Baseline serum cholesterol is associated with a response to pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C genotype 2.

Background. HCV infection is associated with lipid disorders because this virus utilizes the host lipid metabolism to sustain its life cycle. Several studies have indicated that higher concentrations of serum cholesterol and LDL before treatment are important predictors of higher rates of sustained virological response (SVR).

Data mining reveals complex interactions of risk factors and clinical feature profiling associated with the staging of non-hepatitis B virus/non-hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim:   Non-hepatitis B virus/non-hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC) is often detected at an advanced stage, and the pathology associated with the staging of NBNC-HCC remains unclear. Data mining is a set of statistical techniques which uncovers interactions and meaningful patterns of factors from a large data collection. The aims of this study were to reveal complex interactions of the risk factors and clinical feature profiling associated with the staging of NBNC-HCC using data mining techniques.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis C infection decreased in Kyushu area.

Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan has still been increasing. The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological trend of HCC in the western area of Japan, Kyushu.

Material/methods: A total of 10,010 patients with HCC diagnosed between 1996 and 2008 in the Liver Cancer study group of Kyushu (LCSK), were recruited for this study.

Clinicopathological study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Japan: the risk factors for fibrosis.

Background/aims: We evaluated patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and compared the clinical and pathological features to identify the risk factors for NAFLD with severe fibrosis.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-two patients with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD from various medical centres were recruited into this study.

Results: The variables that were significantly associated with severe steatosis were male gender (mild:severe=36%:53%, P=0.

Impact of aging on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with posttransfusion chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a heterogeneous disease, the natural history of which remains controversial. There is solid evidence that chronic HCV infection is responsible for the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the current cohort study was to determine the rate of the development of HCC from the time of primary HCV infection and to assess the risk factors for the development of HCC in chronic posttransfusion hepatitis C patients.