Serum CYFRA 21-1 and CK19-2G2 as Predictive Biomarkers of Response to Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatitis C-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Egyptians: A Prospective Study.

Background And Aim: Cytokeratin 19 (CK19)-positive HCC is a subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with poor biological behavior and resistance to different treatments including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The current study aimed to investigate the predictive value of serum CK 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) and serum CK 19 fragment 2G2 (CK 19-2G2) for TACE response in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC.

Methods: This prospective study assessed the pretreatment serum CYFRA 21-1 and CK 19-2G2 levels in 64 patients with HCV-related naïve HCC who underwent TACE to predict 1-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR).

Predictive Value of Serum CYFRA 21-1 and CK19-2G2 for Tumor Aggressiveness and Overall Survival in Hepatitis C-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Egyptians: A Prospective Study.

Purpose: Cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) and cytokeratin 19 fragment 2G2 (CK 19-2G2) are two soluble fragments of cytokeratin 19 (CK 19) that can be detected in serum. CK 19-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by an aggressive behavior and a poor outcome. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of serum CYFRA 21-1 and CK 19-2G2 in predicting tumor aggressiveness and overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatic C virus (HCV)-related HCC.

The importance of imaging assessment before endovascular repair of thoracic aorta.

Indications for and experience with placement of endovascular stent grafts in the thoracic aorta are still evolving. Recent advances in imaging technologies have drastically boosted the role of pre-procedural imaging. The accepted diagnostic gold standard, digital subtraction angiography, is now being challenged by the state-of-the-art computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Aneurysm growth, elastinolysis, and attempted doxycycline inhibition of elastase-induced aneurysms in rabbits.

Purpose: To establish the relationship between elastin degradation and aneurysm growth in New Zealand white rabbit model aneurysms, and to explore the potential for pharmacologic inhibition of elastinolysis and aneurysm growth with use of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor doxycycline.

Materials And Methods: Elastase-induced, saccular aneurysms created in the right common carotid artery in 30 animals randomly divided into controls (n = 16) and doxycycline treated (n = 14) were studied. Aneurysm growth was determined by angiography and aneurysm specimens were collected at 7 and 14 days for histologic and immunohistochemical analysis.