Effect of Celecoxib on Survival of Mobile Tongue Cancer.

Aim: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of celecoxib on treatment outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue.

Patients And Methods: Among 158 patients who were diagnosed with mobile tongue cancer, 19 received celecoxib during the preoperative, postoperative, or post-recurrence phase. Differences in disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between patients who received celecoxib (study group) and those who did not (control group) were analyzed.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Entecavir and Tenofovir in Nucleos(T)ide Analogue-Experienced Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

The efficacy of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir (TDF) for the treatment of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-experienced chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients has been little studied. Here, we compare the efficacy of both ETV and TDF in NA-experienced CHB patients without detectable genotypic resistance. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive NA-experienced patients who had neither current nor previous genotypic resistance and had received ETV or TDF for at least 6 months.

Effective treatment strategies other than sorafenib for the patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma invading portal vein.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accompanying portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) have relatively few therapeutic options and an extremely poor prognosis. These patients are classified into barcelona clinic liver cancer stage C and sorafenib is suggested as the standard therapy of care. However, overall survival (OS) gain from sorafenib is unsatisfactory and better treatment modalities are urgently required.

Molecular characterization of the Tobacco rattle virus RNA2 genome isolated from Gladiolus.

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV-K) was first identified in a symptomatic Gladiolus plant cultivated in Korea. We analyzed the TRV-K genome and compared its phylogeny with other TRV isolates. After constructing of a full-length genomic RNA2 strand clone, a complete sequence was generated from several overlapping clones.

Four-Year Durability of Initial Combination Therapy with Sitagliptin and Metformin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Clinical Practice; COSMIC Study.

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy of initial combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes for 4 years in clinical practice.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2010, we reviewed 1,178 patients with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c ≥7.5% or 58 mmol/mol) prescribed initial combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin.

Hepatoprotective effect of vitamin C on lithocholic acid-induced cholestatic liver injury in Gulo(-/-) mice.

Prevention and restoration of hepatic fibrosis from chronic liver injury is essential for the treatment of patients with chronic liver diseases. Vitamin C is known to have hepatoprotective effects, but their underlying mechanisms are unclear, especially those associated with hepatic fibrosis. Here, we analyzed the impact of vitamin C on bile acid induced hepatocyte apoptosis in vitro and lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced liver injury in vitamin C-insufficient Gulo(-/-) mice, which cannot synthesize vitamin C similarly to humans.

Efficacy of antiviral prophylaxis in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc positive patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation can occur in persons who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative but hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive, especially following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, evidence supporting the routine use of prophylactic antiviral agents for such patients is scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of HBV reactivation between prophylactic and non-prophylactic groups in patients who underwent HSCT.

Cholecystectomy is independently associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in an Asian population.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between gallstone disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a large Asian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including 17612 subjects recruited from general health check-ups at the Seoul National University Hospital, Healthcare System Gangnam Center between January 2010 and December 2010 was conducted. NAFLD and gallstone disease were diagnosed based on typical ultrasonographic findings.

Sasang constitution affects the prevalence of functional dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD), which is a very common disorder worldwide, is known to be caused by multiple factors including environmental and genetic factors. Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) is a component of traditional Korean medicine that emphasizes inherited characteristics of the physical and psychological patterns of a patient. This study investigated whether the prevalence of FD differs depending on Sasang classification.

Synergistic anti-tumor efficacy of doxorubicin and flavopiridol in an in vivo hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Purpose: A previous study showed that flavopiridol increased doxorubicin sensitivity in hypoxic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by increasing apoptosis through suppressing hypoxia-inducible N-myc downstream-regulated gene-1 (NDRG1) expression. However, this has not been investigated in an in vivo HCC model. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate whether the combination of doxorubicin and flavopiridol has a synergistic anti-tumor effect in an in vivo HCC model.

Post-treatment intracranial hemorrhage of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of post-treatment intracranial hemorrhage of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 81 patients who have been diagnosed of brain metastases from HCC and underwent surgery, radiosurgery and/or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) between January 2000 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Intracranial hemorrhage was present in 64 patients (79%) at the time of diagnosis.

Comparison of transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic resection for large solitary hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score analysis.

Purpose: To compare long-term survival after hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization of large solitary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Materials And Methods: Analysis of 91 and 68 consecutive patients with large (≥ 5 cm) solitary HCCs who underwent hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization, respectively, was performed. Overall survival and time to progression (TTP) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Tenofovir monotherapy versus tenofovir and entecavir combination therapy in adefovir-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients with multiple drug failure: results of a randomised trial.

Objective: Little clinical data are available regarding the optimal treatment of patients who harbour adefovir-resistant HBV.

Design: In this multicentre trial, patients who had adefovir-resistant HBV with serum HBV DNA levels >60 IU/mL were randomised to receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, 300 mg/day) monotherapy (n=50) or TDF and entecavir (ETV, 1 mg/day) combination therapy (TDF/ETV, n=52) for 48 weeks. All who completed 48 weeks in either group received TDF monotherapy for 48 additional weeks.

Hepatitis B virus-related glomerulonephritis: not a predominant cause of proteinuria in korean patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/Aims. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can form immune complexes which may result in various types of glomerulonephritis (GN). However, proteinuria can occur because of other kidney diseases besides HBV-related GN (HBV-GN).

Myosin VI regulates gene pairing and transcriptional pause release in T cells.

Naive CD4 T cells differentiate into several effector lineages, which generate a stronger and more rapid response to previously encountered immunological challenges. Although effector function is a key feature of adaptive immunity, the molecular basis of this process is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal regulation of cytokine gene expression in resting and restimulated effector T helper 1 (Th1) cells.

Profiles of IgE Sensitization to Der f 1, Der f 2, Der f 6, Der f 8, Der f 10, and Der f 20 in Korean House Dust Mite Allergy Patients.

Purpose: Measurement of IgE specific to purified house dust mite (HDM) allergens may improve allergy diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the sensitization profiles of Korean HDM allergic subjects suffering from respiratory allergy and atopic dermatitis (AD) to Der f 1, Der f 2, Der f 6, Der f 8, Der f 10, and Der f 20.

Methods: Recombinant HDM allergens were produced in Pichia pastoris (Der f 1) or Escherichia coli (5 allergens).

Adjuvant immunotherapy with autologous cytokine-induced killer cells for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: No adjuvant therapy has been shown to extend the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving curative treatment. We investigated whether injections of activated cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells (CD3+/CD56+ and CD3+/CD56- T cells and CD3-/CD56+ natural killer cells) prolongs recurrence-free survival of patients after curative therapy for HCC.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial of the efficacy and safety of adjuvant immunotherapy with activated CIK cells (created by incubation of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells with interleukin 2 and an antibody against CD3).

Visceral adipose tissue area as an independent risk factor for elevated liver enzyme in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Chronic elevations in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are associated with body composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between elevated liver enzyme levels and the visceral tissue area in subjects with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).An observational cohort study was conducted with subjects undergoing general health examinations.

The oral toll-like receptor-7 agonist GS-9620 in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background & Aims: GS-9620 is an oral agonist of toll-like receptor 7, a pattern-recognition receptor whose activation results in innate and adaptive immune stimulation. We evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of GS-9620 in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: In two double-blind, phase 1b trials of identical design, 49 treatment-naïve and 51 virologically suppressed patients were randomized 5:1 to receive GS-9620 (at doses of 0.

Comparison of the efficacies of entecavir 0.5 and 1.0 mg combined with adefovir in patients with chronic hepatitis B who had failed on prior nucleos(t)ide analogue treatments.

Entecavir (ETV) plus adefovir (ADV) combination therapy is one of the useful treatment option for the patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who had failed on prior nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) treatments. This study compared the efficacies of the combinations of ETV 0.5 mg plus ADV and ETV 1.

Reduction of oxidative stress attenuates lipoapoptosis exacerbated by hypoxia in human hepatocytes.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia, a characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is associated with the progression of simple hepatic steatosis to necroinflammatory hepatitis. We determined whether inhibition of a hypoxia-induced signaling pathway could attenuate hypoxia-exacerbated lipoapoptosis in human hepatocytes. The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) was used in this study.

The effect of therapeutic vaccination for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Although oral nucleos(t)ide analogues can lead to suppression of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA to undetectable levels efficiently, they usually fail to achieve seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which indicates eradication of HBV infection. In this study, the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination in patients with chronic HBV infection was evaluated by comparing to the control patients. Patients who had achieved complete virologic response following oral nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment for at least 6 months were included.

Tenofovir monotherapy versus tenofovir and entecavir combination therapy in patients with entecavir-resistant chronic hepatitis B with multiple drug failure: results of a randomised trial.

Objective: Little clinical data are available regarding the optimal treatment of patients who harbour entecavir (ETV)-resistant HBV.

Design: In this multicentre randomised trial, patients who had HBV with ETV resistance-associated mutations and serum HBV DNA concentrations >60 IU/mL were randomised to receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, 300 mg/day) monotherapy (n=45) or TDF and ETV (1 mg/day) combination therapy (n=45) for 48 weeks.

Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups, including HBV DNA levels (median, 4.

Forns index predicts recurrence and death in patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

Background & Aims: Advanced liver fibrosis is associated with recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate whether noninvasive fibrosis indices could predict intrahepatic recurrence and death after curative resection of HCC.

Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC between 2006 and 2010 at a single tertiary hospital were included.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection.

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) refers to the presence of HBV DNA in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen. Since OBI was first described in the late 1970s, there has been increasing interest in this topic. The prevalence of OBI varies according to the different endemicity of HBV infection, cohort characteristics, and sensitivity and specificity of the methods used for detection.