Keratin 19 protein expression is an independent predictor of survival in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: We aimed to assess the clinicopathological relevance and prognostic significance of expression of the hepatic progenitor cell markers keratin 19 (K19), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD117 (c-KIT) in a White series of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of K19, EpCAM and CD117 in 89 surgical specimens of HCC from Greek patients (mean age 66.7±11.

Thirteen years follow-up of heart myxoma operated patients: what is the appropriate surgical technique?

Background: Cardiac myxoma is a benign neoplasm that represents the most prevalent primary tumor of the heart. If not treated with the right surgical technique recurrence occurs. Aim of our study is to present our surgical approach and the histology of the tumors resected.

Hepatitis B surface antigen: relation to hepatitis B replication parameters in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Translation of HBsAg depends on transcription of the appropriate mRNAs from cccDNA, but its relation to other hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication parameters is not known, inasmuch as integrated sequences of HBV-DNA may also contribute to its serum levels, especially in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: We investigated HBsAg serum levels, its hepatocellular expression, and their relationship to HBV replicative- and host-response parameters before treatment in 54 HBeAg-negative CHB patients and in 15 of them after 40.1±33.