Lack of hepatitis C virus reinfection in lifetime of Japanese general population with previous hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection successfully treated with anti-HCV therapy.

Introduction: Achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) to antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important step for eliminating HCV infection worldwide. However, recurrence of HCV viremia may occur due to HCV reinfection and confirmation of the long-term absence of HCV viremia, i.e.

Long-term outcomes of viral eradication in patients with hepatitis C virus infection and mild hepatic fibrosis.

The impact of antiviral therapy on clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and mild liver fibrosis (FIB-4 score <1.45) is not well understood. We aimed to clarify the impact of viral eradication on hepatocarcinogenesis and mortality in patients with mild fibrosis.

Pretreatment non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma development after sustained virologic response in HCV infection.

Background: Identification of risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after a sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is urgently needed for HCC surveillance.

Aims: To evaluate whether the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (NHHNs) depicted by gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) before direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy is a risk factor for de novo HCC development after SVR.

Methods: The presence of NHHNs was examined with EOB-MRI before the start of DAA therapy in 383 patients with HCV infection who achieved SVR.

Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Liver Stiffness Measurements Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography After Eradicating Hepatitis C Virus.

Introduction: Liver fibrosis stage is one of the most important factors in stratifying the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the usefulness of liver stiffness measured by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to stratify the risk of developing HCC in patients who underwent MRE before receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and subsequently achieved sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods: A total of 537 consecutive patients with persistent hepatitis C virus who underwent initial MRE before DAA therapy and achieved SVR were enrolled.

Comparison of the Prognosis of Decompensated Cirrhosis in Patients with and Without Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus.

Introduction: In patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and decompensated cirrhosis (DC), it is uncertain whether viral clearance is clinically meaningful and whether it decreases liver-related and non-liver-related mortality. The aim of this study was to assess whether viral eradication reduced liver-related and non-liver-related mortality in patients with HCV infection and DC.

Methods: To clarify the impact of viral eradication on liver-related and non-liver-related mortality, 364 patients with DC who received direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and achieved sustained virological response (SVR) in the UK (DAA group) were compared with 249 patients with DC who did not receive DAAs and who underwent symptomatic treatment in Japan (non-DAA group).

Usefulness of serial FIB-4 score measurement for predicting the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis after hepatitis C virus eradication.

Objectives: There is insufficient information to evaluate the correlation between fibrosis regression and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk after hepatitis C virus eradication. We analyzed serial changes in fibrosis (FIB)-4 scores after sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods: The subjects were 717 patients who achieved SVR by interferon (IFN)-based therapy (IFN Group) and 635 patients who achieved SVR by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy (DAA Group).

Long-term prognosis with or without nucleot(s)ide analogue therapy in hepatitis B virus-related decompensated cirrhosis.

The development of nuleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) has dramatically changed the natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we compared patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis with and without NA therapy in terms of hepatocarcinogenesis and all-cause, liver-related, and non-liver-related mortality. This study enrolled 160 patients with decompensated cirrhosis, 78 of whom were treated with NA therapy (NA group) and 82 of whom were not (non-NA group).

Krebs von den Lungen 6 decreased in the serum and muscle of GNE myopathy patients.

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) is necessary for sialic acid biosynthesis. GNE myopathy is caused by a defect in GNE, and hyposialylation is a key factor in the pathomechanism of GNE myopathy. Although candidates for evaluating hyposialylation have been reported, it is difficult to measure them in routine clinical practice.

[Lymphoproliferative disorders and inborn errors of immunity].

Lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is a comprehensive concept covering diseases ranging from transient lymphadenopathy to lymphoma. LPD is frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections and tends to occur in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and in patients after organ transplantation. Most patients with severe combined immunodeficiency or X-linked lymphoproliferative disease develop LPD.

Changes in Background Liver Function in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma over 30 Years: Comparison of Child-Pugh Classification and Albumin Bilirubin Grade.

Background: Background liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has improved remarkably with advances in various treatments. Recently, the Child-Pugh classification (CPC) system has been recognized as limited in its ability to assess patients with good hepatic reserve. We compared the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, which is suitable for a more detailed evaluation of patients with good liver function, with CPC over a 30-year period.

PNPLA3 and HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication.

Background: Even though both interferon (IFN)-based and direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), post-sustained virological response (SVR) patients remain at elevated risk of HCC.

Methods: A total of 4620 patients who achieved SVR were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. After excluding patients who had a history of HCC or developed HCC within 1 year and whose follow-up period was less than 1 year and who were positive for HBsAg, we investigated the association between clinical characteristics and HCC development after SVR in the remaining 3771 patients.

Utility of serological tumor biomarkers for surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients undergoing dialysis.

Background: Patients undergoing dialysis are at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and preferably should undergo HCC surveillance. We investigated the utility of HCC tumor markers for HCC surveillance in patients undergoing dialysis.

Methods: Three serum markers specific for HCC, namely alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin A-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), were measured in dialysis patients with and without a diagnosis of HCC (n = 60 and 507, respectively).

Relationship between interleukin-1β gene expression in epicardial adipose tissue and coronary atherosclerosis based on computed tomographic analysis.

Background: Anti-inflammatory therapy targeting interleukin (IL)-1β reduced cardiovascular events in a randomized trial. We evaluated the relationship between IL-1β mRNA expression in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and clinically-assessed coronary atherosclerosis on computed tomography (CT).

Methods: We studied 45 patients before cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], n ​= ​18; non-CABG, n ​= ​27).

Impact of the introduction of direct-acting anti-viral drugs on hepatocarcinogenesis: a prospective serial follow-up MRI study.

Background: We conducted a prospective study using gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-MRI) to determine whether sustained virological response (SVR) by direct-acting anti-viral (DAA) drugs suppresses hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Aim: To use serial Gd-EOB-MRI to assess the impact of DAAs on hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: Between February 2008 and December 2018, 1083 consecutive patients with HCV infection underwent Gd-EOB-MRI.

Bovine lactoferrin enhances osteogenesis through Smad2/3 and p38 MAPK activation.

Objectives: Lactoferrin (LF) possesses diverse biological functions. We previously reported that bovine LF (bLF) attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced bone resorption in osteoblasts. In addition to its ability to inhibit osteoclastogenesis, bLF has been implicated in stimulating bone formation.

Long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with eradicated chronic hepatitis C virus: An analysis using a Markov chain model.

Aim: The long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have received antiviral therapy and who demonstrate HCV eradication remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we investigated the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with eradication of HCV.

Methods: A total of 552 patients with chronic HCV infection (6815 person-years) who were treated with interferon-based therapy and who achieved sustained virologic response were included.

Anti-inflammatory effects of miRNA-146a induced in adipose and periodontal tissues.

MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in diverse cellular biological processes such as inflammatory response, differentiation and proliferation, and carcinogenesis. miR-146a has been suggested as a negative regulator of the inflammatory reaction. Although, it has been reported as expressed in inflamed adipose and periodontal tissues, however, miR-146a's inhibitory effects against inflammatory response in both the tissues, are not well understood.

Comparison of the impact of tenofovir alafenamide and entecavir on declines of hepatitis B surface antigen levels.

Objective: Tenofovir alafenamide is a new prodrug of tenofovir that allows for the treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) at a lower dose than with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, due to the more efficient delivery of tenofovir to hepatocytes. In this study, we compared entecavir and tenofovir alafenamide in terms of their ability to reduce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the same group of patients with HBV infection.

Methods: During March and June 2018, 129 patients who received entecavir were switched to tenofovir alafenamide.

Magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasonography fusion targeted prostate biopsy finds more significant prostate cancer in biopsy-naïve Japanese men compared with the standard biopsy.

Objective: To assess the clinical benefits of magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound fusion-targeted biopsy for biopsy-naïve Japanese men.

Methods: Between February 2017 and August 2018, 131 biopsy-naïve men who underwent targeted biopsy together with 10-core systematic biopsy at Hiroshima University Hospital were retrospectively investigated. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging findings were reported based on Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.

Liver stiffness does not affect ultrasound-guided attenuation coefficient measurement in the evaluation of hepatic steatosis.

Aim: Recently, a new method has been developed to diagnose hepatic steatosis with attenuation coefficients based on the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP). We investigated whether fibrosis identified by hepatic stiffness measurements based on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) affects attenuation coefficient measurement using UGAP for the evaluation of hepatic steatosis.

Methods: A total of 608 patients with chronic liver disease were analyzed.

The emergence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Intrahepatic non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (NHHNs) detected during the hepatobiliary phase of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) have the potential to transition into typical hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the incidence and risk factors for the emergence of these nodules in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are unknown.

Aim: To investigate the incidence and risk factors for NHHNs in patients with chronic HCV infection in a longitudinal follow-up study METHODS: EOB-MRI was performed in 608 patients with chronic HCV infection and no history of HCC.

Ccr7 null mice are protected against diet-induced obesity via Ucp1 upregulation and enhanced energy expenditure.

Background: The chemokine receptor CCR7, expressed on various immune cells, is associated with cell migration and lympho-node homing. Mice lacking Ccr7 are protected from diet-induced obesity and subsequent insulin resistance. We evaluated the mechanism underlying these protective effects from the standpoint of energy expenditure.

Natural history of liver-related disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: An analysis using a Markov chain model.

Background: Long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV) remains incompletely characterized. We investigated the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with chronic HCV infection who have not received antiviral therapy.

Methods: A total of 2304 patients with chronic HCV who were not received interferon-based therapy were included.

Synbiotics suppress colitis-induced tumorigenesis in a colon-specific cancer mouse model.

Although synbiotics may be effective in maintaining remission of inflammatory bowel disease, their anticarcinogenic effects are still debated. To address this issue, we evaluated the effects of synbiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics on tumorigenesis using a CDX2P-Cre; Apc+/flox mouse model harboring a colon-specific Apc knock out, which develops adenoma and adenocarcinoma of the colon. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-administration promoted colonic tumor development in CDX2P-Cre; Apc+/flox mice, and these tumors were associated with loss of Apc heterozygosity, as confirmed by observation of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas with β-catenin accumulation in tumor cell cytoplasm.