Mutations in two PKR-binding domains in chronic hepatitis C of genotype 3a and correlation with viral loads and interferon responsiveness.

Interferon (IFN) induces the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) to inhibit viral replication. Two motifs of the PKR-binding domain exist in the E2 and the NS5A regions of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These regions are called the PKR-eukaryotic transcription factor (elF2-alpha) phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD), and the IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR).

Difference of HBV genotype distribution between acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis in Japan.

Background: Recently genotype A which is rare in the patients in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was frequently noted in patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB). To investigate their clinical and virological features, we studied the AHB patients in the past 5 years.

Patients And Methods: 98 patients with AHB and 80 patients with CHB admitted to our hospital between 1998 and 2003 were studied.

Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with rapid growth after cardiac surgery.

A 65-year-old man diagnosed with hepatitis C virus-positive hepatitis and severe valvular heart disease was scheduled to undergo cardiac valve replacement. We then found hepatocellular carcinoma in the liver. Because of his severe cardiac dysfunction, we treated him surgically with radiofrequency ablation for the hepatocellular carcinoma only.

Prevalence and characterization of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 in Japanese hepatitis C carriers.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be classified into six major genotypes, the prevalences of which differ around the world. In Japan, the main genotypes are HCV 1 and HCV 2; others are found only rarely. Little is known about the prevalence in Japan of HCV genotype 4 which, is found frequently in North and Central Africa and the Middle East.

Evaluation of a new assay for hepatitis C virus genotyping and viral load determination in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

A new method for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping that analyzes products generated with the HCV Amplicor Monitor Test has been developed. One hundred and sixty-two Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 59 patients with hemophilia, were tested for HCV genotypes and viral loads with this new test, and the results were compared with those of a genotyping assay that involved direct sequencing of the E1 region. HCV genotypes and viral loads were also compared between patients with and without hemophilia.

Forced expression of NESH suppresses motility and metastatic dissemination of malignant cells.

To characterize the function of a novel Src homology 3 (SH3) adapter protein termed NESH, we have established transfectants stably expressing NESH. We observed that every clone of NESH transfectants caused a marked reduction in motility, although the clones exhibited no significant differences in intrinsic cell growth compared with the control cells in vitro. The NESH transfectants also exhibited significant reduction in tumor metastatic potential in vivo.

Effects of HAART on hepatitis C, hepatitis G, and TT virus in multiply coinfected HIV-positive patients with haemophilia.

In multiply coinfected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, we investigated the effects of high-activity antiretroviral therapy (HAART) using HIV protease inhibitors on three other viruses: hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis G virus (HGV), and TT virus (TTV). Viral concentrations were measured serially by polymerase chain reaction methods in five patients with quadruple infection (HIV, HCV, HGV, and TTV) and in two patients with triple infection (HIV, HCV, and HGV) before and during HAART. In addition, CD4+ cell counts and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured serially.

TT virus genotype changes frequently in multiply transfused patients with hemophilia but rarely in patients with chronic hepatitis C and in healthy subjects.

Background: TT virus (TTV), a novel DNA virus, was originally thought to be transmitted by transfusion. However, nonparenteral transmission is recently suspected to be a major mode of transmission. To investigate the possibility of reinfection with TTV in multiply transfused patients and to evaluate the significance of transfusion transmission of TTV in patients with hemophilia, serial changes in TTV genotype were investigated in three groups.

Cloning and sequencing of a novel human gene that encodes a putative target protein of Nesh-SH3.

By using a conventional two-hybrid technique with an Src homology 3 (SH3) domain of Nesh as the bait protein, a novel full-length cDNA was isolated and sequenced from a human placenta cDNA library. This cDNA consists of 3023 bp and has a predicted open reading frame that encodes 486 amino acids. It possesses an SH3 binding motif, a nuclear targeting sequence, and no catalytic domain.

Safety and complications of interventional radiology for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with haemophilia and cirrhosis.

Many patients with haemophilia have been chronically infected with hepatitis virus owing to multiple transfusions and the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma will probably increase in this population. We evaluated the safety and complications of radiological intervention for hepatocellular carcinoma in eight patients with haemophilia and cirrhosis. Radiological interventions can be performed safely in all patients with haemophilia.

Infection of hepatitis A virus in Japanese haemophiliacs.

Objectives: Outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in haemophiliacs have been reported from many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody (HAVAb) in Japanese haemophiliacs.

Methods: Sixty-seven male haemophiliacs were recruited for this study of HAV infection.

Fatal bleeding from a residual vein at the esophageal ulcer base after successful endoscopic variceal ligation.

Endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL) is now one of the accepted treatment options for esophageal varices, and the safety of this procedure has been proved. However, we experienced a patient who had a fatal massive bleeding after successful EVL for ruptured esophageal varix. Postmortem study revealed a residual vein at the base of the esophageal ulceration associated with the ligation, which was believed to be the site of the fatal bleeding.

Investigation of the association between infection with Helicobacter pylori and with TT virus, a novel DNA virus, in patients with gastroduodenal ulcer or ulcer scar.

Objective: Recently, a novel DNA virus (TT virus; TTV) has been isolated. Enteric transmission is suggested as a route of transmission of TTV, with high prevalence of this virus infection in the general population, and age and geographical distributions of TTV prevalence very similar to those of Helicobacterpylori infection. We analysed an association between TTV and H.

Massive bleeding from a gastric erosion after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with mild haemophilia A.

We observed massive bleeding from a gastric erosion following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TAE) in a patient with mild haemophilia A. A 78-year-old haemophiliac (factor VIII level over 60%) received TAE with farmorubicin and spongel. Haematemesis and melena with loss of consciousness occurred 3 days [corrected] after TAE, and endoscopy revealed superficial erosions with oozing.

Poor response to interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C in human immunodeficiency virus-infected haemophiliacs.

We performed a pilot study to evaluate the factors associated with response to interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfected haemophiliacs. Seven haemophiliacs, coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), received 9 mega-units (MU) of natural IFN-alpha daily during the first 2 weeks and then three times a week for 22 weeks, all injected subcutaneously. Six patients were receiving zidovudine (AZT) 600 mg day-1 and didanosine (ddI) 200 mg day(-1) during IFN therapy.

Immunologic dynamics in hemophiliac patients infected with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus: influence of antiretroviral therapy.

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or both is common in hemophiliac patients due to putative transmission through clotting factor concentrates. Recently, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been found to markedly improve viremia and immunologic parameters in patients infected with HIV. This report considers interactions between these viral infections, the immune system, and antiretroviral therapy.

A case of the development of two hepatocellular carcinomas and a cholangiocarcinoma with cirrhosis after elimination of serum hepatitis C virus RNA with interferon therapy.

A 64-year-old man who had exhibited abnormal transaminase levels for about 20 years was admitted to a hospital for the treatment of liver damage. Laboratory testing demonstrated that he was suffering from chronic hepatitis C, and a liver biopsy showed chronic active hepatitis with septal fibrosis. He was treated with interferon-alpha, and HCV-RNA became undetectable.

An autopsy case of multilocular cystic hepatocellular carcinoma without liver cirrhosis.

Although simple cysts, cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the liver have been well documented as hepatic cystic diseases, cystic hepatocellular carcinoma is a curious entity. Only 3 cases have been reported in the English literature. A 70-year-old man was admitted to Nagoya University Hospital for multiple liver tumors and a thrombus in the main trunk of the portal vein.

Infection with TT virus, a novel transfusion-transmissible DNA virus, in haemophiliacs and in blood products.

We evaluated the characteristics and rate of infection with TT virus (TTV), a novel DNA virus, in Japanese haemophiliacs. TTV DNA was measured in 60 haemophiliacs by semi-nested polymerase chain reaction. Co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis G virus (HGV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was also evaluated.

Interferon treatment of two patients with quadruple infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis G virus (HGV), and TT virus (TTV).

We administered interferon (IFN) to two patients who had quadruple infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis G virus (HGV), and TT virus (TTV), a recently isolated novel DNA virus. Nine mega-units of natural alpha-IFN were administered daily during the first two weeks and thrice weekly during the following 22 weeks (total dose, 720 mega-units). In both cases, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels decreased during IFN administration but increased thereafter.

Low risk of TT virus (TTV) infection in medical workers.

The rate of infection with TT virus (TTV), a novel single-strand DNA virus was evaluated and the clinical and laboratory features in affected Japanese medical workers were analysed. TTV DNA was measured in 356 medical workers and in 150 age-matched controls using a seminested polymerase chain reaction. TTV DNA was detected in 62 of 356 medical workers (17.