HRTEM observation of bonding interface between Ce-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite and porcelain.

The surface of a ceria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Ce-TZP/Al2O3) nanocomposite was sandblasted by alumina particles and veneered with feldspathic porcelain via a conventional condensation method. The part of each specimen containing the interface layer was sliced to ultrathin sections with an argon ion slicer, and these sliced sections were observed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). For both interfaces, Ce-TZP/porcelain and Al2O3/porcelain, no transition layers due to abrupt changes in atomic distributions were observed.

Anti-high mobility group box 1 and box 2 non-histone chromosomal proteins (HMGB1/HMGB2) antibodies and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA): accuracy in differentially diagnosing UC and CD and correlation with inflammatory bowel disease phenotype.

Background: The development of a supportive diagnostic method has long been required to differentially diagnose ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Several antibodies circulate in the sera of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We previously identified the high mobility group box 1 and box 2 non-histone chromosomal proteins (HMGB1 and HMGB2) as novel antigens of perinuclear type anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) and discovered anti-HMGB1/HMGB2 antibodies in sera from patients with UC.

Mutations in the non-structural protein 5A gene in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus 1b infection during repeated interferon treatment.

It has been previously reported that the non-structural region 5A (NS5A) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) includes an interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) and that amino acid substitutions in this region are closely associated with the response to interferon (IFN) treatment. We assessed the clinical significance of serial changes of amino acid sequences in the ISDR during repeated IFN treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1b), related to serum HCV RNA load. During treatment, additional amino acid substitutions in the ISDR were observed in four of eight patients (50% 2/5 of complete responders (CR); 2/3 of non-responders (NR).

Amino acid mutations in the interferon sensitivity determining region and serum virus load in hepatitis C virus carriers with long-term normal ALT levels.

The amino acid mutations in a part of the non-structural region 5A (NS5A) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, called the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR), can affect the response to interferon (IFN) treatment. We analyzed the serial changes of the amino acid substitutions in the ISDR during the natural course of patients with sustained long-term normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in relation to the changes in virus load, and assessed the clinical significance of ISDR in the natural course and IFN treatment. The subjects were nine patients infected with HCV (genotype 1b) who had been examined for serum ALT levels every month for more than 1 year and had well-sustained normal levels.

Hepatitis viral infection in Behçet's disease.

To elucidate the role of hepatitis viruses in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD), we measured hepatitis viral markers (anti-hepatitis A (anti-HA), HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc) and viral nucleic acids (hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA, GB virus C (GBV-C)-RNA, TT virus (TTV)-DNA) in the sera of 68 BD patients along with 76 blood donors matched for age and sex. Positivity of anti-HA in patients with BD (36.8%) was lower than that in blood donors (68.

Evidence for a bidirectional promoter complex within the X gene of woodchuck hepatitis virus.

The genetic organization of hepadnaviruses is unusual in that all cis-acting regulatory sequences are located within genes. Thus, in the mammalian hepadnavirus genome, the presurface, surface, and X transcript promoters reside within the polymerase gene while the pregenome transcript promoter is located within the X gene. In this study we have identified two additional promoters within the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) X gene that stimulate production of transcripts in vitro.

A combination therapy with simvastatin and ursodeoxycholic acid is more effective for cholesterol gallstone dissolution than is ursodeoxycholic acid monotherapy.

Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy,3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase have been reported to decrease the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) in duodenal bile in humans and to prevent formation of cholesterol gallstones in animal studies. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors as gallstone-dissolving agents. Fifty patients with radiolucent gallstones in a gallbladder opacifying at drip infusion cholecystography were treated with either 10 mg/day simvastatin plus 600 mg/day ursodeoxycholic acid (group 1, n=26) or 600 mg/day ursodeoxycholic acid alone (group 2, n=24) for 12 months.

Analysis of the X gene promoter of woodchuck hepatitis virus.

During the course of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) replication three virus-specific mRNA transcripts that encode four essential proteins are produced. The transcripts are 3.6, 2.

Humoral inhibitor of rat hepatocyte DNA synthesis from patients with fulminant liver failure.

Sera and ultrafiltrates (relative molecular mass < 10,000 Da) from patients with fulminant liver failure inhibit hepatocyte DNA synthesis in vivo. In this study the effects of ultrafiltrates from pooled sera from fulminant liver failure patients in the United Kingdom and plasma ultrafiltrates from fulminant liver failure patients in Japan have been investigated in primary cultured rat hepatocytes, with incubation for up to 72 hr. Both types of ultrafiltrate inhibited the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into acid-precipitable material and reduced the cell labeling index as determined on autoradiography in hepatocytes stimulated by epidermal growth factor and insulin compared with normal sera/plasma ultrafiltrates.

A simple method for evaluating prothrombin time in severe liver disease.

A measurement of prothrombin time by a new, whole blood capillary system was evaluated for use in severe liver disease, such as fulminant and chronic hepatic failure. The measurement required a single drop of fresh, whole blood and was easily performed at bedside. Results were available within 5 minutes after collection of the blood samples.

Prognostic value of hepatic volumetry in fulminant hepatic failure.

Serial hepatic volumetry calculated from the liver area on abdominal computed tomography was performed in 19 patients with fulminant hepatic failure to determine a relationship between liver volume and prognosis. All patients received intensified artificial liver support comprised of plasma exchange and hemodiafiltration using high-performance membranes, and 10 patients survived. Liver volume was significantly larger in survivors than in nonsurvivors, both in an initial volumetry performed at the onset of coma and in subsequent volumetry performed 10-20 days after the onset of coma.

[Per oral gallstone dissolution therapy].

In this paper the author describe present status and problems of Per oral cholesterol gallstone dissolution therapy by bile acid. 1) Both ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) decrease the cholesterol output in bile, but their action mechanism somewhat differs. 2) Clinical results of UDCA treatment in our hospital during past 17 years are as follows.

Development of reliable artificial liver support (ALS)--plasma exchange in combination with hemodiafiltration using high-performance membranes.

A new artificial liver support system (ALSS) consisting of plasma exchange (PE) in combination with hemodiafiltration (HDF) using high-performance membranes of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and cellulose triacetate (CTA) was developed to efficiently remove middle molecules from plasma and treat fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) complicated by the onset of hepatic coma. Twenty-seven patients with FHF due to viral hepatitis, two with type A (HA), nine with type B (HB), and 16 with type non-A, non-B (NANB) underwent therapy with this new ALSS over the last five years. Three patients with an exacerbation of chronic HB and 15/16 with type NANB hepatitis were treated with interferon (IFN) also.

Reactivation of precore mutant hepatitis B virus leading to fulminant hepatic failure following cytotoxic treatment.

Three hepatitis B virus carriers who were HB(e)Ag negative and having normal liver function developed fulminant hepatitis with evidence of HBV replication following intensive chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Each was continuously negative for HB(e)Ag. Analysis of the precore region of HBV isolated from each demonstrated that the HBV of each had a point mutation in the precore region that inhibited the synthesis and the release of hepatitis B(e) antigen.

[Effects of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with radiation therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma].

Eight cases were treated with periodic arterial infusion therapy from reservoir and four cases with arterial infusion therapy plus 30 Gy's radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The anatomical extent of the tumor was E3 and E4, respectively. We evaluated these forms of therapy from the viewpoint of tumor characteristics, survival time and therapeutic effects.

[Relation between Helicobacter pylori and intractable gastric ulcer--PAS positive intramucosal mucus as an index].

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is considered to be one of the causes of gastric mucosal injury. Using biopsy specimens from the gastric mucosa of patients with gastritis or gastric ulcer, the intramucosal mucus was quantified by computer image analysis to evaluate its relationship with Hp. In gastric mucosa positive for Hp, the mucus content within the gastric mucosa was significantly decreased.

[Effects of intraarterial infusion chemotherapy on liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

Periodic infusion chemotherapy from the reservoir implanted by direct arterial puncture (Seldinger method) was performed in 21 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of treatment in terms of efficacy and liver function in about 12 patients who survived more than 6 months was investigated. Owing to the progressive liver atrophy and liver dysfunction with ascites, some cases had to delay infusion treatment.