Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma: A study in patients with chronic hepatitis C after sustained virologic response.

Background: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strongly influenced many aspects of the medical care, including cancer surveillance.

Aims: We investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing on patients with hepatitis C virus infection who were receiving surveillance for HCC after sustained virologic response (SVR) in Japan.

Methods: Patients who achieved SVR between 1995 and 2017 and continued receiving surveillance were compared by month in terms of the rate at which they kept their scheduled visits for HCC surveillance from July 2019 to May 2020.

Post-treatment levels of α-fetoprotein predict long-term hepatocellular carcinoma development after sustained virological response in patients with hepatitis C.

Aim: The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is reportedly lower in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who have achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) than in patients who were unresponsive to therapy. However, the development of HCC is sometimes observed in patients with SVR. Therefore, we clarified the predictive power of clinical factors for HCC incidence in patients with SVR using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis that takes time dependence into account.

Viral eradication reduces all-cause mortality, including non-liver-related disease, in patients with progressive hepatitis C virus-related fibrosis.

Background And Aim: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been reported to reduce all-cause mortality in patients with chronic HCV infection. However, the impact of HCV eradication on non-liver-related mortality and causes of death has not been sufficiently investigated in patients with progressive HCV-related fibrosis.

Methods: We enrolled 784 chronic HCV patients with progressive liver fibrosis (aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index >1).

HBcrAg predicts hepatocellular carcinoma development: An analysis using time-dependent receiver operating characteristics.

Background & Aims: Several hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers have been identified as factors associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We clarified the predictive power of HBV markers for the development of HCC using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with a consideration of time dependence.

Methods: A total of 1031 CHB patients who were not treated with nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy were enrolled.

Viral eradication reduces all-cause mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a propensity score analysis.

Background & Aims: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been reported to reduce all-cause mortality rates in patients with chronic HCV infection. However, the impact of HCV eradication on non-liver-related mortality including the causes of death has not been sufficiently investigated in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: We enrolled 2743 patients with chronic HCV infection.

Long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not receive interferon-based therapy: causes of death and analysis based on the FIB-4 index.

Background: Interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been reported to reduce the liver-related mortality rate in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, predictors of survival and causes of death, including non-liver-related causes, have not been sufficiently investigated in chronic HCV patients who have not received IFN-based therapy.

Methods: A total of 1723 patients with chronic HCV infection who were not treated with IFN-based therapy were enrolled.

Impact of the branched-chain amino acid to tyrosine ratio and branched-chain amino acid granule therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score analysis.

Background And Aim: It has been reported that the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) to tyrosine ratio (BTR) is a useful indicator of liver function and BCAA therapy is associated with a decreased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there has not been sufficient research on the relationship between BTR and the effects of BCAA therapy after initial treatment of HCC. We investigated the impact of BTR and BCAA therapy on survival in patients with HCC.

Risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma development in non-cirrhotic patients with sustained virologic response for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background And Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can develop in patients with chronic hepatitis C after they have achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) to antiviral therapy, that is eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Thus, surveillance for HCC remains necessary after SVR. We investigated factors that are predictive of HCC in HCV-infected patients who achieved SVR.

Association between hepatic steatosis and hepatic expression of genes involved in innate immunity in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Backgrounds/aims: We investigated the association between hepatic steatosis and hepatic expression of genes involved in innate immunity, both of which are reportedly associated with resistance to peginterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: A total of 122 patients infected with HCV genotype 1b who underwent and completed PEG-IFN and ribavirin combination therapy were studied. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated on the basis of the liver specimen biopsied prior to antiviral therapy.

Oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acid granules prevents hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis: A propensity score analysis.

Aim: It has been reported that branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation can improve nutritional status and reduce liver-related complications in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. BCAA supplementation reportedly reduces the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in obese cirrhotic patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We investigated the effects of oral supplementation with BCAA granules on hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis using propensity score matching.

[The clinical strategy for the Barrett's esophagus].

The treatment of Barrett's esophagus is controversial. Current treatments include endoscopic therapy, surgical procedures, gastric acid-suppressive therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and cancer chemoprevention such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Endoscopic therapy combined with gastric acid suppressive therapy can result in squamous reepithelialization of the Barrett's mucosa.

Relationship between Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein and pathologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: We investigated pathological features of Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order to seek a pathological basis of poor prognosis of HCC patients with elevated AFP-L3.

Methods: A total of 111 patients with HCC < or =5 cm in diameter who underwent hepatic resection were studied. Serum AFP-L3 concentration was measured within a month prior to surgery by lectin-affinity electrophoresis coupled with antibody-affinity blotting, and expressed as AFP-L3 percentage of total AFP.

Changes in the characteristics and survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma from 1976 to 2000: analysis of 1365 patients in a single institution in Japan.

Background: The authors analyzed changes in the characteristics and survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the past 25 years.

Methods: Trends in clinical characteristics and survival rate of patients with HCC were evaluated retrospectively based on data from 1365 patients who were diagnosed, treated, and followed between 1976 and 2000.

Results: Between 1976-1995, the number of patients with smaller tumors, a less advanced tumor stage, and with a lower Child-Pugh class increased markedly.