Post-therapeutic needle biopsy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is a useful tool to evaluate response to proton irradiation.

Aim: Proton beam therapy is safe and more effective than conventional radiation therapy for the local control of nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, evaluating therapeutic response by imaging is not accurate during the early post-irradiation period. Therefore, we examined whether the histopathological study of biopsy specimens obtained at 3 weeks after irradiation can be used to more accurately assess therapeutic response.

Hepatitis C virus infection causes hypolipidemia regardless of hepatic damage or nutritional state: An epidemiological survey of a large Japanese cohort.

Aim:   Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis that develops into hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies have shown in vitro that lipids within hepatocytes are crucially important for a series of HCV infection-proliferation-release processes. On the other hand, in the patients with HCV, the serum total cholesterol (Total-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels have been reported to be lower.

The associated markers and their limitations for the primary screening of HCV carriers in public health examination.

Aim: Although the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test has been recommended to the whole Japanese population, most countries have not implemented it. The present study aims to re-evaluate the usefulness of markers examined in the general health examination for the initial screening of HCV carriers.

Methods: Of the overall population, 25 142 individuals (8876 males, 16 266 females) participated in health examinations with HCV tests in 2005, and the most commonly associated markers for HCV-positive subjects were explored by multivariate analysis, based on blood biochemical, physical, sphygmomanometric and hematological parameters.

Regulatory T cells and liver pathology in a murine graft versus host response model.

Aim: We have previously reported in mice the hepatic inflammatory in graft versus host response (GVHR) model due to the disparity of major histocompatibility complex class-II. The regulatory T (Treg) cells have been reported to control excessive immune response and prevent immune-related diseases. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis profiles of chronic GVHR progression, focusing on the Treg cells.

Serological survey of avian H5N2-subtype influenza virus infections in human populations.

To investigate the distribution of antibodies against H5N2 influenza virus in humans living in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, 266 single serum samples were collected to perform serological tests. Results were compared to investigate the relationship between positive results and several factors. The number of positive serum neutralization antibody titers (> or = 40) against avian influenza virus A/H5N2 was significantly greater (P < 0.