Measurement of serum procalcitonin levels for the early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Background: It is difficult to diagnose spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) early in decompensated liver cirrhotic ascites patients (DCPs). The aim of the study was to measure serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and peripheral blood leukocyte/platelet (WBC/PLT) ratios to obtain an early diagnostic indication of SBP in DCPs.

Methods: Our cohort of 129 patients included 112 DCPs (94 of whom had infections) and 17 cases with compensated cirrhosis as controls.

Glypican-3 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through ERK signaling pathway.

Glypican-3 (GPC3), a membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is frequently upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how GPC3 contributes to the progress of HCC is largely unclear. The present study investigated the association between GPC3 expression and HCC clinicopathological characteristics, and particularly focused on the role and underlying mechanisms of GPC3 in HCC epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Clinical efficacy of tolvaptan for treatment of refractory ascites in liver cirrhosis patients.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan to treat refractory ascites in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with or without further complications, such as hepatorenal syndrome and/or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients (mean age 55 years, males: 32) with decompensated liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites were enrolled. All patients received a combination of tolvaptan (15 mg/d for 5-14 d) and diuretics (40-80 mg/d of furosemide and 80-160 mg/d of spironolactone).

Antiviral drug resistance increases hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective decompensated cirrhosis cohort study.

Aim: To study the clinical outcome of antiviral therapy in hepatitis B-related decompensated cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Three hundred and twelve patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis were evaluated in a prospective cohort. With two years of follow-up, 198 patients in the group receiving antiviral therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues and 39 patients in the control group without antiviral treatment were analysed.

HBsAg loss is not an ideal indicator for discontinuing treatment of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: a case report.

We experienced a case of a 36-year-old married man who was found to be hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive at 23 years of age. His liver function was repeatedly abnormal in the past 13 years. In November 2007 he presented with fatigue.

Probiotic yogurt effects on intestinal flora of patients with chronic liver disease.

Background: Patients with chronic liver disease generally have intestinal flora imbalance that is related to the development and worsening of the disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic yogurt on intestinal flora of patients with chronic liver disease.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial, pretest-posttest control group design, was used.

[Efficacy and durability of generic adefovir dipivoxil in patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis].

Objective: To study the efficacy and durability of generic adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis.

Methods: 54 nucleosides-naïve patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis were enrolled in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, prospective study. 38 patients received ADV (10 mg once daily) and the others received placebo.

[Ischemic hepatitis in hepatitis B related liver cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: clinical features and prognostic implications].

Objective: To investigate the incidence, clinical features and prognostic implications of ischemic hepatitis in hepatitis B related liver cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Methods: By retrospective review of the medical records of all 264 inpatients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage of hepatitis B related liver cirrhosis from January 1st 2007 to November 30th 2008, 11 patients with ischemic hepatitis (IH) were identified. The clinical features and prognostic implications were compared between the IH patients and 30 patients without ischemic hepatitis (control group).

Resting energy expenditure and glucose, protein and fat oxidation in severe chronic virus hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To study and determine the resting energy expenditure (REE) and oxidation rates of glucose, fat and protein in severe chronic hepatitis B patients.

Methods: A total of 100 patients with liver diseases were categorized into three groups: 16 in the acute hepatitis group, 56 in the severe chronic hepatitis group, and 28 in the cirrhosis group. The REE and the oxidation rates of glucose, fat and protein were assessed by indirect heat measurement using the CCM-D nutritive metabolic investigation system.

Comparison scoring model of severe viral hepatitis and model of end stage liver disease for the prognosis of patients with liver failure in China.

Aim: To estimate the prognosis of patients with liver failure using a scoring model of severe viral hepatitis (SMSVH) and a model of end stage liver disease (MELD) to provide a scientific basis for clinical decision of treatment.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with liver failure due to severe viral hepatitis were investigated with SMSVH established. Patients with acute, subacute, and chronic liver failure were 40, 46 and 34, respectively.

[Model for predicting survival of patients with severe virus hepatitis and its clinical application].

Objective: To study prospectively the short-time survival of patients with severe virus hepatitis using model of severe liver diseases (MSLD) established by our previous study.

Methods: One hundred and three patients with severe hepatitis were included by cohort study. Of them, there were 85 patients with severe chronic hepatitis patients, 10 acute and 8 subacute severe hepatitis patients, respectively.

[Clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome in forty-one confirmed health care workers].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: Forty-one medical care workers (aged 23 - 55 years, with a average of 32 years; men/women = 8/32) who were admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with SARS during March and April, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Thirteen of all the patients were physicians and the rest were nurses.

[Use of glucocorticoid in treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome cases].

Objective: To explore the effect of glucocorticoid in the treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: Clinical data of 70 patients with SARS admitted to Youan Hospital in Beijing during March to May, 2003 were analyzed.

Results: (1) Sixty-three of 70 cases of SARS recovered and seven cases died, with a case-fatality ratio of 10%.