Effectiveness of tacrolimus therapy in refractory ulcerative colitis compared to infliximab with propensity score matching.

There is insufficient evidence comparing the outcomes of tacrolimus-based remission induction therapy with infliximab in refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and evidence regarding optimal strategies after tacrolimus-based remission induction therapy. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study of patients with UC treated with tacrolimus or infliximab between January 2010 and March 2019. The proportion of clinical remission at week 8 and cumulative colectomy-free rate were examined using propensity score matching analysis.

Elderly onset age is associated with low efficacy of first anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The outcomes of patients with elderly onset (EO) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) remains uncertain. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF treatment for bio-naïve EO-IBD. Elderly patients were defined as those 60 years and older, and further divided into those with EO (Elderly-EO) and those with non-elderly onset (Elderly-NEO).

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A is an Immunohistochemical biomarker for the efficacy of bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for duodenal and jejunal adenocarcinoma.

Background: The efficacy and safety of bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for patients with metastatic duodenal and jejunal adenocarcinoma (mDJA) are unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab and to explore immunohistochemical markers that can predict the efficacy of bevacizumab for patients with mDJA.

Methods: This multicentre study included patients with histologically confirmed small bowel adenocarcinoma who received palliative chemotherapy from 2008 to 2017 at 15 hospitals.

Exploratory Study of the Effectiveness of Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorptive Apheresis Before Initiation of Steroids in Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis (EXPECT Study): A Multicenter Prospective Clinical Trial.

Background: Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) has been used for therapy of steroid-dependent/refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of GMA in UC patients not receiving steroids.

Methods: We conducted a single-arm, open-label, and multicenter prospective clinical trial.

25 mg versus 50 mg dose of rectal diclofenac for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in Japanese patients: a retrospective study.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the appropriate administration dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs to prevent pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Importantly, the 100 mg dose of diclofenac recommended in Western countries has not been permitted in Japan.

Design: A retrospective study.

Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma nodules in patients with chronic liver disease using contrast-enhanced sonography: usefulness of the combination of arterial- and kupffer-phase enhancement patterns.

Objectives: To determine the usefulness of contrast-enhanced sonography using the perfluorobutane contrast agent Sonazoid (Daiichi-Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan) for establishing the diagnosis and cellular differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease.

Methods: Patients with chronic liver disease in whom hepatic nodules were detected during screening for hepatocellular carcinoma were examined by imaging modalities, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), contrast-enhanced sonography, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Nodules with negative imaging findings were further investigated with core biopsy or followed at our hospital.

[A case of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with specific substance of Maruyama resulting in a partial response].

We treated a 41-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease. He experienced leg edema. Following additional examinations, we diagnosed the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and ascites with liver cirrhosis.

[A case of partial response achieved by chemotherapy for a duodenal cancer].

We treated a 73-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma of the duodenum. She complained of poor appetite and weight loss. Upon close inspection, we diagnosed duodenal cancer with obstructive jaundice.

[A case in which good quality of life was maintained by stent therapy for duodenal stenosis caused by gallbladder cancer invasion].

We treated an 80-year-old woman with gallbladder cancer. Because of her advanced age, chemotherapy was performed, but obstructive jaundice and duodenal stenosis were caused by invasion of the tumor. We inserted a metallic stent into the common bile duct and duodenum 3 times.

[A clinical case of the esophagogastric malignancy palliated with covered metallic stent with anti-reflux mechanism].

Esohophageal stents are often used in treating malignant stricture. But, when stents are placed across the esophagogastric junction, they may lead to esophagogastric reflux. We report a case of successfully treated esophagogastric strictures using the new stent with anti-reflux mechanism (long cover type Niti-S™ esophageal stent).

Partial blockage of hepatocyte maturation in hepatoma-derived growth factor transgenic mice.

Aim: To investigate the role of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) in liver development, especially in the hepatocyte differentiation.

Methods: We generated transgenic mice which overexpressed HDGF in hepatocytes under the transcriptional control of mouse albumin promoter/enhancer. To examine the effects of HDGF overexpression on hepatocyte differentiation, we investigated the expression patterns of the differentiation marker genes.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor is induced in liver regeneration.

Aim: Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a heparin-binding protein, which has been suggested to be involved in the development of kidneys, the cardiovascular system and the liver. We have shown that HDGF is highly expressed in parenchymal hepatocytes in the developing liver and promotes fetal hepatocyte proliferation. In the present study, we asked whether HDGF expression was related to liver regeneration.

Triple therapy of initial high-dose interferon with ribavirin and amantadine for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aims: We previously reported the potential effect of combination therapy of an initial high-dose interferon (IFN) and amantadine on the eradication of HCV-RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The additive effects of amantadine on interferon and ribavirin combination therapy remain controversial. In this study we investigated the efficacy of initial high-dose IFN with ribavirin and amantadine on the virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C with a high viral load of genotype 1b.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor is a novel prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a nucleus-targeted growth factor playing an important role in the development and progression of cancers. This study investigated the correlation of HDGF expression and prognosis in patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: HDGF expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines was analyzed by Western blotting.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor is a novel prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, as well as in liver development and regeneration. This study investigated the correlation of HDGF expression with differentiation and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: HDGF expression in 100 patients with HCC (81 men and 19 women) with ages ranging from 34 to 81 years (median, 61 years) receiving surgical treatment was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

Circulating auto-antibody against hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background/aims: Various circulating auto-antibodies have been reported in patients with ulcerative colitis. Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a mitogen, localized dominantly in the nucleus of proliferating cells. In this study, we demonstrated the circulating anti-HDGF auto-antibody and investigated its clinical roles in patients with ulcerative colitis.

A pilot study of combination therapy with initial high-dose interferon and amantadine hydrochloride for patients with chronic hepatitis C with the genotype 1b virus.

Background/aims: Interferon monotherapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C has been suboptimal. We studied the effect of the combination therapy of an initial high-dose of interferon and amantadine.

Methodology: We investigated the virological response of 20 patients with naive chronic hepatitis C with a high viral load of the genotype 1b virus.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor induces tumorigenesis in vivo through both direct angiogenic activity and induction of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is highly expressed in tumor cells, and stimulates their proliferation. In the present study, we investigated the role of HDGF in tumorigenesis and elucidated the mechanism of action. Stable transfectants of NIH3T3 cells overexpressing HDGF did not show significant anchorage-independent growth in soft agar assay.

Expression of hepatoma-derived growth factor in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background And Aim: The present study investigated the expression of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in the liver during hepatocarcinogenesis in two rodent models.

Methods: Expression of HDGF was analyzed using northern blotting and immunohistochemistry in the human and rodent models.

Results: Hepatoma-derived growth factor was more highly expressed in HCC than in the adjacent liver in humans with hepatitis, as shown by northern blotting.

The combination therapy of interferon and amantadine hydrochloride for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: The effect of interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b virus has been suboptimal. We studied the effect of the combination therapy of interferon and amantadine on patients with a high serum viral load of genotype 1b virus.

Methodology: We studied the virological response of naive chronic hepatitis C patients with a high viral load of genotype 1b virus (4.

Participation of hepatoma-derived growth factor in the regulation of fetal hepatocyte proliferation.

The identification and characterization of hepatic stem cell compartments is the key to resolving clinical disorders and diseases in the liver. Hepatoblasts (or early fetal hepatocytes) fulfill several criteria of hepatic stem cells during liver development. Unlike mature hepatocytes, immature fetal hepatocytes can proliferate autonomously in the absence of any growth factors in vitro.

Antisense oligonucleotides of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) suppress the proliferation of hepatoma cells.

Background/aims: Human hepatoma-derived growth factor, purified from the conditioned medium of hepatoma-derived cell line, HuH-7, stimulates the growth of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and HuH-7 cells. To evaluate the role of hepatoma-derived growth factor on the growth of hepatoma cells, we investigated the effects of recombinant hepatoma-derived growth factor protein and hepatoma-derived growth factor antisense oligonucleotides on the proliferation of several hepatoma cell lines.

Methodology: We examined the effects of hepatoma-derived growth factor antisense oligonucleotides on the growth of hepatoma cells by cell growth assay.