Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy outcome according to clarithromycin susceptibility testing in Japan.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection increases the risk of gastric cancer. Therefore, eradication is a global goal, which requires continuous monitoring of therapeutic regimens and effectiveness. Clarithromycin resistance is an important contributor to eradication failure, and metronidazole is recommended as second-line treatment in such cases.

Effect of PNPLA3 rs738409 variant (I148 M) on hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation, and fibrosis in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Host genetic factors have been suspected to influence histological liver damage in chronic liver disease. The nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism rs738409 C > G in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 gene (PNPLA3, also known as adiponutrin), encoding the I148 M protein variant, has been identified as a novel genetic marker for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease. We aimed to determine whether the PNPLA3 rs738409 variant was associated with hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation, and fibrosis in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Influence of lifestyle-related diseases and age on the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, the clinical association between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT) and dyslipidemia (DL) has not been clarified. We studied the influence of lifestyle-related diseases and age on the development and progression of NAFLD.

Methods: We enrolled 550 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (284 men, 266 women; average age, 52 and 62 years, respectively).

Efficacy and safety of sorafenib in very elderly patients aged 80 years and older with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: Sorafenib is the standard systemic therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of sorafenib therapy in very elderly patients aged 80 years and older with advanced HCC.

Methods: In a retrospective multicenter study in Japan, we reviewed 185 patients (median age, 71 years; 82% male; 95% Child-Pugh class A) with advanced HCC who received sorafenib therapy.

Interferon and nucleoside analog combination therapy for hepatitis B.

Interferon therapy has several advantages over nucleoside or nucleotide analog therapy: finite duration, durable treatment response, and no viral resistance. However, it is only effective in about 30% of patients. To improve its efficacy, the combination of interferon and nucleoside/nucleotide analogs may facilitate additive or synergistic effects.

Molecular characterization of a variant virus that caused de novo hepatitis B without elevation of hepatitis B surface antigen after chemotherapy with rituximab.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients following treatment with rituximab has been reported increasingly. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying HBV reactivation in an HBsAg-negative patient. HBV was reactivated in a 75-year-old man following chemotherapy with rituximab, without elevation of HBsAg.