The factors associated with longitudinal changes in liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: Liver stiffness (LS) as assessed by transient elastography (TE) can change longitudinally in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to identify the factors that improve LS.

Methods: Between April 2007 and December 2012, 151 patients with CHB who underwent two TE procedures with an interval of about 2 years were enrolled.

Association between renal dysfunction and the mixed plaque of coronary artery on computed tomographic angiography.

Coronary artery plaque is related to development of coronary artery disease (CAD), and chronic kidney disease is associated with CAD. However, the association of renal dysfunction (RD) with coronary artery plaque characteristics has not been fully elucidated. We evaluated the association between RD and coronary artery plaque characteristics in patients with suspected CAD, who underwent multislice computed tomographic angiography (CTA).

Chronic kidney disease in cancer patients: an independent predictor of cancer-specific mortality.

Background/aims: The effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the risk of death for patients with malignant disease are uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the presence of CKD and mortality in cancer patients.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 8,223 cancer patients with one or more serum creatinine measurements from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004.

Genistein supplementation inhibits atherosclerosis with stabilization of the lesions in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

The effect of genistein on aortic atherosclerosis was studied by immunohistochemistry with RAM-11 and HHF-35 antibodies and western blotting for matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in New Zealand White rabbits. After provocation of atherosclerosis with hyperlipidemic diet, the rabbits were divided as hyperlipidemic diet group (HD), normal diet group (ND) and hyperlipidemic plus genistein diet group (HD+genistein) for 4 and half months. The average cross sectional area of atherosclerotic lesion was 0.