Normal values of combinational elastography in adult liver: the influence of age.

Purpose: We aimed to clarify the normal values obtained by simultaneous use of shear wave imaging and strain imaging (combinational elastography) in liver and reveal how aging influences them.

Methods: In our checkup center, 257 examinees were diagnosed with normal liver based on questionnaires about liver disease and their drinking history, liver function test results, and ultrasound B-mode study findings. We estimated the values of combinational elastography and considered the correlation between the values and age.

Serum miR-379 expression is related to the development and progression of hypercholesterolemia in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a wide spectrum, eventually leading to cirrhosis and hepatic carcinogenesis. We previously reported that a series of microRNAs (miRNAs) mapped in the 14q32.2 maternally imprinted gene region (Dlk1-Dio3 mat) are related to NAFLD development and progression in a mouse model.

[A case report of suspected ischemic acute pancreatitis caused by temporary interruption of anticoagulant drugs for diverticular bleeding of the colon].

A 66-year-old man was hospitalized for diverticular bleeding of the colon. Anticoagulant drugs (Dabigatran and Beraprost sodium), which had been taken for chronic underlying atrial fibrillation, were interrupted for three days. After two months, he presented with acute pancreatitis and a pancreatic pseudocyst.

Expression of doublecortin and CaM kinase-like-1 protein in serrated neoplasia of the colorectum.

The adenoma-carcinoma sequence (ACS) and the serrated pathway are two distinct developmental routes leading to the formation of colorectal carcinoma. Recently, the doublecortin and CaM kinase-like-1 protein (DCLK1) has been reported to serve as an intestinal cancer stem cell marker and has been demonstrated to be overexpressed through the ACS; however, there is a lack of reports on the role of DCLK1 in the serrated pathway. To clarify the correlation between DCLK1 protein expression and clinicopathological characteristics of the serrated tumorigenic pathway, the present study used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of DCLK1 in endoscopically resected samples of 62 serrated polyps [20 hyperplastic polyps (HPs), 16 traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) and 26 sessile serrated adenoma-polyps (SSA/Ps)], as well as 20 non-serrated adenomas, 20 carcinoma in adenomas (CIAs) and 18 early pure colorectal carcinomas without any adenoma component (EPCs).

Protein expression of Fragile Histidine Triad and cyclooxgenase-2 in serrated neoplasia of the colorectum.

The adenoma-carcinoma sequence (ACS) and the serrated pathway are two distinct developmental routes leading to the formation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, the mechanism triggered by the serrated pathway remains unclear. Therefore, to clarify the molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of the serrated tumorigenic pathway, immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of Fragile Histidine Triad (FHIT), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), MutL homolog 1 (MLH1), MutS protein homolog 2 (MSH2) and P53 in endoscopically resected samples of 62 serrated polyps.

Bleeding Risk Related to Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Biopsy in Patients Receiving Antithrombotic Therapy: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Although antithrombotic agents are widely used for cardiac and cerebrovascular disease prevention, they increase the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Objective: To examine GI bleeding risk in association with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) biopsy performed in patients without cessation of antithrombotic therapy.

Methods: This study was prospectively conducted at 14 centers.

Risk Assessment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in General Population by Liver Stiffness in Combination with Controlled Attenuation Parameter using Transient Elastography: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients without hepatitis B (HBV) and -C virus (HCV) infection are increasing in Japan. Method for detecting high-risk liver diseases of HCC in general population has still not been established. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) using transient elastography (TE; FibroScan System) are useful for detecting liver fibrosis and steatosis.

Expression of methylation-modulated tumor-related genes in endoscopically resected early esophageal squamous neoplasia.

Smoking and alcohol consumption are major risk factors for the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recent studies have demonstrated that smoking and alcohol consumption may be associated with altered DNA methylation in human cancer development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate methylation-modulated protein expression of tumor-related genes (TRGs) in the early stages of esophageal squamous neoplasia (ESN).

Frequent aberrant p53 and Fhit expression in endoscopically resected superficial hypopharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer.

In the last decade, the incidence rate of detection rate of superficial head, neck and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas has increased with the development of endoscopic imaging techniques. These cancers are thought to arise independently subsequent to tissue exposure to a common carcinogen e.g.

Falsely Elevated Serum Vitamin B Levels Were Associated with the Severity and Prognosis of Chronic Viral Liver Disease.

Background: Vitamin B is stored primarily in the liver, and highly elevated serum vitamin B levels occur in acute hepatitis and severe alcoholic liver disease. We evaluated the relationship between vitamin B levels and liver disease severity and long term prognosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Methods: We enrolled 90 patients (57 men, 33 women) with chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis who admitted to our hospital as a prospective cohort study.

Antifibrotic effects of ambrisentan, an endothelin-A receptor antagonist, in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis mouse model.

Aim: To examine the effects of the endothelin type A receptor antagonist ambrisentan on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in a steatohepatitis mouse model.

Methods: Fatty liver shionogi (FLS) FLS-ob/ob mice (male, 12 wk old) received ambrisentan (2.5 mg/kg orally per day; n = 8) or water as a control (n = 5) for 4 wk.

[Corrigendum] Preventive effect of caffeine and curcumin on hepato-carcinogenesis in diethylnitrosamine-induced rats.

Following the publication of this article, an interested reader drew to our attention an anomaly associated with the presentation of Figs. 3 and 4; essentially, there was the direct duplication of a panel between Fig. 3B, upper left‑hand panel (the G1-10W data) and Fig.

A Series of microRNA in the Chromosome 14q32.2 Maternally Imprinted Region Related to Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Mouse Model.

Background & Aims: Simple steatosis (SS) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are subtypes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the pathogenic differences between SS and NASH remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, short RNAs that regulate gene expression. The aim of this study was to use animal models and human samples to examine the relationship between miRNA expression profiles and each type of NAFLD (SS and NASH).

Preventive Effect of Geraniol on Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats.

Background: Geraniol is a plant-derived phytochemical possessing anti-cancer action. The anti-carcinogenic effect of geraniol was investigated in the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenic rat model.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with 300 μL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (G1; n = 4) or DEN (100 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in PBS (G2; n = 8) every 2 weeks on experimental weeks 2, 4 and 6.

Development of a device for detecting target specimens from EUS-guided FNA samples.

Background And Study Aims: Specimens collected by fine needle are microscopic and contain blood; therefore, the presence of a target specimen within a sample is often difficult to confirm. Although rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) during endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) is beneficial, many health care facilities are unable to apply this technique due to a lack of cytopathologists. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a device that detects the target specimen within pancreatic tumor EUS-FNA samples.

Contrast-enhanced sonography with Sonazoid as a new diagnostic tool for splenic hamartoma: a single case report.

Detection of reticuloendothelial system (RES) cells is essential for the differential diagnosis of splenic hamartoma. Among the imaging techniques using contrast agents phagocytosed by RES cells, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid is less invasive and less costly than (99m)Tc-labeled colloid scintigraphy. We report a case of non-symptomatic splenic hamartoma in a 40-year-old woman detected as an abdominal tumor by screening ultrasonography.

A report of three cases of exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor detected by transabdominal ultrasound.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common submucosal tumors of the stomach. GISTs are often detected by esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy (EGD). However, the exophytic GIST type is relatively rare and difficult to detect by EGD.

AID, p53 and MLH1 expression in early gastric neoplasms and the correlation with the background mucosa.

A number of tumor-associated genes have been associated with gastric cancer development. The present study evaluated differences in tumor-associated protein expression and phenotype among early gastric neoplasms, and correlated these data with those of the background mucosa. The expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), p53 and MLH1 in 151 early gastric neoplasms [22 gastric adenomas, 92 intramucosal carcinomas (MCs), and 37 submucosal carcinomas (SMCs)] was examined immunohistochemically and compared with that of the corresponding background mucosal condition.

Clinical Impact of the KL-6 Concentration of Pancreatic Juice for Diagnosing Pancreatic Masses.

Background And Aim: Pancreatic juice cytology (PJC) is considered optimal for differentially diagnosing pancreatic masses, but the accuracy of PJC ranges from 46.7% to 93.0%.

Therapeutic effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor, sitagliptin, on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in FLS-ob/ob male mice.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is characterized by hepatic fat accumulation, inflammation and varying degrees of fibrosis. The dipeptidyl peptidase‑IV enzyme is important in glucose metabolism, as well as lipid accumulation, extracellular matrix metabolism and immune stimulation. Furthermore, the enzyme activity of dipeptidyl peptidase‑IV is known to be increased in non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Influence of Olmesartan on Sirtuin 1 mRNA Expression in 5/6 Nephrectomized Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Background: Recent studies revealed that sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has a relation to the mechanism of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) mediated apoptosis in glomerular mesangial cells and plays an important role in blood pressure regulation. It has been suggested that SIRT1 contributes to the renoprotective effect of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), but this has not yet become clearly recognized. In this study, we examined the relationship between SIRT1 and the therapeutic effect of olmesartan on renal injury in nephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Clinical usefulness of the ablative margin assessed by magnetic resonance imaging with Gd-EOB-DTPA for radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of ablative margin (AM) grading by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Gd-EOB-DTPA administered prior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and to identify factors for achieving a sufficient AM and predictors for local tumor progression.

Methods: A total of 124 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) were treated by RFA after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration. MRI and enhanced CT were performed within seven hours and one month after RFA.

Rapid and early α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin responses to initial arterial infusion chemotherapy predict treatment outcomes of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to predict the effects of transarterial infusion (TAI) chemotherapy based on early changes in α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Seventy-four patients who underwent TAI with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C and epirubicin for advanced HCC were enrolled. Antitumor responses were evaluated 6 months after TAI.

Late complications of self-expandable metallic stent placement for malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

The patient was a 68-year-old man with pancreatic cancer exhibiting invasion into the superior mesenteric artery and stenosis of the third part of the duodenum. He subsequently received a duodenal stent for malignant gastric outlet obstruction. On day 43 after the placement of the duodenal stent, he reported feeling poorly, with hypotension and hematemesis.

Association between gene polymorphisms of connective tissue growth factor and the progression of chronic liver disease associated with hepatitis C.

Objective: Fibrogenic cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-beta 1 play a central role in the progression of liver fibrosis. Recently, functional gene polymorphisms in these cytokines have been identified, and some reports have validated the presence of associations between these polymorphisms and disease progression. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a stimulating factor for fibroblast proliferation and matrix production.