Did AFP-L3 save ultrasonography in community screening?

In the community screening, those subjects with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) required further abdomen ultrasonography (US) to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some chronic hepatitis patients might have elevated AFP. AFP-L3, has been proposed to differentiate HCC and hepatitis in elevated AFP cases in Japan for decades, but the utility is limited outside Japan.

Comparison Stratagems of Post-Screening Management of Anti-HCV-Positive Community Residents: Simple Notification, Active Referral, or Accessible Medical Care.

To elucidate the results of post-screening care stratagems for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive subjects in the community. Part I methods: The intervention program: A total of 151,790 subjects underwent a large-scale healthcare screening. Subjects aged less than 65 years, with anti-HCV-positive and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level more than 80 IU/L were followed-up to answer a structured questionnaire.

Diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and obesity are not significant risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in an HBV- and HCV-endemic area of Southern Taiwan.

A prominent factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and obesity have also been implicated in HCC development, but these associations are not observed in all HBV- and HCV-endemic areas. We attempted to clarify the role of these factors in HCC development in an HBV- and HCV-endemic area in southern Taiwan.

Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance at 4- vs. 12-month intervals for patients with chronic viral hepatitis: a randomized study in community.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance at 4- and 12-month intervals in a community for patients with chronic viral hepatitis and thrombocytopenia.

Methods: In 10 townships, adults (≥ 40 years) with platelet ≤ 150 (× 10(9))/l, positive hepatitis B surface antigen, or antibody to hepatitis C virus were invited to this study. These townships were randomized into 4- (group A) and 12-month (group B) interval surveillance groups.

Community-based cross-sectional study: the association of lipids with hepatitis C seropositivity and diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reported to be associated with or to cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to elucidate the role of triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) levels in the association between anti-HCV seropositivity and T2DM in an HCV-endemic area.

Methods: We analyzed a computerized dataset of 56 338 residents from a community-based comprehensive screening program in Tainan County in southern Taiwan.

Lower prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglyceridemia found in subjects with seropositivity for both hepatitis B and C strains independently.

Background And Aim: To evaluate the association of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.

Methods: We analyzed the computerized health datasets of 56,336 residents from a community-based comprehensive screening in Tainan County in southern Taiwan. The overall prevalence rates of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV were 10.

Optimal treatment increased survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients detected with community-based screening.

Background And Aim: The early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and opportunity to select appropriate treatment are important benefits of HCC screening. Our aim in the present study was to investigate the survival rate, prognostic factors and treatment effects in HCC patients of community-based screening.

Methods: Community-based ultrasound (US) screening for HCC in adults with platelet counts (< 150 x 10(3)/mm(3)) and/or alpha fetoprotein (AFP) > 20 ng/mL was conducted in 2002 and 2004.

Identifying hepatitis C virus: endemic areas and estimating the viral antibody prevalence based on the prevalence of ALT elevation.

To evaluate the validity of predicting the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) based on the prevalence of alanine transaminase (ALT) elevation (>40IU/l), we conducted a community-based study. In total, 56698 individuals underwent health examinations in 2004. Another 43738 subjects in 2005 were the validation set.

Community-based mass ultrasonographic screening of hepatocellular carcinoma among thrombocytopenic adults.

Thrombocytopenia has been reported as a valid surrogate for liver cirrhosis and could be used to identify groups at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for ultrasonographic (US) screening. We designed this two-stage community-based screening for HCC. In 2004, subjects (ages > or =40 years) were invited to undergo comprehensive health examinations, with 17,551 men (ages 63.

Excess mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma and morbidity of liver cirrhosis and hepatitis in HCV-endemic areas in an HBV-endemic country: geographic variations among 502 villages in southern Taiwan.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate excess mortality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and prevalence of hepatitis and liver cirrhosis (LC) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-endemic areas in Taiwan, which is a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-endemic country.

Methods: Tainan County, located in southern Taiwan, consists of 533 villages in 31 townships. A total of 56 702 subjects >or= 40 years old (mean age, 60.