Outcomes of laparoscopic hepatic resection versus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma located at the liver surface: A case-control study with propensity score matching.

Aim: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (P-RFA) therapy is a widely applied treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, local recurrence is a major issue of HCC located at the surface of the liver (surface HCC). The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of laparoscopic hepatic resection (LH) and P-RFA for surface HCC in case-control patient groups using the propensity score.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, 40 and 52 patients underwent LH and P-RFA for surface HCC (≤3 cm, 1-3 nodules).

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma patients with modest alcohol consumption.

Aim: Alcoholic hepatocellular carcinoma (ALD-HCC) accounts for the majority of non-B non-C HCC (NBNC-HCC) cases. Although alcohol is a potent carcinogen, there have been few reports on the influence of modest alcohol consumption in NBNC-HCC. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of NBNC-HCC patients with modest alcohol consumption.

Effects on anemia of drug adjustment in patients with chronic hepatitis C during telaprevir-combined therapy.

Aim: Anemia is the most common adverse event in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with telaprevir (TVR) combined triple therapy. We examined the effects of drug dose adjustment on anemia and a sustained viral response (SVR) during combination therapy.

Material And Methods: This study enrolled 62 patients treated with TVR (2,250 mg) for 12 weeks plus pegylated interferon-alpha-2b and ribavirin for 24 weeks.

Positioning of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography imaging in the management algorithm of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) may detect primary lesions (PLs) and extrahepatic metastases (EHMs) only in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We investigated the requirement of PET and the optimal timing of PET scanning for accurate staging and treatment planning.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective investigation of 64 HCC patients who underwent PET (median age, 74 years; male/female, 41/23; etiology, 46 hepatitis C virus/4 hepatitis B virus/4 alcoholic/10 others).

Real-time PCR assays for hepatitis C virus RNA (genotype 1) is useful for evaluating virological response to the treatment with peginterferon-alpha2b and ribavirin.

Background: The real-time PCR, such as Abbott RealTime assay, have replaced end-point PCR, such as Amplicor assays, for the measurement of HCV RNA. However, 'response-guided therapy' to use on-treatment response for tailoring the duration of treatment with peginterferon-alpha and ribavirin has not been fully evaluated for real-time PCR.

Methods: 43 patients with HCV genotype 1 (24 who had complete early virological responses (cEVR) on Amplicor assay and received 48-week therapy, and 19 who had late virological responses (LVR) and received 72-week therapy) were recruited.

Effect of caffeine-containing beverage consumption on serum alanine aminotransferase levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a hospital-based cohort study.

Introduction: To date, there have been no prospective studies examining the effect of coffee consumption on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level among individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We conducted a hospital-based cohort study among patients with chronic HCV infection to assess an association between baseline coffee consumption and subsequent ALT levels for 12 months.

Materials And Methods: From 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006, total 376 HCV-RNA positive patients were recruited.

Cytoglobin is expressed in hepatic stellate cells, but not in myofibroblasts, in normal and fibrotic human liver.

Cytoglobin (CYGB) is ubiquitously expressed in the cytoplasm of fibroblastic cells in many organs, including hepatic stellate cells. As yet, there is no specific marker with which to distinguish stellate cells from myofibroblasts in the human liver. To investigate whether CYGB can be utilized to distinguish hepatic stellate cells from myofibroblasts in normal and fibrotic human liver, human liver tissues damaged by infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and at different stages of fibrosis were obtained by liver biopsy.

A complete response induced by 21-day sorafenib therapy in a patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The response rate and overall survival after sorafenib administration in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma are unsatisfactory. We herein present the case of a 65-year-old man with multiple lung metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Because the patient had liver cirrhosis of Child-Pugh B accompanied by pancytopenia, sorafenib administration was initiated at a dose of 400 mg daily.

Combination therapy of natural human interferon-beta and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients with injection drug use.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy using natural human interferon-β and ribavirin (IFN-β/RBV) for chronic hepatitis C patients who were injection drug users (IDU) and resident in the Airin district of Osaka, containing the biggest slums in Japan.

Methods: Twenty-nine IDU with chronic hepatitis C received combination therapy of IFN-β/RBV. The psychiatrist in charge evaluated the scores of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), a self-rating scale based on 20 questions.

Physical inactivity and insufficient dietary intake are associated with the frequency of sarcopenia in patients with compensated viral liver cirrhosis.

Aim: The association between sarcopenia and nutritional status is thought to be an important problem in patients with cirrhosis. In this study, we investigated whether nutritional factors were related to sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: The subjects were 50 patients with cirrhosis aged 41 years or older.

[Tumor lysis syndrome after transarterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma].

A man in his 70's was admitted to our hospital for treatment of a huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE). After treatment, anuria occurred, and laboratory examinations revealed a diagnosis of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). He underwent conservative therapy including hemodialysis, resulting in complete remission of TLS.

Nutritional status in relation to lifestyle in patients with compensated viral cirrhosis.

Aim: To assess the nourishment status and lifestyle of non-hospitalized patients with compensated cirrhosis by using noninvasive methods.

Methods: The subjects for this study consisted of 27 healthy volunteers, 59 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, and 74 patients with viral cirrhosis, from urban areas. We assessed the biochemical blood tests, anthropometric parameters, diet, lifestyle and physical activity of the patients.

Changes in sequences of core region, interferon sensitivity-determining region and interferon and ribavirin resistance-determining region of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 during interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy, and efficacy of retreatment.

Aim:   Some regions associated with sensitivity to interferon-α and ribavirin have been identified in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, including amino acid 70 in the core region (core a.a. 70), a.

Effect of mosapride citrate on gastric emptying in interferon-induced gastroparesis.

Background And Objectives: Gastroparesis, a gastrointestinal autonomic neuropathy, is a common adverse reaction in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients receiving interferon therapy. Current therapeutic options are limited. We evaluated the efficacy of mosapride for IFN-induced gastroparesis.

Benefits of artificially induced pleural effusion and/or ascites for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma located on the liver surface and in the hepatic dome.

Background/aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with artificial pleural effusion and/or artificial ascites has recently been recognized as a useful device for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the indication of this technique is unclear and its therapeutic efficacy is undetermined.

Methodology: We decided the precise indication for the use of artificial infusion.

Response-guided therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis who have high viral loads of hepatitis C virus genotype 2.

Aim:   We evaluated the efficacy of response-guided therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2.

Methods:   We studied 105 patients with an HCV genotype 2 load of higher than 5.0 Log IU/mL who received more than 75% of the target dose of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.

Favorable factors for re-treatment with pegylated interferon α2a plus ribavirin in patients with high viral loads of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus.

Aim:   Effect of re-treatment for pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin was not fully evaluated. We examined the effects of re-treatment with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin in patients with high viral loads of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus who failed to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) with combination therapy.

Methods:   We examined 38 patients who were re-treated with PEG-IFN α2a plus ribavirin for more than 60 weeks, among whom 14 were non-responders and 24 were relapsers after previous treatment with PEG-IFN α2b plus ribavirin.

Close correlation of liver stiffness with collagen deposition and presence of myofibroblasts in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim:   Transient elastography is known as a rapid, objective, and highly reliable technique for staging hepatic fibrosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection; however, the relationship between degree of fibrosis and the collagen deposition or the accumulation of myofibroblasts in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains to be further elucidated.

Methods:   The subjects were 36 patients with NAFLD who received liver biopsy and liver stiffness measurement using transient elastography. Their clinical data and laboratory values were collected.

Usefulness of transient elastography for assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B: Regression of liver stiffness during entecavir therapy.

Aim:   The usefulness of transient elastography remains to be validated in chronic hepatitis B, particularly as a tool for monitoring the degree of liver fibrosis during treatment.

Methods:   The subjects were 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Liver biopsy was performed in 38 patients, and in 12 patients with platelet counts of 50 × 10(9)/L or less, cirrhosis was clinically diagnosed on the basis of specific signs of portal hypertension.

Real-time tissue elastography as a tool for the noninvasive assessment of liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Although histopathological examination by "invasive" liver biopsy remains the gold standard for evaluating disease progression in chronic liver disease, noninvasive tools have appeared and have led to great progress in diagnosing the stage of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the value of real-time tissue elastography, using an instrument made in Japan, for the visible measurement of liver elasticity; in particular, comparing the results with those of transient elastography (Fibroscan).

Methods: Real-time tissue elastography (RTE), transient elastography (Fibroscan), liver biopsy, and routine laboratory analyses were performed in 101 patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Two cases of hepatocellular adenomatosis treated with transcatheter arterial embolization.

Hepatocellular adenoma is a rare benign tumor of the liver. However, some complications, such as hemorrhage, rupture, and malignant transformation, have been reported previously. Surgical resection is considered to be the best choice of treatment, when adenomas are increasing in size, while resection is difficult to perform when multiple adenomas develop throughout the liver.

A case of primary small cell carcinoma of the liver that was treated with chemotherapy.

Primary small cell carcinoma (SSC) of the liver is very rare in Japan and only ten cases have been reported worldwide. We report herein the case of a 77-year-old man with primary SCC of the liver. He had a tumor over 10 cm in diameter which was localized in the right lobe of the liver and had invaded the right diaphragm.

Frequent detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma of patients with sustained virologic response for hepatitis C virus.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops several years after the eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by interferon therapy. Risk factors for the development of HCC are only partly understood. To elucidate the role of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with sustained virologic response, the prevalences of HBV-related makers were examined.

Noninvasive laboratory tests proposed for predicting cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C are also useful in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Several noninvasive tests have been proposed to predict cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C, but not in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We assessed whether noninvasive laboratory tests designed to predict the risk of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection could be used in patients with NASH.

Methods: The subjects were 50 patients with biopsy-proved NASH and 100 age- and sex-matched patients with HCV.