An open-label, randomized, controlled trial on the benefit of β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate, l-arginine, l-glutamine combination beverages and locomotion training as supportive care for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using lenvatinib: A pilot study (HELLO study).

Introduction: Hand-foot-skin reaction (HFSR) is the most common side effect of multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Sarcopenia has been reported to be a poor prognostic factor for HCC. Here, we performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the efficacy of a β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate/L-arginine/L-glutamine (HMB/Arg/Gln) beverage and locomotion training as supportive care in the treatment of uHCC with lenvatinib.

Hard-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis: The dawn of a new era of pharmacological treatment.

Patients with hard-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are defined a posteriori as those who do not show a sufficient response or are intolerant to pharmacological treatments, thus not achieving biochemical surrogate endpoints that are associated with long-term liver-related-event-free survival. The absence of a recently harmonized definition of 'complete biochemical response within 6 months (CBR≤6M)', which is defined as the normalization of serum transaminase and IgG levels below the upper limit of normal (ULN) at ≤6 months after treatment initiation is regarded as hard-to-treat AIH. The implementation of CBR≤6M, in turn, has been facilitating clinical trials, e.

A Case of Ramucirumab for Radiation Necrosis Following Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases From Lung Cancer.

It is well known that bevacizumab is effective against radiation necrosis in the brain (hereafter referred to as brain necrosis). Herein, we report a case of brain necrosis in a patient treated with a regimen that included ramucirumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. A woman in her 40s presented with five brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma at the initial diagnosis.

Sequential Peg-IFN after bepirovirsen may reduce post-treatment relapse in chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Bepirovirsen, an antisense oligonucleotide, induces sustained reductions in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA to below the lower limit of quantification (
Methods: In this phase IIb, multicentre, open-label trial, participants on stable nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy were randomised 1:1 to bepirovirsen 300 mg once weekly (plus loading dose on Days 4 and 11) for 24 (Arm 1) or 12 (Arm 2) weeks followed by Peg-IFN 180 μg once weekly for up to 24 weeks, with up to 36 weeks follow-up.

Sonic hedgehog expression in steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway dysregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and the sonic Hh (SHh) protein, a pivotal molecule in the Hh pathway, is expressed in ballooned hepatocytes. The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological significance of SHh expression in steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma (SH-HCC). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine gene and SHh protein expression in SH-HCC.

Effects of meropenem supply restriction: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: In Japan, the supply of one generic meropenem product was restricted from August 2022 to March 2023.

Objective: To determine the effects of meropenem (MEPM) restriction.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study comparing antimicrobial use, bacteremia mortality, and drug-resistant bacteria detected before the restriction of MEPM (control period), from September 2021 to February 2022, and after the restriction of MEPM (MEPM supply restriction period), from September 2022 to February 2023, in five institutions.

Efficacy of chemically induced human hepatic progenitor cells from diseased liver against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model.

Background: Numerous chemical reprogramming techniques have been reported, rendering them applicable to regenerative medicine research. The aim of our study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of human CLiP derived from clinical specimens transplanted into a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mouse model of liver fibrosis.

Methods: We successfully generated chemically induced liver progenitor (CLiP), which exhibited progenitor-like characteristics, through stimulation with low-molecular-weight compounds.

Prognostic value of systemic inflammation score in patients with esophageal cancer.

Introduction: The systemic inflammatory score (SIS), a new inflammatory marker based on a combination of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and serum albumin concentration, has been reported to be a useful prognostic marker for several malignancies. The authors conducted this retrospective study on data from a cohort of esophageal cancer patients undergoing potentially curative resection to clarify the value of SIS as a prognostic marker for clinical outcome in this population.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 32 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer between January 2016 and December 2019.

Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Paranasal Mucocele with Visual Disturbance.

Introduction: Ocular imaging strategies have evolved to facilitate the diagnosis of optic neuropathy. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenesis of visual disturbance associated with paranasal mucocele via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A total of 19 patients with mucocele and visual disturbance who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery, orbital MRI, and sinus computed tomography were included.

Questionnaire Survey to Identify the Medical Departments That Patients With Possible Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Symptoms Tend to Choose.

In the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC), any delay in omit initiation worsens the overall prognosis. Thus, the early start of HNC treatment is crucial. Unfortunately, treatment delays persist in clinical practice.

Feasibility evaluation of a blood rotation system for efficient blood product utilization in remote island settings.

Background And Objectives: Geographical limitations in remote island medical facilities result in excessive wastage of blood products. To address this, we explored the feasibility of a novel blood rotation system, which enables the return and redelivery of blood products to/from the blood bank while ensuring the management of product quality, including temperature control. This study aimed to enhance the supply of blood products to these facilities.

Osteoporosis and Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Trans-ethnic Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Osteoporosis is a major clinical problem in many autoimmune diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), the most common autoimmune liver disease. Osteoporosis is a major cause of fracture and related mortality. However, it remains unclear whether PBC confers a causally risk-increasing effect on osteoporosis.