Elevated intestinal fatty acid-binding protein levels as a marker of portal hypertension and gastroesophageal varices in cirrhosis.

We measured intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) levels, a useful marker of small intestinal mucosal injury, in patients with cirrhosis to determine their relationship with liver function and complications. This cross-sectional study included 71 patients with cirrhosis admitted for treatment of cirrhotic complications or hepatocellular carcinoma (cohort A) and 104 patients with cirrhosis who received direct-acting antiviral therapy for HCV (cohort B). I-FABP levels, measured by ELISA, were evaluated relative to hepatic reserve and compared with non-invasive scoring systems for diagnostic performance in cirrhotic complications.

Influence of Interferon-free Direct-acting Antiviral Therapy on Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence: A Landmark Time Analysis and Time-dependent Extended Cox Proportional Hazards Model Analysis.

Objective The influence of interferon (IFN)-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence remains unclear. Previous retrospective analyses revealed that the time interval between HCC curative treatment and IFN-free DAA induction is the critical factor affecting HCC recurrence. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of DAA therapy on HCC recurrence considering this interval.

Extracellular vesicles from senescent hepatic stellate cells promote cell viability of hepatoma cells through increasing EGF secretion from differentiated THP-1 cells.

Since the discovery of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, the role of senescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development has gained increasing attention. Similar to cytokines, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are essential for intercellular communication. However, the function of EVs derived from senescent HSCs in HCC progression has not been extensively studied.

The Evaluation of the Medical Information Exchange on 24-Hour Operation at North Kyushu Area in Japan.

We report on triage before transportation by sharing patient information between hospitals, making it possible to use the Ajisai-net for 24 hours. Fifty-six times hospital collaboration was conducted during the period from start of hospital cooperation operation until October 2018. Transportation cost reduction of 3,935,000 yen (34,620 dollars) was estimated.

The Impact for Medical Management of the Health Information Exchange Through Changes of the Number of the First Visit Patients and Admission Patients in Japan.

Recently Health Information Exchange (HIE) is gradually spreading in Japan. But there are few reports about the effect of the hospital management. So we examined the effect for hospital management through the number of the newly admitted patients from 2013 to 2017.

Bacteroides in colonic mucosa-associated microbiota affects the development of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis.

Background/purpose: Gut microbiota has been associated with liver cirrhosis and, possibly, hepatic encephalopathy. However, only a few studies have examined the link between mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM) and minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Our aim was to investigate this relationship.

Changes in serum LDL, PCSK9 and microRNA-122 in patients with chronic HCV infection receiving Daclatasvir/Asunaprevir.

The present study evaluated the changes in lipid profile, and the associations between serum protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), microRNA (miR)122 and low-density lipoprotein variation following treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection with Daclatasvir/Asunaprevir. A total of 39 patients with HCV genotype 1b infection with chronic hepatitis received a 24-week treatment regimen of Daclatasvir/Asunaprevir. Laboratory data were obtained for each subject every 4 weeks during treatment and every 12 weeks after treatment.

Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Small Dense Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Increase after One Year of Treatment with Direct-acting Antivirals in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Objective Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection exert a significantly high sustained viral response (SVR), and patients experience a rebound increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol levels. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a highly reproducible and non-invasive parameter for assessing the atherosclerotic process, and the small dense (sd) LDL level is useful for clinically evaluating the atherogenic risk. Methods A total of 48 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with DAAs.

Serum exosomal microRNA-122 and microRNA-21 as predictive biomarkers in transarterial chemoembolization-treated hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have been investigated as potential novel biomarkers, and miR-122 and miR-21 were shown to be important in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed the importance of serum exosomal miRNA expression levels in HCC patients that underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Seventy-five HCC patients who underwent TACE as the initial treatment in Nagasaki University Hospital were enrolled.

Utilization and efficacy of elbasvir/grazoprevir for treating hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation.

Aim: Recently, elbasvir/grazoprevir combination therapy (EBR/GZR) was reported to have excellent antiviral effects for chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, it has not been recommended for patients with post-liver transplant (LT) HCV re-infections because of a lack of evidence for effectiveness and drug-drug interactions.

Methods: We report the usage of EBR/GZR in five post-LT HCV re-infected patients with the kinetics of renal function and tacrolimus trough levels during and after therapy.

Risk Factors and Clinical Course for Liver Steatosis or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis After Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: Posttransplant liver steatosis occurs frequently and can affect patient outcome. Our aim was to clarify the risk factors for steatosis or steatohepatitis after living donor liver transplantation (LT) through a retrospective examination of recent 100 living donor LT recipients and their liver donors.

Methods: Liver biopsy was performed at 1 year after LT and each year, thereafter, or as needed due to abnormal liver enzyme levels, with a median follow-up of 4 years (2-10 years).

Ketone bodies as a predictor of prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Objective: Arterial ketone bodies, which reflect liver function, have been investigated. However, the relationship between venous ketone bodies and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. We investigated whether prognosis of patients with HCC after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was associated with venous blood ketone bodies.

Geranylgeranylacetone attenuates fibrogenic activity and induces apoptosis in cultured human hepatic stellate cells and reduces liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride-treated mice.

Background: Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), an anti-ulcer drug widely used in Japan, has attracted interest because of its various therapeutic effects. Therefore, we investigated the effects of GGA on human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro and in a mouse model of liver fibrosis.

Methods: LX2, an immortalized human HSC line, was cultured and treated with GGA at concentrations up to 0.

Current characteristics of hemophilia patients co-infected with HIV/HCV in Japan.

Over 30 years have passed since co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first documented in hemophilia patients in Japan. In such cases, the leading cause of mortality is reportedly HCV-associated end-stage liver disease. However, the current characteristics of hemophilia patients co-infected with HIV/HCV are unknown.