Hepatoma-derived growth factor stimulates podosome rosettes formation in NIH/3T3 cells through the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) stimulates the migration, invasion and metastasis in several types of cancer cells. However, the mechanism underlying HDGF-stimulated migration remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the influence of HDGF on cytoskeleton remodeling and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway in non-transformed NIH/3T3 cells.

Swab culture monitoring of automated endoscope reprocessors after high-level disinfection.

Aim: To conduct a bacterial culture study for monitoring decontamination of automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) after high-level disinfection (HLD).

Methods: From February 2006 to January 2011, authors conducted randomized consecutive sampling each month for 7 AERs. Authors collected a total of 420 swab cultures, including 300 cultures from 5 gastroscope AERs, and 120 cultures from 2 colonoscope AERs.

A novel experience of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Entecavir (ETV) is a potent inhibitor of viral replication in chronic hepatitis B. There is no published data concerning ETV therapy in nucleoside analogue (NUC)-naive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive renal transplant recipients (RTRs).

Methods: We prospectively treated 27 HBsAg-positive RTRs with ETV since 2007.

Randomized comparison of two non-bismuth-containing second-line rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori.

Background:  Classical second-line anti-Helicobacter pylori includes proton-pump inhibitor, tetracycline, metronidazole, and bismuth salts, but alternative therapies are required owing to the restricted availability of the latter. Levofloxacin-containing triple therapy is recommended but is expensive. Besides, quinolone resistance in an endemic tuberculosis infection area like Taiwan is concerned.

Intravenous non-high-dose pantoprazole is equally effective as high-dose pantoprazole in preventing rebleeding among low risk patients with a bleeding peptic ulcer after initial endoscopic hemostasis.

Background: Many studies have shown that high-dose proton-pumps inhibitors (PPI) do not further reduce the rate of rebleeding compared to non-high-dose PPIs but we do not know whether intravenous non-high-dose PPIs reduce rebleeding rates among patients at low risk (Rockall score < 6) or among those at high risk, both compared to high-dose PPIs. This retrospective case-controlled study aimed to identify the subgroups of these patients that might benefit from treatment with non-high-dose PPIs.

Methods: Subjects who received high dose and non-high-dose pantoprazole for confirmed acute PU bleeding at a tertiary referral hospital were enrolled (n = 413).

Transient elastography and simple blood markers in the diagnosis of esophageal varices for compensated patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Transient elastography (TE) has been useful in esophageal varices (EV) diagnosis for chronic hepatitis C patients. In the present study, we evaluate the usefulness of TE and simple blood markers in the EV diagnosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis, prospectively.

Methods: Consecutive patients with compensated cirrhosis and positive HBV surface antigen were enrolled, prospectively.

Recurrent gastric varices bleeding after living-related liver transplantation successfully eradicated by splenic artery embolization.

Living related liver transplantation (LRLT) may not be the only treatment for recurrent bleeding due to severe gastric varices secondary to left-side portal hypertension and splenic vein thrombosis. Splenectomy is the preferred long-term standard treatment for non-orthotopic liver transplantation patients, but additional treatments such as post-transplantation partial splenic arterial embolization to preserve the immunological function of the spleen and thus prevent the occurrence of post LRLT severe infection are suggested for these patients.

Network analysis and proteomic identification of vimentin as a key regulator associated with invasion and metastasis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Poor prognoses have long been associated with the high relapse and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To achieve long-term survival, it is necessary to identify new HCC biomarkers and investigate their roles in cell mobility and invasiveness. Of note, overexpression of vimentin (Vim) was significantly correlated with tumor nuclear grade (p=0.

Treatment response and evolution of HBV resistance during lamivudine plus adefovir or entecavir therapy in patients with adefovir-resistant mutants.

Background: Here, we investigated the treatment response and evolution of HBV resistance during lamivudine (LAM) plus adefovir (ADV) and entecavir (ETV) monotherapy in patients with ADV-resistant mutants.

Methods: Of the 53 patients with ADV-resistant mutants, 25 received combined LAM plus ADV therapy (LAM+ADV group) and 28 received ETV monotherapy (ETV group) for at least 12 months (median 24 months and range 12-67 months).

Results: During 24 months therapy, no significant difference was noted in HBV DNA reduction from baseline, HBV DNA<200 copies/ml, hepatitis B e antigen loss and ALT normalization between the two groups.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor regulates breast cancer cell invasion by modulating epithelial--mesenchymal transition.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) participates in tumourigenesis but its role in breast cancer is unclear. We set out to elucidate the expression profile and function of HDGF during breast carcinogenesis. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical studies revealed elevated HDGF expression in human breast cancer cell lines and tissues.

A comparison of telbivudine and entecavir for chronic hepatitis B in real-world clinical practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of telbivudine and entecavir in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients over a 1 year period.

Methods: Ninety-seven telbivudine-naive and 98 entecavir-naive CHB patients who had been treated for at least 1 year were enrolled. Serial serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were checked at baseline and at weeks 24 and 48 after treatment.

Precore/core promoter mutations and hepatitis B virus genotype in hepatitis B and C dually infected patients treated with interferon-based therapy.

We studied the prevalence and distribution of precore/basal core promoter (BCP) mutations and hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in HBV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) dually-infected patients, and evaluated their impact on long-term HBV response of interferon (IFN)-based therapy. The HBV genotypes and sequences of the precore/BCP regions were determined in 180 HBV/HCV dually-infected patients and were compared with 90 age, sex and hepatitis B e antigen-matched chronic hepatitis B controls. Serum HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were assessed every 3-6 months after therapy with IFN or pegylated-IFN plus ribavirin in 135 dually-infected patients with active hepatitis C.

Sustained HCV clearance by interferon-based therapy reduces hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B and C dually-infected patients.

Background: Recent studies have indicated that interferon (IFN) or pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy can achieve sustained virological response (SVR) against HCV equally in dual HBV-HCV infection and in HCV monoinfection. Whether these therapies can reduce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in dual HBV-HCV infection remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 135 dually-infected patients with active hepatitis C receiving IFN or PEG-IFN plus ribavirin therapy were enrolled.

Surveillance culture monitoring of double-balloon enteroscopy reprocessing with high-level disinfection.

Background: Inadequate reprocessing of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) or of endoscopic accessories may result in iatrogenic infections and present a risk to public health.

Aim: To use microbiological surveillance culture monitoring (SCM) to assess the adequacy of high-level disinfection (HLD) with standard reprocessing procedures of DBE.

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective study on cultures collected from DBEs that had been treated by HLD by an automated endoscope washing machine (AEWM) decontamination cycle.

Homogenous phenomenon of graft liver CYP2C19 genotypes after living donor liver transplantation.

Background: The donor liver grafts with different allelic patterns do not affect CYP2C19 genotypes in the peripheral blood of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients.

Aim: This study investigated the influence of graft liver CYP2C19 genotypes on recipients who received the same or different CYP2C19 genotypes from donors after LDLT.

Methods: There were 30 donors and 30 recipients with the same CYP2C19 genotypes and 47 donors and 47 recipients with different CYP2C19 genotypes.

Liver interleukin-8 messenger RNA expression and interferon sensitivity-determining region mutations relate to treatment response in hepatitis C 1b.

Background: In vitro study has shown that mechanisms for inhibiting interferon (IFN)-α antiviral action by non-structural 5A protein include interaction with IFN-induced RNA-dependent protein kinase and induction of interleukin (IL)-8 expression. Mutations in the non-structural 5A IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) were reported to correlate with sustained virological response (SVR). IL-8 is associated with the inhibition of IFN-α action.

Randomized comparison of two nonbismuth-containing rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori.

Introduction: A triple therapy consisting of proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and metronidazole or tetracycline has been recommended as the second-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication if bismuth is not available. This study compared the efficacy of esomeprazole/amoxicillin/levofloxacin (EAL) and esomeprazole/amoxicillin/metronidazole (EAM) as second-line therapy for H pylori eradication.

Methods: From April 2008 to September 2009, 90 patients who failed H pylori eradication using the standard triple therapy were randomized to receive either EAL (40 mg esomeprazole twice daily, 1 g amoxicillin twice daily and 500 mg levofloxacin once daily for 7 days) or EAM (40 mg esomeprazole twice daily, 1 g amoxicillin twice daily and 250 mg metronidazole 4 times daily for 14 days).

The therapeutic response of antiviral therapy in HBsAg-positive renal transplant recipients and a long-term follow-up.

Background: Early prediction of lamivudine (LAM) response by individualized monitoring of serum HBV DNA like roadmap concept, and investigation of the outcome after LAM discontinuation in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We conducted a study on 19 RTRs with HBV infection receiving LAM treatment for 2 years from 2004 to 2007. HBV DNA level was assessed at baseline, 12, 24, 52, and 104 weeks after treatment.

Reversal of hypolipidemia in chronic hepatitis C patients after successful antiviral therapy.

Background/purpose: Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with impaired lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of antiviral response on the serial change of serum lipids in chronic HCV patients.

Methods: A total of 165 consecutive patients with HCV infection were prospectively enrolled.

Long-term effect of interferon plus ribavirin on hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance in patients dually infected with hepatitis B and C viruses.

Background: Interferon-α/ribavirin combination therapy might promote hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance in patients dually infected with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV), but the long-term effect remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the rate of and the factors associated with HBsAg seroclearance during long-term follow-up after interferon-α/ribavirin combination therapy in HBV/HCV dually-infected patients.

Methodology/principal Findings: Eighty-one patients who received interferon-α/ribavirin combination therapy for 24 weeks with a follow-up period of >24 weeks were enrolled.

The effects of cefazolin on cirrhotic patients with acute variceal hemorrhage after endoscopic interventions.

Background: The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guidelines recommend that antibiotic prophylaxis should be instituted in any patient with cirrhosis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and that oral norfloxacin, intravenous ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone are preferable. However, the antimicrobial spectrum of the first generation of cephalosporins (cefazolin) covers a wide range of bacteria species, including community-acquired strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, but their efficacy as prophylactic antibiotics in cirrhotic patients with acute hemorrhage was seldom warranted in the literature. This study aimed to explore the effects of cefazolin on the outcome of cirrhotic patients with acute variceal hemorrhage after endoscopic interventions.

Diagnostic sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma imaging and its application to non-cirrhotic patients.

Background And Aims: The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease issued guidelines that proposed that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed if a mass is larger than 2 cm in a cirrhotic liver and shows typical features of HCC at triphasic liver computed tomography (CT) or dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In non-cirrhotic livers, the criteria were not applicable. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the sensitivity of imaging by samples of definite HCC postoperatively and test their application to diagnose HCC in non-cirrhotic livers.

Hepatitis B virus genotype B results in better immediate, late and sustained responses to peginterferon-alfa in hepatitis-B-e-antigen-positive patients.

Background And Aims: This study investigated outcome predictors in hepatitis-B-e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a.

Methods: A total of 88 HBeAg-positive patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a for 6 months and followed up for at least 24 weeks were prospectively analyzed. Precore and core promoter genes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were sequenced from the serial serum samples of 88 patients.

Liver stiffness measurement in the risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma for patients with chronic hepatitis.

Background/aims: [corrected] The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increased with progression of hepatic fibrosis as assessed by liver stiffness measurement (LSM). This study used LSM to assess the risk of HCC presence in patients with chronic hepatitis.

Methods: The patients with liver tumor or chronic hepatitis indicated for biopsy were prospectively enrolled.

Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of ginger on gastric motility and emptying, abdominal symptoms, and hormones that influence motility in dyspepsia.

Methods: Eleven patients with functional dyspepsia were studied twice in a randomized double-blind manner. After an 8-h fast, the patients ingested three capsules that contained ginger (total 1.