Comparison Between Attenuation Measurement and the Controlled Attenuation Parameter for the Assessment of Hepatic Steatosis Based on MRI Images.

Background And Aims: This study prospectively compared the diagnostic accuracies of the improved Attenuation Measurement (iATT) algorithm and the Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) and assessed the interchangeability of iATT with magnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-derived PDFF).

Methods: Patients with chronic liver disease were prospectively enrolled and underwent iATT, CAP and MRI-derived PDFF measurements for hepatic steatosis evaluation. According to MRI-derived PDFF values, steatosis grades were categorised as steatosis (S)0 (< 5.

Diagnostic performance of shear wave measurement in the detection of hepatic fibrosis: A multicenter prospective study.

Aim: This study aimed to establish the shear wave measurement (SWM) cut-off value for each fibrosis stage using magnetic resonance (MR) elastography values as a reference standard.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed 594 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent SWM and MR elastography. Correlation coefficients (were analyzed, and the diagnostic value was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Advanced fibrosis leads to overestimation of steatosis with quantitative ultrasound in individuals without hepatic steatosis.

Purpose: The effect of hepatic fibrosis stage on quantitative ultrasound based on the attenuation coefficient (AC) for liver lipid quantification is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine how the degree of fibrosis assessed by magnetic resonance (MR) elastography affects AC based on the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter according to the grade of hepatic steatosis, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived proton density fat fraction (MRIderived PDFF) as the reference standard.

Methods: Between February 2020 and April 2021, 982 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent AC and MRI-derived PDFF measurement as well as MR elastography were enrolled.

Comparison of six hepatocellular carcinoma prediction models in Japanese patients after sustained virologic response undergoing rigorous surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: While several predictive models for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been proposed, including those for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have achieved sustained virologic response (SVR), the best model may differ between regions. We compared the ability of six reported models to stratify the risk of post-SVR HCC in Japan, where rigorous surveillance and early detection of HCC is common.

Methods: A total of 6048 patients with no history of HCC who achieved SVR by oral direct-acting antiviral drugs were enrolled in this nationwide study.

Effect of previous infection with hepatitis B virus on the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Previous infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is assessed by HBV core antibody (HBcAb) or surface antibody (HBsAb) titres, has reportedly been associated with an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the influence of previous HBV infection on the incidence of HCC in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who achieved eradication of HCV, that is sustained virologic response (SVR). Both HBcAb and HBsAb were measured in a total of 1214 patients with HCV infection who had not been coinfected with HBV, as determined by both negative HBs antigen and HBV DNA, and in whom SVR was confirmed.

Assessment of the expression of microRNAs‑221‑3p, ‑146a‑5p, ‑16‑5p and BCL2 in oncocytic carcinoma of the breast: A case report.

Oncocytic carcinoma of the breast is rare and its molecular profiles remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have been identified as contributors to carcinogenesis at the post-transcriptional level; thus, an aberrant expression of miRNAs has attracted attention as a potential biomarker of numerous diseases, including cancer. The present study reports the case of a 76-year-old woman diagnosed with oncocytic carcinoma of the breast.

The Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Chemotherapy for cT3N0M0 Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: The Impact of Tumor Location.

Purpose: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) can be divided into renal pelvis tumor (RPT) and ureteral tumor (UT) based on the tumor origin. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (NAC-GC) in terms of the pathological outcomes and oncological prognoses in patients with UTUC. We also compared its efficacy between RPT and UT.

The Physiological Function of Deglutition and Swallowing in Patients With Maxillary Protrusion After Mandibular Advancement.

The objective of this study was to determine the tongue-palatal contact changes in patients with skeletal maxillary protrusion after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) during swallowing. In this study, 15 patients with maxillary protrusion and 10 normal subjects participated. Before and 3 months after surgery, tongue-palatal contact patterns during swallowing of patients with maxillary protrusion as well as controls were evaluated by electropalatography.

Intra-individual comparison of liver stiffness measurements by magnetic resonance elastography and two-dimensional shear-wave elastography in 888 patients.

Purpose: Quantitative elastography methods, such as ultrasound two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), are used to diagnose liver fibrosis. The present study compared liver stiffness determined by 2D-SWE and MRE within individuals and analyzed the degree of agreement between the two techniques.

Methods: In total, 888 patients who underwent 2D-SWE and MRE were analyzed.

Combined ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography predict hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication.

Aim: Elastography is an established, noninvasive method for measuring liver stiffness using to 2-D shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) or magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of combined measurement using 2D-SWE and MRE to stratify the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who achieved hepatitis C virus eradication.

Methods: Five hundred and twenty-five patients who underwent 2D-SWE and MRE before antiviral therapy and who achieved eradication were enrolled.

Factors linked to hepatocellular carcinoma development beyond 10 years after viral eradication in patients with hepatitis C virus.

The risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients whose duration of sustained virological response (SVR) is over 10 years are not fully understood. We compared the incidence of HCC development within and beyond 10 years after SVR. A total of 1384 patients who achieved SVR (714, interferon-based therapy; 670, direct-acting antiviral therapy) were enrolled.

Intra-individual Comparisons of the Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter and the Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Proton Density Fat Fraction Using Bias and Precision Statistics.

Ultrasound-based techniques using the attenuation coefficient, including the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP), have been developed for the quantification of hepatic steatosis. The magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) is considered to be more accurate than liver biopsy for liver fat quantification. The aim of this study was to perform intra-individual comparisons of UGAP and MRI-PDFF for determining hepatic steatosis grade.

Misunderstanding of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status by non-specialized medical doctors in patients who achieved sustained virologic response to anti-HCV therapy.

Introduction: With the increase in the number of patients with sustained virologic response (SVR) in whom hepatitis C virus (HCV) was eradicated by the anti-HCV therapy, there are now many individuals in whom serum HCV RNA is absent despite positive serum HCV antibodies. However, in general clinical practice, HCV infection remains usually screened by measurement of serum HCV antibodies and patients with SVR can be misunderstood regarding HCV infection status.

Methods: In the multicenter study, we conducted interviews with administered questionnaires to SVR individuals who had regular hospital visits after SVR.

Liver Stiffness Measurements by 2D Shear-Wave Elastography: Effect of Steatosis on Fibrosis Evaluation.

Hepatic steatosis has been found not to affect liver stiffness measurements (LSM) from MR elastography (MRE). However, the effect of steatosis on LSM from 2D shear-wave elastography (SWE) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hepatic steatosis on the diagnostic performance of LSM from 2D SWE (LSM) for evaluation of liver fibrosis with LSM from MRE (LSM) as the reference standard.

The Impact of Cirrhosis and History of Hepatocellular Carcinoma on All-Cause Mortality After Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C.

Backgrounds And Aims: Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are potentially fatal complications of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated how compensated cirrhosis and a history of curatively treated HCC influenced patient mortality after HCV eradication, that is, sustained virologic response (SVR).

Methods: We studied 5458 patients with confirmed SVR who were prospectively followed up for more than 1 year after SVR achieved with direct-acting antivirals.

Adherence to regular surveillance visits for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who achieved sustained virologic response.

Objective: Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who achieve sustained virologic response (SVR) to anti-HCV therapy, that is the eradication of HCV, are recommended to continue regular hospital visits for the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that can develop after SVR. However, it is unclear how well patients with SVR adhere to post-SVR follow-up over the long term. We investigated this adherence and the factors associated with it.

Impact of switching to tenofovir alafenamide fumarate in patients with entecavir-treated chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a new tenofovir prodrug, has been developed to circumvent the less favorable safety profile of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We investigated reductions in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in patients with HBV infection who received continuous entecavir (ETV) monotherapy or sequential therapy with ETV and TAF.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 286 patients who were divided into two groups: continuous ETV monotherapy (ETV group, n = 168) and sequential therapy with ETV and TAF (ETV-TAF group, n = 108).

Utility of Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter for Grading Steatosis With Reference to MRI-PDFF in a Large Cohort.

Background & Aims: Ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) is recently developed for noninvasive evaluation of steatosis. However, reports on its usefulness in clinical practice are limited. This prospective multicenter study analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of grading steatosis with reference to magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), a noninvasive method with high accuracy, in a large cohort.

Mortality of inactive hepatitis B virus carriers in Japan is similar to that of the general population.

Aims: Data on the long-term outcomes of individuals with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who are hepatitis envelope antigen (HBeAg)-negative inactive carriers (ICs) are limited due to small numbers. We compared the long-term prognosis of well-defined ICs with that of age- and gender-matched general population controls.

Methods: A total of 526 HBeAg-negative patients who demonstrated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level ≤40 U/L and HBV DNA level ≤4.