Feasibility and efficacy of helical tomotherapy in cirrhotic patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study is to evaluate the toxicity and outcomes of helical tomotherapy (HT) in patients treated for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: From March 2008 to September 2010, 38 patients with unresectable HCC were treated with HT. The median patient age was 67 years (range, 45-85).

Independent and additive interaction between tumor necrosis factor β +252 polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection on risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study.

To assess the contribution of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)β +252 polymorphisms to risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we enrolled 150 pairs of sex- and age-matched patients with HCC, patients with cirrhosis alone, and unrelated healthy controls. TNFβ +252 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism. Multivariate analysis indicated that TNFβ G/G genotype [odds ratio (OR), 3.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells microRNA predicts treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection.

Backgrounds: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with induction of microRNAs (miRNAs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We aimed to evaluate the role of PBMC-miRNAs in the treatment outcome to antiviral therapy for HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1) patients.

Methods: Treatment-naive chronic HCV-1 patients, including 13 in screening phase and 48 in validation phase, were treated with 48weeks of peginterferon/ribavirin.

Baseline gamma-glutamyl transferase levels strongly correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma development in non-cirrhotic patients with successful hepatitis C virus eradication.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with cirrhosis remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even after achieving sustained virological response (SVR). The aim of the study was to explore the incidence and risk for HCC among non-cirrhotic patients with an SVR.

Methods: A total of 642 patients with an SVR after peginterferon/ribavirin therapy were enrolled with a median follow-up period of 53.

Impact of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C on adverse hepatic fibrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma related to betel quid chewing.

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to habitual betel quid (BQ) chewing is unclear. Risk of HCCis increased with adverse hepatic fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic viral hepatitis on adverse hepatic fibrosis in HCC related to BQ chewing.

Urinary transforming growth factor α and serum α-fetoprotein as tumor markers of hepatocellular carcinoma.

This case-control study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic application of urinary transforming growth factor (TGF) α and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TGFα and AFP were determined in 90 pairs of age- and gender-matched patients with cirrhotic HCC and patients with cirrhosis alone and 60 healthy controls. The results indicated that TGFα and AFP levels in patients with HCC were higher than in those with cirrhosis alone or healthy controls (each P = 0.

Treatment efficacy of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients with mixed genotype 1/2 infection.

Background And Aim: The treatment efficacy of patients with mixed hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1/genotype 2 (HCV-1/2) remains unknown. We aimed to elucidate the sustained virological response (SVR) rate in patients with HCV-1/2 infection.

Methods: One hundred and ten HCV-1/2 patients treated with response-guided peginterferon/ribavirin therapy (24 weeks for patients with a rapid virological response [RVR] and low viral loads; 48 weeks for patients without a RVR or high viral loads) were allocated.

Association between gallbladder stones and chronic hepatitis C: ultrasonographic survey in a hepatitis C and B hyperendemic township in Taiwan.

Gallbladder (GB) stones have been associated with several metabolic factors and liver diseases. This community-based study aimed at investigating the prevalence rate of GB stones and its associated factors in a hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-endemic township in southern Taiwan. A total of 1701 residents (689 males and 1012 females; mean age: 51.

Chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with insulin resistance and lipid profiles.

Background And Aim: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been suggested to be associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and lipid profiles. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationships of insulin resistance (IR) and lipid profiles with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients in Taiwan.

Methods: We enrolled 160 hospital-based CHC patients with liver biopsy and the 480 controlled individuals without CHC and chronic hepatitis B from communities without known history of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Clinical utility of host genetic IL-28B variants in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 Asian patients retreated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.

Background And Aim: Host interleukin-28B (IL-28B) genetic variants determine a sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) treatment-naïve patients. Its impact on treatment-experienced Asian patients with peginterferon/ribavirin in is to be elucidated.

Methods: IL-28B rs8099917 genotype was determined in 70 HCV-1 treatment-experienced patients retreated with 48-week peginterferon/ribavirin.

Virological predictors of response to retreatment in hepatitis C genotype 2 infected patients.

Background/aims: The impact of virological factors and interleukin-28B (IL-28B) genetic variants on retreatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 (HCV-2) treatment-experienced patients remains unknown.

Methods: On-treatment virological responses and IL-28B rs8099917 genotype were determined in 46 HCV-2 treatment-experienced patients (42 previous relapsers; four previous non-responders) retreated with 24-week peginterferon/ribavirin.

Results: Forty (87.

Interferon-associated hepatic steatosis is related to discrepancies in biochemical and virological responses of chronic hepatitis C to IFN-based therapy.

Background And Aims: A discrepancy in virological and biochemical responses may occur throughout interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV). We aimed to explore the risk, associated factors, potential mechanisms, and impact on the treatment outcome of the discrepancy.

Subjects And Methods: Consecutive 496, chronic HCV-infected patients receiving interferon/ribavirin or peginterferon/ribavirin for 24 weeks with a 24-week follow-up period were enrolled.

Revisiting the stopping rule for hepatitis C genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin.

Background: The current stopping rule for peginterferon/ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C virus genotype-1 (HCV-1) patients is based on an early virological response (EVR, defined as >2 log(10) viral reduction at treatment week 12). We aimed to explore rapid stopping rules at week 4.

Methods: We randomly allocated 528 HCV-1 patients into training and validation sets (at a 1∶2 ratio).

Profound week 4 interferon responsiveness is mandatory for hepatitis C genotype 1 patients with unfavorable IL-28B genotype.

Background: Viral kinetics and host interleukin 28B (IL-28B) genotype determine treatment outcome in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) infection.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the interplay between interferon responsiveness at treatment week 4 and IL28B genotype in the achievement of a sustained virological response (SVR; undetectable HCV RNA 24-weeks after end-of-treatment).

Study Designs: Rs8099917 genotypes were determined in 528 HCV-1 patients with peginterferon/ribavirin.

Survival comparison between surgical resection and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for patients in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer early stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To compare the survival outcome between surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The retrospective study enrolled eighty-two patients with newly diagnosed BCLC early HCC (single nodule, size ≦3 cm, and Child-Pugh class A) treated either surgically (n = 46) or with RFA (n = 36) from year 2004 to 2009. The patients' survival outcomes were compared.

Antinuclear antibody titer and treatment response to peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients.

Positive serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) is not infrequent in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. This prospective study evaluated the impact of ANA on the response to and safety of peginterferon/ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients in clinical practice. We enrolled 243 consecutive patients who were treated with a 24-week regimen of peginterferon-α plus ribavirin, with a 24-week follow-up period.

Host interleukin-28B genetic variants versus viral kinetics in determining responses to standard-of-care for Asians with hepatitis C genotype 1.

Background: Both interleukin-28B genetic variants and on-treatment virological responses are factors predictive of treatment outcome in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) patients. We aimed to compare the clinical significance of the two factors.

Methods: Rs8099917 genotype and on-treatment responses were determined in 182 HCV-1 patients with 48-week peginterferon/ribavirin.

Interleukin-28B genetic variants in identification of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 patients responding to 24 weeks peginterferon/ribavirin.

Background & Aims: A substantial proportion of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR, HCV RNA seronegative throughout 24 weeks of post-treatment follow-up) after 24 weeks peginterferon/ribavirin therapy. We explored the role of interleukin-28B genotype in identifying patients who responded to the regimen.

Methods: Interleukin-28B rs8099917 genotype was determined in 226 HCV-1 patients with 24 weeks peginterferon/ribavirin.

Comparison of adverse effects related to pegylated interferon-based therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C in Taiwan.

Purpose: Pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)-based therapy is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) but frequently induces adverse events (AEs). This study was conducted to compare the incidence of Peg-IFN-based therapy-associated AEs in Taiwanese patients with CHB and CHC.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with CHB and 103 age-, sex- and treatment duration-matched patients with CHC were enrolled.

Role of interleukin-28B polymorphisms in the treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 infection in Asian patients.

Unlabelled: Genome-wide association studies have linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin-28B gene to the hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) response to peginterferon/ribavirin treatment. We aimed to explore the impact on the treatment outcomes of Asian HCV-2 patients. We determined rs8105790, rs8099917, rs4803219, and rs10853728 to be candidate SNPs in 482 Asian HCV-2 patients treated with the standard of care.

The efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis c patients with hepatocellular carcinoma post curative therapies - a multicenter prospective trial.

Background & Aims: Evidence on the efficacy of antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFN/RBV) combination therapy in these patients, compared to cirrhotic patients.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, case-control study recruited 82 consecutive CHC patients with HCC after curative management and 87 sex/age-matched cirrhotic patients.

Viral hepatitis infections in southern Taiwan: a multicenter community-based study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major causes of liver disease in Taiwan and have a great impact on the health of this country. This study investigated the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in southern Taiwan. Screening programs were performed from September 1999 to August 2005 for community-based surveillance of liver disease.

Early identification of achieving a sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients without a rapid virological response.

Background And Aim: A number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients without a rapid virological response (RVR) achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) with peginterferon-alpha-2a/ribavirin. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SVR in non-RVR patients.

Methods: Baseline and on-treatment factors were used to explore the prognostic factors for SVR in 113 HCV genotype-1 (HCV-1) and 20 HCV-2 non-RVR patients in two randomized trials.

Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin for the treatment of older patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin treatment in elderly patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Seventy elderly patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (group A; age, > or = 65 years) and 140 sex- and HCV genotype-matched controls (group B; age, 50-64 years) were allocated to receive a PegIFN-alpha-2a/ribavirin standard-of-care regimen.

Results: Group A had a significantly higher rate of treatment discontinuation (21.