Decrease in HBsAg After TAF Switching from Entecavir During Long-Term Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Achieving HBsAg seroclearance is a key goal in treating chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection but remains difficult with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), a recommended NA for managing chronic HBV infection (CHB), has uncertain effects on HBsAg levels and potential adverse events when used long-term after switching from entecavir (ETV). We retrospectively evaluated 77 CHB patients, including 47 who switched from ETV to TAF with a median follow-up of 40 months post-switch and a median of 60 months of HBsAg monitoring pre-switch.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in a transplanted donor liver and colon cancer developing in a patient with a complex background: A case report.

The development of tumors in livers transplanted from hepatitis B virus (HBV)-negative donors to patients with hepatitis B and cirrhosis is rare. The present study describes the case of a woman in her 60s who developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in her grafted liver, 19 years after transplantation, as well as a metachronous colorectal tumor. The pathological findings, including clinical, immunohistochemical and molecular results, are described in the present case report.

Long term changes in thrombocytopenia and leucopenia after HCV eradication with direct-acting antivirals.

Background: Thrombocytopenia due to hypersplenism is a major complication of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cirrhosis. HCV eradication improves these complications in some patients, but the long-term effects of HCV eradication on these complications remain unclear, especially in patients treated with direct acting antivirals (DAAs). The aim was to evaluate long term changes in thrombocytopenia and leucopenia after HCV eradication with DAAs.

Colonic TRPV4 overexpression is related to constipation severity.

Background: Chronic constipation is prevalent and involves both colon sensitivity and various changes in intestinal bacteria, particularly mucosa-associated microflora. Here we examined regulatory mechanisms of TRPV4 expression by co-culturing colon epithelial cell lines with intestinal bacteria and their derivatives. We also investigated TRPV4 expression in colon epithelium from patients with constipation.

Impact of Post-progression Survival on Outcomes of Lenvatinib Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background/aim: Lenvatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) more effective against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than sorafenib, making lenvatinib a first-line treatment option for patients with unresectable HCC. In patients treated with sorafenib, post-progression survival (PPS) rather than progression-free survival (PFS) is essential for overall survival (OS). However, the importance of PPS for OS in patients treated with lenvatinib is uncertain, and optimal treatment after lenvatinib failure has not yet been established.

Direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus-infected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients has a high risk of recurrence. Although eradication of HCV is expected to reduce this risk, the risk in patients with a history of HCC may be high after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Aim: To determine the risk factors for HCC recurrence in patients with HCV and a history of HCC.

Chronic liver disease questionnaire to manage patients with chronic liver diseases.

Background And Aims: Although patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) usually show few symptoms, they exhibit decreased health-related QOL (HRQOL) with occurrence complications including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Health-related QOL is an important indicator in the management of CLD. The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) was established as a tool for assessment of HRQOL.

Diagnostic Fine-Needle Biopsy of Small Solid Pancreatic Lesions Using a Franseen Needle during Endoscopic Ultrasound Examination.

Background And Aim: During endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNB), Franseen needles can help collect sufficient tissue to permit histopathological assessment. However, its efficacy might be limited by the size of the targeted lesion. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of histopathological assessment of small solid pancreatic lesions using a 22-gauge Franseen needle during EUS-FNB.

Efficacy of on-demand intrahepatic arterial therapy in combination with sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of "on-demand" combination therapy with sorafenib and hepatic arterial treatments, such as transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with advanced HCC, 58 administered sorafenib monotherapy and 22 administered on-demand combination therapy, were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: The disease control rate was significantly higher in the combination group than in the monotherapy group (86.

L-Carnitine for the Treatment of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients with Advanced Liver Cirrhosis.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a major complication in patients with advanced cirrhosis and is associated with poor prognosis. To evaluate the effectiveness of L-carnitine supplementation in patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in patients with OHE who were treated with intravenous branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), with or without intravenous L-carnitine. Twenty-six patients were treated with intravenous BCAA in addition to conventional agents such as lactulose and non-absorbable antibiotics (Group A), and 19 patients were treated with these agents plus intravenous L-carnitine (Group L).

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma successfully treated with sorafenib: case report and review of the literature.

Sorafenib, a multiple kinase inhibitor, has been established as first-line standard systemic chemotherapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We encountered a patient with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) who achieved complete remission in response to sorafenib treatment. A 58-year old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver cirrhosis was diagnosed with CHC in segments 6th and 7th of the liver and underwent partial surgical resection.

Survival Benefit of Tolvaptan for Refractory Ascites in Patients with Advanced Cirrhosis.

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of tolvaptan treatment on survival of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis with refractory ascites.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, observational study included patients with cirrhosis who were treated with tolvaptan for hepatic ascites refractory to conventional diuretics. Patients who could and could not decrease accompanying diuretics within 1 month after tolvaptan administration were defined as the "Decreased" and "Not-decreased" groups, respectively.

[Rhabdomyolysis associated with long-term treatment of esomeprazole].

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been widely used in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease. Although they have a potent acid suppressive effect and excellent efficacy in acid-related diseases, PPI-induced rhabdomyolysis has been reported. Here, we report the case of a patient with reflux esophagitis who developed rhabdomyolysis after esomeprazole treatment.

A Patient with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Complicated by Multiple Myeloma.

A 68-year-old woman with liver dysfunction was diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) stage 1. Three years later, she showed massive ascites and jaundice. A trans-jugular liver biopsy confirmed advanced cirrhosis, suggesting that her liver fibrosis had progressed rapidly.

Vanishing Tumor in a Liver Graft from a Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen-Positive Donor.

We report a case of vanishing tumor considered as inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) found in the liver after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) from a hepatitis B virus surface antigen-positive donor. The radiological findings were similar to those of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the tumor disappeared completely within several months and was suggested to have been an IPT.

Serum microRNA profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or drug-induced liver injury.

Purpose: Some blood biomarkers or histological examination by liver biopsy are used for the diagnosis of liver diseases in clinics. However, conventional blood biomarkers show poor specificity and sensitivity, and liver biopsy is highly invasiveness. Therefore, to overcome such disadvantages, specific/sensitive and noninvasive options are desirable.

Peritumoral Hyperplasia in Hepatic Sclerosed Hemangioma.

Peritumoral hyperplasia (PTH) is a hyperplastic lesion located around hypervascular tumors. Hepatic sclerosed hemangioma is a very rare form of hemangioma with sclerotic changes and is distinct from sclerosing hemangioma. We present a patient with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-induced cirrhosis who presented with a hypervascular tumor.

Hyperbilirubinemia without Transaminitis during Combined Therapy with Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir.

Daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV) are direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Combined therapy with DCV and ASV shows high efficacy and safety even in patients with cirrhosis. We encountered a patient exhibiting severe hyperbilirubinemia during combined therapy, which is an unreported side effect of DCV and ASV.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in hepatitis B virus infection.

Background And Aim: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an established treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) wherein non-recurrence is essential for long-term survival. Recently, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a marker of systemic inflammation that is associated with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), was suggested to be a prognostic marker of HCC treated with RFA. Therefore, we evaluated predictive factors, including NLR, associated with recurrence after curative RFA.

A case of progressing focal nodular hyperplasia and its molecular expression pattern.

We report the case of an adult male with progressing focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). Although imaging studies suggested that the tumor was a classical FNH, the tumor biopsy showed glutamine synthetase expression and heat shock protein 70 in part of the tumor. As we could not definitely distinguish this case of FNH from early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we performed laparoscopic partial hepatectomy.

Effective healing of endoscopic submucosal dissection-induced ulcers by a single week of proton pump inhibitor treatment: a retrospective study.

Background: Although artificial ulcers generally heal faster than Helicobacter pylori-related or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related peptic ulcers, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)-induced gastric ulcers are usually treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for 4-8 weeks. The effect of oral administration of a PPI for 1 week on ESD-induced gastric ulcers has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of oral PPI for 1 week in patients with ESD-induced ulcers.

Sneddon-Wilkinson disease induced by sorafenib in a patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sorafenib is the standard treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although it is known to cause a variety of dermatologic adverse events. Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SCPD), also known as Sneddon-Wilkinson disease, is a rare skin eruption that accompanies various systemic disorders and may become chronically progressive. We herein describe the case of a patient who developed SCPD after sorafenib administration.