Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation after Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy under Administration of Leuprorelin Acetate.

An 88-year-old man was admitted for elevated liver enzyme levels. Nine years earlier, the patient had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and undergone rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, oncovin, prednisone (R-CHOP) therapy. This patient previously had had a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection before chemotherapy.

IL28B gene polymorphism is correlated with changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels after clearance of hepatitis C virus using direct-acting antiviral treatment.

Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) rapidly clear hepatitis C virus (HCV), but the lipid dynamics after DAA treatment remain unknown. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterolemia is the predicting factor for the onset and death of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Thus, in this study, we examined the frequency and risk of hyper-LDL cholesterolemia in HCV patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) with DAA treatment.

The Rate of Referral of Hepatitis Virus Carriers to Hepatologists and the Factors Contributing to Referral.

Objective The aims of the present study were to determine the proportions of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients, and identify the characteristics that influenced referral to a hepatologist. Methods The present study included patients who were positive for HBsAg (n=153) or anti-HCV (n=574); their viral status was tested by non-hepatologists between January 2008 to December 2012. We performed a multivariate analysis to investigate the factors associated with the referral of patients to hepatologists.

Why is radiofrequency ablation therapy applied for hepatocellular carcinoma up to 3 nodules and smaller than 3 cm in tumor size?

Background/aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been applied for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) up to 3 nodules, within 3 cm in size. However, the scientific rationale of the treatment criteria for RFA has not been well analyzed. We compared the number and size of tumors with recurrence rates and survival rates.

Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging as a useful detection method for advanced primary biliary cirrhosis.

Aim: In primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), damaged hepatocytes resulting from chronic cholestasis follow a compensatory mechanism that alters hepatobiliary transporter expression to reduce the accumulation of potentially toxic compounds such as bile acid. Organic anion transporter peptide 1B3 (OATP1B3), which transports agents such as gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA), has reduced expression in the late stages of PBC. Therefore, we investigated the use of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a useful detection method for the advanced staging of PBC.

Adjusting the starting dose of telaprevir according to renal function decreases adverse effects and affects the sustained virological response rate.

Background: Telaprevir (TVR) plays a major role in renal damage and anemia associated with TVR/pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Adjusting the TVR starting dose may reduce these adverse effects. We aimed to determine whether adjusting the starting dose according to renal function reduces TVR-associated renal damage and anemia and affects the sustained virological response (SVR).

Immunohistochemical demonstration of transferrin receptor 1 and 2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissue.

Background/aims: Recent studies have confirmed that iron overload is involved not only in liver carcinogenesis, but in its progression. Results in studies using liver cancer cell lines have suggested a relationship between transferrin receptor (TfR) expression and liver carcinogenesis, but TfR expression has not yet been analyzed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues.

Methodology: We immunohistochemically assessed the expression of TfR1 and TfR2 in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues from 41 HCC patients who underwent partial hepatectomy.

Pilot Study of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Interferon-beta and 5-fluorouracil: A New Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aims: The present pilot study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with interferon-beta (IFN-β) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methodology: We studied 10 patients with advanced HCC and who were unresponsive to previous HAIC using low-dose 5-FU and cisplatin. The median age was 67 years.

3-Hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase is up regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with paraneoplastic hypercholesterolemia.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is frequently associated with paraneoplastic hypercholesterolemia. However, cholesterol overproduction in HCC tissue has never been demonstrated. An aim of this study is to prove cholesterol overproduction in the HCC tissue of patients with paraneoplastic hypercholesterolemia.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C who received treatment with pegylated interferon.

A 54-year-old male was treated for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2a administered for 24 weeks. HCV-RNA was negative at 24 weeks after treatment, showing sustained virological response (SVR). Abdominal distention and diarrhea were observed 28 weeks after commencing the treatment, i.

Limitation of repeated radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma: proposal of a three (times) × 3 (years) index.

Background And Aim: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the controllability of HCC and explored the algorithm of therapeutic strategy for HCC in patients who met the RFA criteria.

Methods: We enrolled 472 patients with HCC who met the RFA criteria (≤ 3 nodules, ≤ 3 cm) and underwent RFA for initial therapy.

Systemic chemotherapy using carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: We have evaluated the effectiveness of systemic chemotherapy for patients with extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methodology: We examined the background, survival rates, median survival time and side effects of 15 cases in which systemic chemotherapy using carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil was done (chemotherapy group) and 59 cases in which chemotherapy was not done (non-chemotherapy group) out of a total of 74 cases of patients with extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Results: The prognoses of the 15 chemotherapy cases and the 59 non-chemotherapy cases were as follows: 66.

Late-evening snack with branched-chain amino acids improves liver function after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim:   This prospective study was designed to examine whether consumption of a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched nutrient mixture as a late-evening snack (LES) helps maintain and/or improve liver functioning in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients who have undergone radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods:   An equal number (10) of 30 LC patients who had undergone RFA for HCC was randomly assigned to a standard diet group (control) group, a morning BCAA (M-BCAA) administration group, or a LES with BCAA (LES-BCAA) administration group. Liver function testing was performed and Child-Pugh scores (CPS) calculated for each group to assess the improvement at 1, 4 and 12 weeks post-RFA.

A case of hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis that was improved with the combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.

Hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis (HCAO) is a rare disorder characterized by a marked increase in skeletal mass in patients who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The clinical presentation is an acquired deep bone pain with increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. We present a case of a patient with HCAO who was treated with antiviral therapy.

Clinical features of Wilson disease: Analysis of 10 cases.

Aim:   The diagnosis of Wilson disease is based on the results of several clinical and biochemical tests. This study aimed to clarify the clinical features and spectrum of Wilson disease, including severe Wilson disease.

Methods:   Between 1985 and 2009, 10 patients with clinical, biochemical or histological evidence of Wilson disease were either diagnosed or had a previously established diagnosis confirmed at Fukuoka University Hospital.