Alcohol dehydrogenase 3, glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms, alcohol consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma (Italy).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of alcohol dehydrogenase type 3 (ADH3), glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) polymorphisms in modifying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk according to alcohol intake.

Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in two areas of North Italy. Two-hundred cases hospitalized for HCC and 400 controls were recruited.

Coffee consumption reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma independently of its aetiology: a case-control study.

Background/aims: The role of coffee in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of coffee in HCC, taking the main risk factors into account.

Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in an area of northern Italy.

N-Acetyltransferase-2, glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 genetic polymorphisms, cigarette smoking and hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study.

Our aim was to evaluate the role of N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) and glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1 and GSTT1) polymorphisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to cigarette smoking, taking into account hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viral infection as well as alcohol consumption. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 2 areas of north Italy. Cases (n = 200) were patients hospitalized for HCC, and controls (n = 400) were patients admitted for reasons other than liver disease, neoplasms and tobacco- and alcohol-related diseases.

A randomized trial of consensus interferon in combination with ribavirin as initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: The aim of the present, open-labeled, randomized study was to determine the efficacy and safety of different doses of consensus interferon plus ribavirin in the initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: One hundred and one genotype 2/3 patients were randomized to receive 9 mcg (group A, n=48) or 18 mcg (group B, n=53) of consensus interferon thrice weekly plus ribavirin (1000/1200 mg/daily) for 24 weeks and 92 genotype 1 patients to receive 9 mcg (group C, n=47) or 18 mcg (group D, n=45) of consensus interferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks.

Results: In an intention-to-treat analysis, the sustained virologic response at 24-week follow-up was 69% and 66% for group A and B (P=0.

Etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma influences clinical and pathologic features but not patient survival.

Objective: We investigated the relation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) etiology and biological and clinical parameters indicative of severity of liver disease and/or tumor characteristics and patient survival.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 384 patients (82.3% male) with first diagnosis of HCC from 1995 to 1998 in Brescia, Italy.

Outcome of an outbreak of acute hepatitis C among healthy volunteers participating in pharmacokinetics studies.

We identified 15 patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC) among 29 healthy volunteers participating in 2 consecutive pharmacokinetics studies. Molecular techniques were used to determine the relatedness of viral strains, whereas clinical and virologic follow-up was started to establish the course and outcome of the acute infection. After presentation, serum liver enzymes and HCV RNA were monitored weekly for 4 months, then monthly for at least 12 months.