Serum albumin is present at higher levels in alcoholic liver cirrhosis as compared to HCV-related cirrhosis.

Residual hepatic functional reserve in cirrhotic patients is generally evaluated by a multivariate scoring system (Child-Pugh classification), which includes serum albumin levels as a variable. However, several patients show discrepancies between serum albumin levels and the progression of liver fibrosis, especially those with alcoholic cirrhosis. To assess whether hepatic capacity of protein synthesis varies with the etiology of cirrhosis, serum albumin and cholinesterase levels, and prothrombin time were compared between alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis.

Investigation of hyperuricemia during pegylated-interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: Hyperuricemia has been reported as being an adverse effect of pegylated-interferon-alpha2b (Peg-IFNalpha2b) and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C and hyperuricemic changes occur in some patients during the therapy. However, detailed investigation of the elevation of uric acid has not been carried out previously. The incidence and mechanism of hyperuricemia were investigated in this study.

[Frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as a complication in patients with chronic liver diseases: estimation of frequency scale for the system of GERD].

Recently, a questionnaire, Frequency Scale for the System of GERD (FSSG), has been estimated to be clinically useful for the initial diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We investigated the frequency of GERD as a complication in patients with chronic liver diseases by using the questionnaire, FSSG. As a result, it may be considered that, as a complication of chronic liver disease, GERD exists in about 20% of patients and mainly belongs to a dyskinetic type.

[Estimation of indication for living donor liver transplantation in patients with HCV and/or HBV infection].

We evaluated 78 patients with chronic viral hepatitis for liver transplantation. 51 patients met our original criteria for liver transplantation, and 35 patients of them suffered from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with HCC were significantly older and showed higher prothrombin activity than those without HCC.

Decreased portal flow volume increases the area of necrosis caused by radio frequency ablation in pigs.

Background/aims: Although radio frequency ablation (RFA) has been widely accepted as an effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), severe complications are not uncommon. Major complications seem to occur as a result of over-ablation beyond the intended area. As most patients with HCC have underlying cirrhosis, we speculated that decreased portal flow might cause the necrosis associated with RFA.

Arterial steroid injection therapy can inhibit the progression of severe acute hepatic failure toward fulminant liver failure.

Aim: To utilize transcatheter arterial steroid injection therapy (TASIT) via the hepatic artery to reduce hepatic macrophage activity in patients with severe acute hepatic failure.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with severe acute hepatic failure were admitted to our hospital between June 2002 to June 2006 providing for the possibility of liver transplantation (LT). Seventeen patients were treated using traditional liver supportive procedures, and the other 17 patients additionally underwent TASIT with 1000 mg methylprednisolone per day for 3 continuous days.

[Tailored-dose chemotherapy using gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer].

Eighteen patients with metastatic or post-surgery recurrent pancreatic cancer were given weekly gemcitabine therapy. Almost all of these patients were aged or had other complications. We determined the individualized maximum repeatable dose (iMRD)as follows.

Early phase II study of uracil-tegafur plus doxorubicin in patients with unresectable advanced biliary tract cancer.

Background: Standard chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination chemotherapy of uracil-tegafur (UFT) and doxorubicin in patients with unresectable advanced biliary tract cancer.

Methods: Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed, measurable biliary tract cancer, including intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer and ampulla of Vater cancer, which was not amenable to surgery, were eligible for the study.

[A case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with rapid progress in a young man].

A 17-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of epigastric pain. Various imaging studies showed a solid tumor (4cm in diameter) in the tail of the pancreas, multiple hypovascular tumors in liver. Serum levels of DUPAN2, SPAN1 and NSE were elevated slightly.