Association of proteinuria with improved prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, and the predictive role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor D levels: A multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: Atezolizumab/bevacizumab is a first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among several adverse events, grade ≥2 proteinuria is considered a significant adverse event that may cause bevacizumab interruption. Studies have shown that proteinuria might predict improved prognosis, although data are scarce and the association remains controversial, and the mechanisms and predictive factors remain unclear.

Positivity of high-sensitivity HBsAg test, not previous HBV infection, indicates poor prognosis in patients with non-HBV-related HCC.

Background And Aims: The prognostic impact of previous-HBV-infection (pHBV) in non-HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HBV-related-HCC) and the prevalence, characteristics and significance of recently developed high-sensitivity HBs antigen positivity (hHBsAg+) in these patients remain unclear. We aimed to close these gaps.

Methods: We retrospectively screened patients with newly diagnosed non-HBV-related-HCC (standard HBsAg-test negative) at Hokkaido University.

Efficacy and Safety of Durvalumab/Tremelimumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma as Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Rechallenge Following Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Treatment.

Background: While guidelines recommend immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) rechallenge as second-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), data supporting this remain limited, particularly regarding a standard regimen for first- and second-line treatments. Tremelimumab/durvalumab was recently approved but data on ICI rechallenge are lacking.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early efficacy and safety of tremelimumab/durvalumab for HCC as an ICI rechallenge following initial ICI therapy with atezolizumab/bevacizumab.

Preoperative risk factors for skeletal muscle mass loss in patients with biliary tract cancer.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC)-related procedures, usually performed before biliary tract cancer (BTC) surgery, are associated with increased risk for various complications, which can cause sarcopenia. No study has previously elucidated the relationship between preoperative ERC-related procedures and sarcopenia/skeletal muscle mass loss.

Methods: Patients with BTC who underwent radical surgical resection following ERC-related procedures were included.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin predicts the efficacy of tolvaptan for ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with liver cirrhosis (LC), water retention, diuretics to treat water retention, and a poor prognosis. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) reportedly predicts a poor prognosis in decompensated LC. This study investigated the usefulness of uNGAL in predicting the short- and long-term effects of tolvaptan (TVP) and the incidence of AKI post-TVP administration.

Hepatitis C virus eradication by direct-acting antivirals causes a simultaneous increase in the prevalence of fatty liver and hyper low-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia without an increase in body weight.

Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported to cause liver steatosis. Thus, eradicating HCV with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is expected to reduce liver steatosis. We aimed to clarify long-term changes in the prevalence of fatty liver and hyper-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterolemia and their associations in patients who achieve successful HCV eradication using DAAs.

Changes in Serum Growth Factors during Resistance to Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Treatment in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The possible mechanisms of resistance to atezolizumab/bevacizumab for unresectable HCC, and the subsequent response to these therapies, remain underexplored. The sequential changes in serum growth factors, including VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, ANG-2, FGF-19, HGF, and EGF during atezolizumab/bevacizumab for unresectable HCC were evaluated in 46 patients. Patients who experienced PD after CR, PR, or SD to atezolizumab/bevacizumab were evaluated.

Serum Angiopoietin-2 Predicts the Occurrence and Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C.

Progressive liver fibrosis after anti-HCV treatment is a risk factor for HCC. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) is associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis after direct-acting antiviral (DAA). This study evaluated the predictive value of serum Ang2 levels for HCC occurrence or recurrence after DAA administration.

Prophylactic tenofovir alafenamide for hepatitis B virus reactivation and reactivation-related hepatitis.

No prospective study on the efficacy of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a novel tenofovir prodrug, in preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation has yet been reported. This multicenter prospective study enrolled HBV-carriers who received TAF to prevent HBV reactivation before antitumor or immunosuppressive therapy, and patients with resolved HBV infection who experienced HBV-reactivation and received TAF to prevent HBV reactivation-related hepatitis. The efficacy of prophylactic TAF in preventing HBV reactivation and HBV reactivation-related hepatitis was evaluated at 6 and 12 months after initiating TAF.

Simultaneous determination of heparan sulfate, chondroitin/dermatan sulfates, and hyaluronan glycosaminoglycan disaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography using a reverse-phase column with adamantyl groups.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are one of the major components of proteoglycans, play a pivotal role in physiological processes such as signal transduction, cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation. Characterization of GAGs is challenging due to the tremendous structural diversity of heteropolysaccharides with numerous sulfate or carboxyl groups. In this present study, we examined the analysis of 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB) labeled GAG disaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a reverse-phase (RP)-column with adamantyl groups.

Serum IL-1β predicts de novo hepatitis B virus reactivation during direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, not during anti-cancer/immunosuppressive therapy.

De novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation occurs during direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with resolved HBV infection. We evaluated the predictive factors, mechanical insight, and differences of cytokine levels during anti-cancer/immunosuppressive and DAA. Eleven, 35, and 19 HCV-infected patients with previous HBV infection with HBV reactivation during DAA treatment, previous HBV infection without HBV reactivation during DAA treatment, and without HBV infection resolution receiving DAA treatment, respectively, were enrolled.

Pre-sarcopenia and Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer as predictors of recurrence and prognosis of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), a fibrosis marker in various liver diseases, is reportedly a prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatectomy.

Aim: To evaluate whether the M2BPGi value, M2BP, and pre-sarcopenia before radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could be useful recurrence and prognostic markers in patients with early-stage HCC.

Methods: In total, 160 patients with early-stage primary HCC treated with RFA were separately analyzed as hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive and HCV-negative.

Efficacy of rifaximin against covert hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonemia in Japanese patients.

Covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) impairs patient quality of life and occurs in approximately 30% of liver cirrhosis (LC) cases. Japanese clinical practice guidelines recommend rifaximin to treat overt HE (OHE). However, the usefulness of rifaximin against CHE is not thoroughly investigated in Japanese patients.

Burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections in 2015 and future trends in Japan: A simulation study.

Background: Determining the number of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections is essential to assess the progress towards the World Health Organization 2030 viral hepatitis elimination goals. Using data from the Japanese National Database (NDB), we calculated the number of chronic HBV and HCV infections in 2015 and predicted the trend until 2035.

Methods: NDB and first-time blood donors data were used to calculate the number of chronic HBV and HCV infections in 2015.

Overestimated renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis predicts poor prognosis.

Aim: A high prevalence of overestimated renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) has been reported; nonetheless, its impact on prognosis remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the impact of overestimated renal function on prognosis in patients with LC.

Methods: An overestimated renal function was defined as a >20% increase in the creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), compared with cystatin C-based eGFR.

Effects of nucleos(t)ide analogs on hepatitis B surface antigen reduction with interferon-lambda 3 induction in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background & Aims: Benefits of nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reduction and interferon-lambda3 (IFN-λ3) induction are still not known. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NAs on HBsAg reduction and association with serum IFN-λ3 levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: A total of 91 patients [51 treated with nucleoside analog entecavir hydrate (ETV) and 40 treated with nucleotide analog adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)] with clinically evident CHB (chronic hepatitis, 57; liver cirrhosis, 34) were enrolled in this study.

Changes in Serum Growth Factors during Lenvatinib Predict the Post Progressive Survival in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Serum growth factor changes and their effect on prognosis during lenvatinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain underexplored. The sequential changes in serum growth factors during lenvatinib for unresectable HCC were evaluated in 58 patients using complete clinical data, and preserved serum was used to investigate changes in FGF-19, ANG-2, HGF, VEGF, and EGF. Patients with a complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD) were evaluated for growth factor changes between the best response and progressive disease (PD) points, classified based on these changes, and evaluated by post progression survival (PPS).

Nationwide awareness-raising program for viral hepatitis in Japan: the "" project.

Chronic viral hepatitis is one of the most widespread infectious diseases in Japan. In the 2009 financial year, the Japanese government enacted the Basic Act on Hepatitis Measures, followed by the Basic Guidelines for Promotion of Control Measures for Hepatitis 2 years later. The guidelines emphasize the importance of provision and dissemination of accurate information on viral hepatitis and public awareness-raising.