hospitalized for rehabilitation purposes at the Oyamada Memorial Spa Hospital. The change in FIM at the time of hospitalization and that at 1 week later was investigated in 81 patients in the convalescent rehabilitation group (CRG) and 28 patients in the control group (CG).

Detection of precore-mutant hepatitis B virus genome in patients with acute and fulminant hepatitis using mutation site-specific assay (MSSA).

Background/aims: Precore mutation of hepatitis B virus was recently been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis. In this study, we analyzed the occurrence of precore mutants in patients with acute and fulminant hepatitis B using new simple rapid and sensitive MSSA (mutation site-specific assay) and evaluated this method for predicting prognosis.

Methodology: We analyzed HBV-DNA of 10 patients with fulminant hepatitis B, 15 patients with acute self-limited hepatitis, and 4 patients with acute severe hepatitis using MSSA.

HBV subtype as a marker of the clinical course of chronic HBV infection in Japanese patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C is predominant in Japan. However, many HBV subtypes are involved in each genotype, and the clinical manifestations in the patients associated with each subtype remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between HBV subtype and clinical aspects of chronic HBV infection.

Pneumothorax after diagnostic laparoscopy.

Here we want to call laparoscopist's attention to pneumothorax after diagnostic laparoscopy. Diagnostic laparoscopy has less complications, compared with laparoscopic surgery. In our experience, only one case (0.

Sequential fluctuation pattern of serum des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin levels detected by high-sensitive electrochemiluminescence system as an early predictive marker for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.

Serum concentration levels of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction (AFP-L3) are useful tumor markers for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a novel immunoassay using the electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) was developed to enable measurement of low-concentration of DCP. This study investigated the usefulness of high-sensitive DCP for the early diagnosis of HCC.