A Machine Learning Model to Predict De Novo Hepatocellular Carcinoma Beyond Year 5 of Antiviral Therapy in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after the first 5 years of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TFV) therapy.

Methods: CHB patients treated with ETV/TFV for > 5 years and not diagnosed with HCC during the first 5 years of therapy were selected from two hospitals. We used 36 variables, including baseline characteristics (age, sex, cirrhosis, and type of antiviral agent) and laboratory values (at baseline, at 5 years, and changes between 5 years) for model development.

The care cascade for hepatitis C virus and prognosis of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with antiviral agents in a tertiary hospital.

Background: Some studies have analyzed the frequency of HCV RNA testing and actual treatment among anti-HCV positive patients in Korea, which has a low prevalence of HCV infection. This study aimed to analyze the diagnosis process, treatment results, and prognosis according to care cascade in patients who are anti-HCV positive.

Methods: Three thousand two hundred fifty-three anti-HCV positive patients presented to a tertiary hospital between January 2005 and December 2020.

Baseline and on-treatment HBcrAg levels as predictors of HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with antivirals.

HBeAg seroconversion is an important treatment endpoint. We aimed to identify predictors of seroconversion using serum HBsAg and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) in HBeAg-positive patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs). Data and samples from 70 HBeAg-positive patients treated with entecavir or tenofovir between January 2007 and December 2017 were retrospectively analysed.

A phase 2, open-label, randomized, multiple-dose study evaluating Inarigivir in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: Novel agents acting against hepatitis B virus (HBV) are needed to improve HBsAg seroclearance or termed as 'functional cure'. Inarigivir (retinoic acid-inducible gene I agonist) has immunomodulatory and direct antiviral actions against HBV. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of Inarigivir for the treatment of HBV infection.

MAFLD Predicts the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Better than NAFLD in Asymptomatic Subjects with Health Check-Ups.

Background And Aim: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was proposed to compensate for the conventional concept of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the superiority of MAFLD versus NAFLD in predicting the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods: A total of 2,144 subjects without a history of ASCVD, who underwent a comprehensive medical health check-up, were selected for the study.

Long-term survival after CCRT and HAIC followed by ALPPS for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein invasion: a case report.

There are various methods for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein invasion, such as systemic chemotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy. These methods have similar clinical efficacy but are designed with a palliative aim. Herein, we report a case that experienced complete remission through "associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS)" after concurrent chemoradiotherapy and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy.

Risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related events using ultrasonography and transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Cirrhosis has prognostic value. We investigated whether the combined use of ultrasonography (US) and transient elastography (TE) to diagnose cirrhosis is beneficial for the risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver-related events in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 9300 patients with CHB who underwent US and TE in two institutions between 2006 and 2018 were enrolled.

Anti-HBc IgG Levels: A Predictor of HBsAg Seroclearance in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Nucleos(t)ide Analogue-Induced HBeAg Seroclearance.

Background/aims: We investigated the efficiency of the indirect ratio of anti-HBc IgG at predicting HBsAg seroclearance in patients with nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-induced HBeAg seroclearance.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study that included 366 chronic hepatitis B patients (March 2007 to December 2016) at a single tertiary hospital. These patients were HBsAg seropositive, and experienced NA-induced HBeAg seroclearance.

Continuing besifovir dipivoxil maleate versus switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for treatment of chronic hepatitis B: Results of 192-week phase 3 trial.

Background/aims: Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV), an acyclic nucleotide phosphonate, shows potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. Our previous 48-week trial revealed that BSV has comparable antiviral efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and better safety profiles in terms of improved renal and bone safety. This extension study evaluated the prolonged efficacy and safety of BSV in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Effects of Statin Use on the Development and Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Nationwide Nested Case-Control Study.

Introduction: The use of statins in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may reduce cardiovascular morbidity, although their effect on NAFLD itself is not well known. We aimed to investigate the role of statins on the development of de novo NAFLD and progression of significant liver fibrosis.

Methods: This study included 11,593,409 subjects from the National Health Information Database of the Republic of Korea entered in 2010 and followed up until 2016.

Phase I Radiation Dose-Escalation Study to Investigate the Dose-Limiting Toxicity of Concurrent Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Concurrent intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy (iA-CCRT) can increase the response rate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but may cause a higher toxicity. We conducted this Phase I study to investigate the dose-limiting toxicity of iA-CCRT for HCC. In total, 52.

Dynamics of liver stiffness-based risk prediction model during antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective: The liver stiffness-based risk prediction models predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. We investigated the influence of antiviral therapy (AVT) on liver stiffness-based risk prediction model in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: Patients with CHB who initiated AVT were retrospectively recruited from 13 referral Korean institutes.

Extremely low risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development in patients with chronic hepatitis B in immune-tolerant phase.

Background: Anti-viral therapy is not indicated for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the immune-tolerant phase.

Aims: To investigate the cumulative incidence of phase change and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and independent predictors for phase change in patients with CHB in immune-tolerant phase.

Methods: In total, 946 patients in immune-tolerant phase, defined as hepatitis B e antigen positivity, HBV-DNA >20 000 IU/mL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤40 IU/L, between 1989 and 2017 were enrolled from eight institutes.

Besifovir Dipivoxil Maleate 144-Week Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B: An Open-Label Extensional Study of a Phase 3 Trial.

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major worldwide public health concern. Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV) is a new promising treatment for CHB. However, long-term efficacy and safety have not yet been evaluated.

Cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B surface antigen Seroclearance after Nucleos(t) ide analogue-induced hepatitis B e antigen Seroclearance.

Background: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroclearance has been considered as the treatment endpoint in HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Although HBeAg seroclearance has been accomplished, some aspects are yet unclear. We investigated the cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance in patients undergoing nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA)-induced HBeAg seroclearance.

Value of controlled attenuation parameter in fibrosis prediction in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) tends to overestimate fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), provided by LSM device, has been introduced for noninvasive quantification of hepatic steatosis.

Aim: To determine the role of CAP values in predicting liver fibrosis stage by LSM in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Development and validation of a prognostic model for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

Background: There are large variations in prognosis among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, current staging or scoring systems hardly discriminate the outcome of HCC patients treated with RFA.

Methods: A total of 757 treatment-naïve HCC patients undergoing RFA (derivation cohort) were analyzed to establish a nomogram for disease-free survival (DFS) based on Cox proportional hazard regression model.

Follow-Up Liver Stiffness Measurements after Liver Resection Influence Oncologic Outcomes of Hepatitis-B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Liver Cirrhosis.

The severity of liver fibrosis can be noninvasively evaluated by measuring liver stiffness (LS) using transient elastography. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of achieving low liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in patients with cirrhosis confirmed from the resected liver due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 184 patients that received curative surgery for HCC related to the hepatitis B virus at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0⁻A, and had a METAVIR fibrosis score of 4 were investigated.

Aromatase Inhibitors and Newly Developed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Postmenopausal Patients with Early Breast Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Unlike tamoxifen, the relationship between aromatase inhibitor use in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been delineated.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 253 patients with early breast cancer without baseline NAFLD and treated with nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors was performed. Among them, 220 patients were matched for sex, age, and menstruation status with healthy patients, and the prevalence of NAFLD was compared.

Selective deletion of hepatocyte platelet-derived growth factor receptor α and development of liver fibrosis in mice.

Background: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) expression is increased in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in cirrhotic liver, while normal hepatocytes express PDGFRα at a negligible level. However, cancerous hepatocytes may show upregulation of PDGFRα, and hepatocellular carcinoma is preceded by chronic liver injury. The role of PDGFRα in non-cancerous hepatocytes and liver fibrosis is unclear.

Efficacy and Safety of Besifovir Dipivoxil Maleate Compared With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Background & Aims: Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV) has activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). We performed a phase 3 study to compare the antiviral efficacy and safety of BSV vs tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in patients with chronic HBV infection in Korea.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, non-inferiority trial of 197 patients with chronic HBV infection at 22 sites in South Korea, from November 2013 through February 2016.

Motion effects on the measurement of stiffness on ultrasound shear wave elastography: a moving liver fibrosis phantom study.

Aims: To evaluate the differences between shear wave velocities (SWVs) measured with ultrasound elastography during the continuous motion using liver fibrosis phantoms.

Materials And Methods: Elasticities were measured with convex and linear transducers of supersonic shear wave imaging (SSI) and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) using liver elasticity phantoms (3.0 and 16.

Validation of risk prediction models for the development of HBV-related HCC: a retrospective multi-center 10-year follow-up cohort study.

Recently, modified REACH-B (mREACH-B) risk prediction model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development was proposed. We validated the accuracy of the mREACH-B model and compared its accuracy with those of other prediction models. Between 2006 and 2012, 1,241 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were recruited.