Relationship between Alcohol Intake and Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in Men.

Objective: The precise relationship between alcohol intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is still unclear, and the results from previous studies have been inconclusive. Thus, we examined the effect of alcohol intake on the risk of MetS in men in order to gain more information on a potential relationship.

Methods: This study included 22,349 men who were divided into four groups according to their average alcohol intake [non-, light (less than 20 g ethanol/day), heavy (equal or more than 20 g and less than 60 g ethanol/day) and very heavy (equal and greater than 60 g ethanol/day) drinkers].

Randomized controlled trial of a new procedure of radiofrequency ablation using an expandable needle for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a new ablation procedure for the stepwise hook extension technique using a SuperSlim needle for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a randomized controlled trial was performed.

Methods: Thirty patients with HCC measuring 20 mm or less were randomly treated with a conventional four stepwise expansion technique (group 1) and the new stepwise expansion technique (group 2; the electrode was closed in the shaft after the same three steps of the conventional procedure and then fully extended). All patients underwent the RFA procedure using a 10-hook expandable electrode of 17-G diameter (LeVeen SuperSlim 30 mm).

Efficacy of reduction therapy of natural human β-interferon and ribavirin in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1b and high viral load.

Aim:   To evaluate the efficacy of reduction therapy of natural human interferon (IFN)-β and ribavirin in elderly patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b and high viral load who had complications of anemia, low bodyweight (<50 kg), diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension.

Methods:   Inclusion criteria were age of 65 years or older, HCV genotype 1b, and serum HCV RNA level of 5.0 logIU/mL or higher.

Amino acid substitution in HCV core/NS5A region and genetic variation near IL28B gene affect treatment efficacy to interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy.

Objective: To evaluate predictive factors of treatment efficacy to interferon (IFN)/ribavirin in patients infected with HCV genotype 1b (HCV-1b).

Methods: This study investigated pretreatment predictors, including viral- (aa substitutions in core aa 70/91 and NS5A-ISDR/IRRDR) and host-related factors (genetic variation near IL28B gene), to 48-week IFN/ribavirin in 490 Japanese adults infected with HCV-1b.

Results: The proportion of patients who showed end-of-treatment response (ETR), sustained virological response (SVR), and SVR after ETR was 76, 54, and 76%, respectively.

Amino acid substitutions in hepatitis C virus core region predict hepatocarcinogenesis following eradication of HCV RNA by antiviral therapy.

Substitution of amino acid (aa) 70 and/or 91 in the core region of HCV genotype 1b (HCV-1b) is an important predictor of hepatocarcinogenesis, but its impact on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following eradication of HCV RNA by antiviral therapy is not clear. 1,273 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease, with sustained virological response, defined as negative HCV RNA at 24 weeks after cessation of interferon monotherapy or interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy, were included in a follow-up study to evaluate the impact of aa substitution in the core region on hepatocarcinogenesis. Twenty six patients developed HCC during the follow-up.

Stage progression of small hepatocellular carcinoma after radical therapy: comparisons of radiofrequency ablation and surgery using the Markov model.

Background: Stage progression of 374 small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was retrospectively analysed.

Patients And Methods: During 8 years, 236 patients with the early stage of HCC received radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and 138 underwent surgery as an initial therapy. More patients of young age and with better liver function tended to undergo surgical treatment.

Amino acid substitution in HCV core region and genetic variation near the IL28B gene affect viral dynamics during telaprevir, peginterferon and ribavirin treatment.

Objectives: Genetic variation near the IL28B gene and substitution of aa 70 and 91 in the core region of HCV-1b are useful as predictors of treatment efficacy to telaprevir/pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin, but its impact on viral dynamics is not clear.

Methods: This study investigated predictive factors of viral dynamics during 12- or 24-week regimen of triple therapy in 80 Japanese adults infected with HCV-1b.

Results: After 24 h of commencement of treatment, the proportion of patients with Arg70 and Leu91 substitutions in the core region who showed ≥3.

Influence of ITPA polymorphisms on decreases of hemoglobin during treatment with pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir.

Unlabelled: Polymorphisms of the inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene influence anemia during pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy, but their effects during triple therapy with PEG-IFN, RBV, and telaprevir are not known. Triple therapy for 12 weeks, followed by PEG-IFN and RBV for 12 weeks, was given to 49 patients with RBV-sensitive (CC at rs1127354) and 12 with RBV-resistant (CA/AA) ITPA genotypes who had been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) of genotype 1. Decreases in hemoglobin levels were greater in patients with CC than CA/AA genotypes at week 2 (-1.

Diabetes enhances hepatocarcinogenesis in noncirrhotic, interferon-treated hepatitis C patients.

Background: This retrospective cohort study assessed the impact of diabetes mellitus on hepatocarcinogenesis and determined the predictors of hepatocarcinogenesis in noncirrhotic, interferon-treated patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Methods: A total of 2058 hepatitis C virus-positive, noncirrhotic patients treated with interferon were enrolled. The median follow-up period was 6.

New classification of dynamic computed tomography images predictive of malignant characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim:   The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the histopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be predicted from baseline dynamic computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods:   This retrospective study included 86 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent surgical resection between January 2000 and September 2008. The arterial- and portal-phase dynamic CT images obtained preoperatively were classified into four enhancement patterns: Type-1 and Type-2 are homogeneous enhancement patterns without or with increased arterial blood flow, respectively; Type-3, heterogeneous enhancement pattern with septum-like structure; and Type-4, heterogeneous enhancement pattern with irregular ring-like structures.

Administration of interferon for two or more years decreases early stage hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rate after radical ablation: A retrospective study of hepatitis C virus-related liver cancer.

Background:   Since hepatocellular carcinoma often recurs after surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation, we analyzed a retrospective large cohort of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods:   Among 379 patients with HCV RNA-positive small hepatocellular carcinoma (multiple up to three nodules, 3 cm or less each), 77 received interferon-alpha injection and 302 received no anti-viral therapy.

Results:   Four patients (5.

HBcrAg is a predictor of post-treatment recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma during antiviral therapy.

Background/aims: The recurrence rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high even in patients receiving curative therapy. In this study, we analysed the risk factors for tumour recurrence after curative therapy for HBV-related HCC while under treatment with nucleot(s)ide analogues (NAs) by measuring serum HBcrAg and intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels to elucidate the viral status associated with HCC recurrence.

Methods: We enrolled 55 patients who developed HCC during NA therapy and underwent either curative resection or percutaneous ablation for HCC.

Amino acid substitution in hepatitis C virus core region and genetic variation near the interleukin 28B gene predict viral response to telaprevir with peginterferon and ribavirin.

Unlabelled: Genetic variation near the IL28B gene and substitution of amino acid (aa) 70 and 91 in the core region of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b can predict the response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin combination therapy, but its impact on triple therapy of telaprevir/PEG-IFN/ribavirin is not clear. The aims of this study were to investigate the predictive factors of sustained virological response to a 12-week or 24-week regimen of triple therapy in 72 of 81 Japanese adults infected with HCV genotype 1. Overall, sustained virological response and end-of-treatment response were achieved by 61% and 89%, respectively.

Efficacy of switching to entecavir monotherapy in Japanese lamivudine-pretreated patients.

Background And Aims: To assess the efficacy of switching Japanese chronic hepatitis B patients from lamivudine monotherapy to entecavir 0.5 mg/day.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 134 patients switched to entecavir between September 2006 and February 2008 for 6 months or more.

Efficacy and safety of combination therapy of natural human interferon beta and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 2 and high virus load.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy of natural human interferon-beta and ribavirin in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 and high virus load.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were HCV-genotype 2, serum HCV RNA level of >or=100 KIU/mL before combination therapy. A total of 24 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study.

Efficacy and safety of combination therapy of natural human interferon beta and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b and high virus load.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy of natural human interferon-beta and ribavirin in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were HCV-genotype 1b, serum HCV RNA level of >or=100 KIU/ml before the initiation of treatment. A total of 40 patients were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study.

Extending combination therapy with peginterferon plus ribavirin for genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C virological responders: a pilot study of 7 cases.

Objective: In treatment-resistant patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C the suitable treatment duration is still unclear. The aims were to investigate extending combination therapy with peginterferon plus ribavirin for genotype 2.

Methods: 7 patients infected with genotype 2 at a high viral load and who did not achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) with the first course of 24-week IFN plus ribavirin were recruited into the study protocol with a total of 48 weeks of peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy.

Amino acid substitutions in the hepatitis C virus core region of genotype 1b affect very early viral dynamics during treatment with telaprevir, peginterferon, and ribavirin.

Substitution of amino acid (aa) 70 and 91 in the core region of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b can predict the response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin combination therapy, but its impact on triple therapy of telaprevir/PEG-IFN/ribavirin is not clear. The aims of this study were to investigate the rate of HCV RNA loss following 12-week triple therapy, and determine the effect of aa substitutions on very early (within 48 hr) viral dynamics. Sixty-seven patients infected with HCV genotype 1b (HCV-1b) and high viral load who received 12-week triple therapy were studied.

Clinical and virological effects of long-term (over 5 years) lamivudine therapy.

Ideally, long-term lamivudine therapy should not induce tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD) mutants (reverse transcription [rt]; rt M204I/V) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. There is little or no information on the clinical features of patients who do not develop such mutants. We analyzed 368 patients who received lamivudine therapy for more than 6 months between 1995 and 2003.

Association of HLA-DR14 with the treatment response in Japanese patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Background: Influence of human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) on the therapeutic response in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is not known.

Aims: To evaluate if HLA-DR types influence biological and histological responses to corticosteroids in patients with AIH.

Methods: During 28 years from 1979 through 2007, 48 patients with definite diagnosis of AIH received long-term corticosteroid therapy (median 9 years [range: 5-28 years]) in a single Japanese center.

Virus clearance reduces bone fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus.

Osteoporosis is often present in postmenopausal women. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the cumulative incidence and predictive factors for bone fracture after cessation of interferon (IFN) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 420 postmenopausal women treated with IFN monotherapy were enrolled.

Sustained virological response in a patient with chronic hepatitis C treated by monotherapy with the NS3-4A protease inhibitor telaprevir.

Here, we describe for the first time a case of sustained virological response (SVR) achieved in a patient with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) by monotherapy with a NS3-4A protease inhibitor, telaprevir, without interferon therapy. A 59-year-old treatment-naïve Japanese man was enrolled in a phase II trial of telaprevir by repeat oral administration at a dose of 750mg every 8h for 24 weeks. At the start of treatment, he exhibited a low-level viremia with genotype 1b of the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Development of HCC in patients receiving adefovir dipivoxil for lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus mutants.

Aim: To identify factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the patients who receive adefovir add-on lamivudine for treatment of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutants.

Methods: A total of 247 patients who developed lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants, with an increase of HBV DNA >/= 1 log copies/mL, received adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg add-on lamivudine 100 mg daily during a median of 115 weeks (range: 25-282 weeks). They were followed for the development of HCC by imaging modalities every 3-6 months.

Association of amino acid substitution pattern in core protein of hepatitis C virus genotype 2a high viral load and virological response to interferon-ribavirin combination therapy.

Background: Substitution of amino acids (aa) 70 and 91 in the core region of HCV genotype 1b is a useful pretreatment predictor of poor response to interferon + ribavirin combination therapy, but the impacts of aa substitutions in the core region of HCV genotype 2a are still not clear.

Methods: 154 consecutive Japanese adults with a high viral load (> or =100 kIU/ml) of genotype 2a who could complete combination therapy for 24 weeks were evaluated. To examine the differences in virological characteristics between non-sustained virological response (non-SVR) and rapid responder (SVR patients who could achieve a HCV-RNA-negative status within 8 weeks), 86 patients could be analyzed by pretreatment substitution patterns of the core region.

The efficacy of interferon-beta monotherapy for elderly patients with type C hepatitis of genotype 2.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of interferon (IFN)-beta monotherapy for elderly patients of > or = 70 years with type C hepatitis (HCV) of genotype 2.

Methods: The present study was a retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were type C hepatitis patients with HCV genotype 2a or 2b, > or = 70 years, and IFN-beta monotherapy of within 24 weeks.