Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The IMbrave 150 trial revealed the usefulness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), making it now considered the first-line systemic chemotherapy agent for HCC. The present study investigated factors associated with early tumor progression of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with advanced HCC in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 184 HCC patients who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy were studied. We investigated the frequency of early progressive disease (e-PD; PD within 9 weeks) and analyzed the risk factors for e-PD. RESULTS: There were 47 patients (25.5%) diagnosed as e-PD. Patients with e-PD had a worse performance status (PS) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and Child-Pugh (C-P) scores and a significantly higher rate of a systemic therapy than those with non-e-PD. A multivariate analysis showed that PS ≥1 (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-10, p < 0.001), ALBI score ≥-2.30 (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.0-4.5, p = 0.044) and the history of a systemic therapy (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.4, p = 0.0038) were significant and independent determinants of e-PD. When examining the liver function trends in e-PD patients, the ALBI scores at 3 and 6 weeks after starting therapy were significantly higher than before the treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The liver function and systemic therapy are useful predictors of e-PD in HCC patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in real-world clinical practice.

DOI： 10.1002/cam4.6369

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Liver fibrosis is an important phenomenon in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. Standard markers reflecting liver fibrosis, including the FIB-4 index, increase with age. This study aimed to identify fibrosis progression-related markers that are diagnostically beneficial even in aged individuals. Serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured by multiple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two standard NAFLD or fibrosis progression-related markers - the FIB-4 index and APRI score - were analyzed along with cytokine levels to define the best approach to discriminate advanced fibrosis. Ninety-eight NAFLD patients were enrolled: 59 and 39 patients with fibrosis stages 1-2 and 3-4 respectively. In addition to the FIB-4 index and APRI score, the following factors showed significant differences between stages 1-2 and stages 3-4 in a multivariate analysis: platelet counts, IP-10, and RANTES. The fibrosis stage, FIB-4, APRI, PDGF-BB, and RANTES were related to the prognosis. In aged patients, IP-10, GM-CSF, and RANTES differed between stages 1-2 and stages 3-4. FIB-4 and APRI were beneficial for their correlation with fibrosis. However, to stratify either young or elderly advanced fibrosis patients, and to identify patients likely to have a bad outcome, RANTES was the best marker.

DOI： 10.18926/AMO/65748

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

This study sought to identify factors that are predictive of a therapeutic response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) by focusing on the number of prior transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) sessions. To determine the parameters predicting a good response to HAIC, we retrospectively analyzed 170 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received HAIC regimens comprising low-dose cisplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil (LFP) or cisplatin (CDDP) for the first time. In both the LFP and CDDP regimens, the response rates were significantly lower in patients with three or more prior TACE sessions than in those with two or fewer prior TACE sessions (LFP 57% versus 28%; p=0.01, CDDP 27% versus 6%; p=0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of prior TACE sessions (≥ 3) was significantly associated with non-responder status (odds ratio 4.17, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.76-9.86) in addition to the HAIC regimen. Multivariable analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that a larger number of prior TACE sessions (≥ 3) was a significant risk factor for survival (hazard ratio 1.60, 95% CI 1.12-2.29) in addition to Child-Pugh class, serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration, and maximum diameter of HCC. HCC patients who receive fewer prior TACE sessions (≤ 2) were found to be better responders to HAIC.

DOI： 10.18926/AMO/64120

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Anorexia nervosa (AN) can cause severe protein energy malnutrition and the consequent development of various organ disorders. AN is known to cause hepatic complications. We report two cases of starvation and refeeding-induced liver injury in patients with AN, and review the literature on the hepatic complications of AN. Acute liver injury can be induced by both starvation and refeeding, although the underlying pathomechanisms and management of liver injury differ between these two conditions. Clinicians should carefully identify the clinical features to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of these conditions.

DOI： 10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6723011

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign nodular lesion, but because of its feature of portal tract vessel abnormality, it may induce portal hypertension. A 27-year-old woman was admitted with a fever. A large nodule with satellite lesions was found in the liver and cotton wool-like feature of arteries were detected on angiography. Technetium galactosyl serum albumin scintigraphy and diagnostic laparoscopy showed that the tumor site was functional, while the surrounding area was a non-functional fibrotic area. A biopsy specimen indicated that the nodular lesion was an FNH-like lesion. She experienced several instances of variceal rupture and suffered liver failure, receiving liver transplantation. The excised liver showed a centrally scarred area in the nodule, indicating that the diagnosis was FNH. We herein report this case as a rare case of FNH that progressed to liver failure.

DOI： 10.1007/s12328-021-01529-w

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: The number of patients with non-functional neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has increased recently, and the rate of liver metastasis of NETs is about 20% in patients at the first diagnosis. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and everolimus are therapies with reported efficacy, but few reports have described their combined treatment. We therefore aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with everolimus and TAE in patients with liver metastasis of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in a prospective study. METHODS: We design a single-arm, open-label, prospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with everolimus and TAE in patients with liver metastases of GEP-NETs. The study started in June 2021 at Okayama University Hospital and is expected to enroll 18 patients over a 2-year period. DISCUSSION: This study is a prospective study investigating a new treatment method for a rare disease called GEP-NETs. We may obtain useful information that contributes to the treatment guidelines in this study. However, NET is a rare disease, and although the number of cases is statistically established, it may not be possible to accurately assess causality.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: jRCT1061210015.

DOI： 10.1177/11795549221127750

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Tolvaptan is a recently available diuretic that blocks arginine vasopressin receptor 2 in the renal collecting duct. Its diuretic mechanism involves selective water reabsorption by affecting the water reabsorption receptor aquaporin 2. Given that liver cirrhosis patients exhibit hyponatremia due to their pseudo-aldosteronism and usage of natriuretic agents, a sodium maintaining agent, such as tolvaptan, is physiologically preferable. However, large scale studies indicating the patients for whom this would be effective and describing management under its use have been insufficient. The appropriate management of cirrhosis patients treated with tolvaptan should be investigated. In the present review, we collected articles investigating the effectiveness of tolvaptan and factors associated with survival and summarized their management reports. Earlier administration of tolvaptan before increasing the doses of natriuretic agents is recommended because this may preserve effective arterial blood volume.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms22115582

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

AIM: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a risk factor for nonvirus-related hepatocellular carcinoma, which is increasing in prevalence. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical application of fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) in the process of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) disease development. METHODS: Serum samples from 115 diabetes mellitus (DM), 36 NAFL, and 119 NASH patients were analyzed for AFP-L3 expression using raw data of a micro total analysis system. These data were then compared with the clinical characteristics of the patients. A validation study was also undertaken with 55 samples (17 NAFL and 38 NASH). RESULTS: Trace amounts of AFP-L3 were detected in 3.5%, 16.7%, and 58.0% of patients with DM, NAFL, and NASH, respectively. The odds ratio of AFP-L3 positivity for the diagnosis of NASH in multivariate analysis was 9.81 (95% confidence interval, 3.77-25.5). The rates in patients without fibrosis or with stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and stage 4 fibrosis were 14.7%, 31.3%, 63.0%, 86.2%, and 100%, respectively. The rates were significantly increased according to the advancement of liver fibrosis (p < 0.001); however, no difference in the positive rate of AFP-L3 was observed between patients with and without fatty livers and between patients with normal and abnormal transaminase. The same relationship was also observed in the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: Abnormal fucosylation of AFP occurred in patients with NASH, so it could be useful for the screening of NASH in patients with DM, as well as for the differential diagnosis of NASH and the evaluation of fibrosis.

DOI： 10.1111/hepr.13626

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND ANDAIM: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations were the most prevalent mutations in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We tried to detect the mutations with plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with advanced HCC and elucidated their clinical utility. METHODS: Circulating tumor DNA in plasma was extracted from 130 patients with advanced HCC who were treated with systemic chemotherapy (n = 86) or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (n = 44), and TERT promoter mutations were examined with digital droplet polymerase chain reaction. The correlations between these mutations and the clinical outcome of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 130 patients examined, 71 patients (54.6%) were positive for TERT promoter mutations in ctDNA, of which 64 patients were -124bp G > A and 10 were -146bp G > A. The presence of TERT promoter mutations was correlated with large intrahepatic tumor size (P = 0.05) and high des-gamma carboxyprothrombin (P = 0.005). Overall survival of the patients with the mutations was significantly shorter than those without them (P < 0.001), and the patients with high (≥ 1%) fractional abundance of the mutant alleles showed shorter survival than those with low (< 1%) fractional abundance. Multivariate analysis revealed that TERT promoter mutation (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-3.24; P < 0.01), systemic chemotherapy (HR: 2.38; 95% CI, 1.29-4.57; P < 0.01), and vascular invasion (HR: 2.16; 95% CI, 1.22-3.76; P < 0.01) were significant factors for poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: TERT promoter mutations in ctDNA were associated with short survival and could be a valuable biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with advanced HCC.

DOI： 10.1111/jgh.15227

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

AIM: Tolvaptan is a newly available diuretic that has a specific function in water reabsorption inhibition. Given that spironolactone or furosemide induces the aggravation of cirrhotic hyponatremia and dehydration, tolvaptan affects the management strategy of liver cirrhosis. Representative predictive markers of its response include renal function-related markers such as urea nitrogen or creatinine. However, vascular function-related markers have not been well investigated. We investigated the effect of the vascular function-related marker asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and the effective arterial blood volume (EABV) marker, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), on the early tolvaptan response and survival in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 49 patients who required add-on tolvaptan for refractory ascites or edema. Laboratory data were obtained immediately before and 1 day after tolvaptan administration. Patients exhibiting >1.5 kg weight loss after 1 week were categorized as early responders to tolvaptan. Patients were followed for a median of 200 days and were assessed for survival. RESULTS: Early responders showed lower creatinine levels (<1.0 mg/dL), and higher ADMA levels (≥0.61 nmol/mL) than others in a multivariate analysis. Patients with a shorter survival were positive for hepatocellular carcinoma and had a low FENa (<0.35%). CONCLUSION: Early responders showed higher ADMA levels reflecting vascular stricture, suggesting that higher vascular tonus is required for a tolvaptan early response. Patients with a shorter survival showed a lower FENa, reflecting a lower EABV and suggesting that adequate EABV is required for the prolonged survival after tolvaptan administration.

DOI： 10.1111/hepr.13573

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-中国支部  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a promising method for controlling tumors, although it does not entirely eliminate recurrence. Oxidative stress is associated with the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis, while also acting as an anticancer response. The objective of the present study was to investigate the factors influencing post-RFA outcomes. We recruited 235 newly diagnosed HCC patients who received RFA for single tumors. The patients with recurrence were sub-grouped into early and segmental recurrence groups. The characteristics of the sub-grouped patients were evaluated, including by measuring oxidative stress marker reactive oxygen metabolites and antioxidant marker OXY-adsorbent tests. The factors associated with poor survival were a high Child-Pugh score and early recurrence within 2 years in the same segment. The patients who experienced recurrence within 2 years in the same segment showed a larger tumor diameter than did others. According to a multivariate analysis, the OXY values were also significantly low in these patients. In conclusion, maintaining the antioxidant reservoir function with a high OXY value might be necessary to prevent early recurrence within the RFA-treated segment.

DOI： 10.18926/AMO/60364

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

INTRODUCTION: Molecular targeting drugs are recommended as second-line treatment for intrahepatic advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, in Asia, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is also considered as a second-line treatment because it improves the survival of responders. The aim of this study was to predict responders and non-responders to HAIC with low-dose cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (LFP) using tumor markers. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The data of 47 patients who received LFP for the first time in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. We evaluated the association between treatment response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and the changing ratio of the serum concentration of α-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) 2 weeks after LFP initiation. RESULTS: The number of patients showing a complete response (CR), a partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) was 0 (0%), 20 (43%), 18 (38%), and 9 (19%), respectively. The AFP ratio showed significant positive correlations for PR vs. SD (p = 0.004) and PR vs. PD (p = 0.003). The DCP ratio correlated significantly for PR vs. SD (p = 0.02). The optimal cutoff values for responders were 0.79 for the AFP ratio and 0.53 for the DCP ratio. Prediction using both or either cutoff value showed 93% sensitivity, 53% specificity, a 94% negative predictive value, and a 57% positive predictive value. CONCLUSION: Optimal cutoff values for AFP and DCP ratios enable prediction of nonresponders to HAIC with LFP. This simple and early assessment method allows the use of HAIC and molecular targeting drugs for HCC treatment.

DOI： 10.1159/000506941

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一財)日本消化器病学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一財)日本消化器病学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Chronic viral hepatitis B and C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been widely acknowledged to be the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As anti-viral treatment progresses, the impact of NAFLD is increasing. NAFLD can coexist with chronic viral hepatitis and exacerbate its progression. Oxidative stress has been recognized as a chronic liver disease progression-related and cancer-initiating stress response. However, there are still many unresolved issues concerning oxidative stress, such as the correlation between the natural history of the disease and promising treatment protocols. Recent findings indicate that oxidative stress is also an anti-cancer response that is necessary to kill cancer cells. Oxidative stress might therefore be a cancer-initiating response that should be down regulated in the pre-cancerous stage in patients with risk factors for cancer, while it is an anti-cancer cell response that should not be down regulated in the post-cancerous stage, especially in patients using anti-cancer agents. Antioxidant nutrients should be administered carefully according to the patients' disease status. In this review, we will highlight these paradoxical effects of oxidative stress in chronic liver diseases, pre- and post-carcinogenesis.

DOI： 10.3390/nu12061576

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene promoter have been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, analyses of these mutations in liquid biopsies have been technically difficult because of the high GC content of the regions of interest within this promoter. We evaluated the feasibility and prognostic value of hTERT promoter mutations identified in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the serum of patients with HCC. OBJECTIVE: A cohort of HCC patients (n = 36) who were curatively treated by surgical resection between June 2003 and September 2014 were enrolled in this study. METHODS: The presence of hTERT promoter mutations in cfDNA from the patients' serum was analyzed via modified droplet digital polymerase chain reaction, and associations were sought between specific promoter mutations and patients' disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: The G>A hTERT mutation at -124 bp was detected in the serum of 25 patients (69%). Although no marked differences were observed between the characteristics of the serum mutation-positive and serum mutation-negative patient groups, the DFS of patients with the mutation was significantly shorter than that of the serum mutation-negative patients (p = 0.02). Among 18 clinicopathologic and background liver factors examined, the presence of the -124 bp G>A mutation was an independent and significant predictor of patients' DFS (hazard ratio = 3.01, 95% confidence interval 1.11-10.5, p = 0.03) in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The -124 bp G>A hTERT promoter mutation was observed in the serum of 69% of HCC patients who underwent surgical resection and was an independent predictor of disease progression in HCC.

DOI： 10.1159/000506135

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一財)日本消化器病学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本門脈圧亢進症学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The herbal medicine berberine (BBR) has been recently shown to be an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) productive activator with various properties that induce anti-inflammatory responses. We investigated the effects of BBR on the mechanisms of mucosal CD4+T cell activation in vitro and on the inflammatory responses in T cell transfer mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We examined the favorable effects of BBR in vitro, using lamina propria (LP) CD4+ T cells in T cell transfer IBD models in which SCID mice had been injected with CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells. BBR suppressed the frequency of IFN-γ- and Il-17A-producing LP CD4+ T cells. This effect was found to be regulated by AMPK activation possibly induced by oxidative phosphorylation inhibition. We then examined the effects of BBR on the same IBD models in vivo. BBR-fed mice showed AMPK activation in the LPCD4+ T cells and an improvement of colitis. Our study newly showed that the BBR-induced AMPK activation of mucosal CD4+ T cells resulted in an improvement of IBD and underscored the importance of AMPK activity in colonic inflammation.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-019-48331-w

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Steroids are often administered at the time of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), a standard treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the expectation of preventing postembolization syndrome. Here we investigated the precise effects of steroids on TACE. We prospectively enrolled 144 HCC patients from 10 hospitals who underwent TACE. Three hospitals used steroids (steroid group, n=77) and the rest did not routinely use steroids (control group, n=67). The occurrence of adverse events and the algetic degree at 1-5 days post-treatment were compared between the groups. Fever (grades 0-2) after TACE was significantly less in the steroid group (56/21/0) compared to the control group (35/29/3, p=0.005, Cochran-Armitage test for trend). The suppressive effect of steroids against fever was prominent in females (p=0.001). Vomiting (G0/G1/ G2-) was also less frequent in the steroid group (70/5/2) versus the control group (53/10/3), but not significantly (p=0.106). The algetic degree and the grade of hematological adverse events, including hyperglycemia, did not differ between the groups. We conclude that the administration of steroids was useful for the prevention of adverse events after TACE in patients with HCC.

DOI： 10.18926/AMO/56935

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several factors, including proangiogenic cytokines, have been reported as predictive markers for the treatment effect of sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, most of them were determined based on one-time measurements before treatment. METHODS: We consecutively recruited 80 advanced HCC patients who were treated with sorafenib prospectively. Serum levels of eight proangiogenic cytokines and the appearance of adverse events were monitored periodically, and their correlations with the prognoses of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Among six significant risk factors for overall survival in univariate analyses, high angiopoietin-2 (hazard ratio, 2.06), high hepatocyte growth factor (hazard ratio, 2.08), and poor performance status before the treatment (hazard ratio, 2.48) were determined as independent risk factors. In addition, high angiopoietin-2 at the time of progressive disease was a marker of short post-progression survival (hazard ratio, 4.27). However, there was no significant variable that predicted short progression-free survival except the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Predictions of overall survival and post-progression survival were possible by periodically measuring serum proangiogenic cytokines, especially angiopoietin-2, in patients with HCC treated with sorafenib.

DOI： 10.1111/jgh.14535

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Post-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) hepatitis B recurrence is well-controlled with a nucleos(t)ide analogue and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) combination, but the high cost and the potential risk of unknown infection associated with HBIG remain unresolved issues. Low-cost recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine administration is a potential solution to these problems. We retrospectively analyzed the rate and predictive factors of HBV vaccine success in 49 post-OLT patients: liver cirrhosis-type B (LC-B), n=28 patients; acute liver failure-type B (ALF-B), n=8; and non-HBV-related end-stage liver disease (non-B ESLD) who received a liver from anti-hepatitis B core antibody-positive donors, n=13. A positive anti-hepatitis B surface antibody response was achieved in 29% (8/28) of the LC-B group, 88% (7/8) of the ALF-B group, and 44% (4/9) of the adult non-B ESLD group. All four non-B ESLD infants showed vaccine success. The predictive factors for a good response in LC-B were young age, marital donor, and high donor age. ALF-B and non-B ESLD infants are thus good vaccination candidates. LC-B patients with marital donors are also good candidates, perhaps because the donated liver maintains an efficient immune memory to HBV, as the donors had already been infected in adulthood and showed adequate anti-HBV immune responses.

DOI： 10.18926/AMO/56457

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Oxidative stress is being recognized as a key factor in the progression of chronic liver disease (CLD), especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Many NAFLD treatment guidelines recommend the use of antioxidants, especially vitamin E. Many prospective studies have described the beneficial effects of such agents for the clinical course of NAFLD. However, as these studies are usually short-term evaluations, lasting only a few years, whether or not antioxidants continue to exert favorable long-term effects, including in cases of concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma, remains unclear. Antioxidants are generally believed to be beneficial for human health and are often commercially available as health-food products. Patients with lifestyle-related diseases often use such products to try to be healthier without practicing lifestyle intervention. However, under some experimental NAFLD conditions, antioxidants have been shown to encourage the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, as oxidative stress is toxic for cancer cells, just as for normal cells. In this review, we will highlight the paradoxical effects of antioxidants against NAFLD and related hepatocellular carcinoma.

DOI： 10.3390/nu10080977

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: Portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) is characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction, while hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by vasodilation. Definite POPH is a risk factor for the survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), as the congestive pressure affects the grafted liver, while subclinical pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been acknowledged as a non-risk factor for deceased donor OLT. Given that PH measurement requires cardiac catheterization, the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) measured by echocardiography is used to screen for PH and congestive pressure to the liver. We investigated the impact of a subclinical high TRPG on the survival of small grafted living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 84 LDLT candidates. Patients exhibiting a TRPG ≥25 mmHg on echocardiography were categorized as potentially having liver congestion (subclinical high TRPG; n = 34). The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) measured after general anesthesia with FIO20.6 (mPAP-FIO20.6) was also assessed. Patients exhibiting pO2 < 80 mmHg and an alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (AaDO2) ≥ 15 mmHg were categorized as potentially having HPS (subclinical HPS; n = 29). The clinical course after LDLT was investigated according to subclinical high TRPG. RESULTS: A subclinical high TRPG (p = 0.012) and older donor age (p = 0.008) were correlated with a poor 40-month survival. Although a higher mPAP-FIO20.6 was expected to correlate with a worse survival, a high mPAP-FIO20.6 with a low TRPG was associated with high frequency complicating subclinical HPS and a good survival, suggesting a reduction in the PH pressure via pulmonary shunt. CONCLUSION: In cirrhosis patients, mPAP-FIO20.6 may not accurately reflect the congestive pressure to the liver, as the pressure might escape via pulmonary shunt. A subclinical high TRPG is an important marker for predicting a worse survival after LDLT, possibly reflecting congestive pressure to the grafted small liver.

DOI： 10.1186/s12876-018-0793-z

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japan Society of Hepatology  

Okayama prefecture has conducted seminars on viral hepatitis primarily for new staff members belonging to the department dealing with liver diseases in public health centers and hospitals
participants have been certified as “hepatitis medical care coordinators.” This survey was planned to (1) evaluate the viral hepatitis awareness activities they conducted after seminars using self-reported questionnaires and (2) clarify whether their knowledge and practices were appropriate to classify them as competent hepatitis medical care coordinators as per the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan. Among all 298 coordinators in the Okayama prefecture, 146 responded to the survey
84 worked at the same department and 45 matched the coordinator in their daily activities. Further, 36 were transferred to different departments and 20 conducted awareness activities as hepatitis medical care coordinators in addition to their daily responsibilities. Transfer of hepatitis medical care coordinators may help expand hepatitis awareness activities across different departments.

DOI： 10.2957/kanzo.59.625

Scopus

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本臨床免疫学会  

<p>【背景】生薬であるベルベリン（BBR）は下痢止めとして臨床応用されているが，抗炎症など多彩な作用も有することが明らかになっている．BBRは細胞のエネルギーの調節因子であるAMPKを活性化させることが知られており，近年，このAMPKがT細胞を含む免疫細胞の応答に関わっていることが報告されている．【目的，方法】慢性腸炎マウスモデルを用いて，大腸炎粘膜のCD4⁺T細胞（LP CD4⁺T細胞）におけるBBRの抗炎症作用とその機序についての検証をin vitroおよびIn vivoで行う．1）CD4⁺CD45RB^highT細胞移入腸炎マウスのLPCD4⁺T細胞をPMA/Ionomysinで刺激し，IFN-γ産生細胞を誘導，BBRの効果について，AMPKの関与も含めて検討．2）上記腸炎マウスにBBRを含んだ餌を投与し，腸炎の抑制効果について検討．【結果】1）LP CD4⁺T細胞はBBRと共培養すると，IFN-γ産生細胞が優位に低下し，ウェスタンブロッティングでは，AMPKの活性化を認めた．次に，AMPKのagonistとantagonistを用いた培養系でIFN-γの産生を調べたところ，agonistで抑制，antagonistで増加を認めた．以上から，BBRにより活性化されたAMPKがIFN-γを制御していることが示唆された．2）上記腸炎マウスにBBRを経口投与した結果，腸炎は優位に抑制された．【結論】BBRは，慢性腸炎マウスモデルの腸炎を抑制し，その作用機序の一つとしてAMPKを介した機序が示唆された．</p>

DOI： 10.2177/jsci.40.311b

CiNii Article

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

肝硬変患者における高アンモニア血症は日常診療で遭遇する機会は多く、しばしば治療に難渋する。カルニチン補充療法が高アンモニア血症に対し有用であるとの報告が近年増えてきている。2012年2月から2013年1月に当院で高アンモニア血症に対してレボカルニチン製剤を用いた21例について検討した。Child-Pugh scoreが10点以上の症例で、有意に1ヵ月後の血清アンモニア値が低下していた(p=0.0038)。また、血清アンモニア値が低下した群(以下低下群)では、低下しなかった群(以下非低下群)に比べて栄養の指標を表す血清アルブミン値、血清総コレステロール値、血清コリンエステラーゼ値がやや低い傾向にあり、大腰筋の断面積も、低下群でやや小さい傾向にあった。Child-Pugh score10点以上の症例で、栄養摂取不良例や筋力低下例でカルニチン補充療法により血清アンモニア値を下げる効果が期待できる可能性が示唆された。(著者抄録)

researchmap

Other Link： https://search.jamas.or.jp/default/link?pub_year=2014&ichushi_jid=J00263&link_issn=&doc_id=20140827210002&doc_link_id=10.2957%2Fkanzo.55.459&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.2957%2Fkanzo.55.459&type=J-STAGE&icon=https%3A%2F%2Fjk04.jamas.or.jp%2Ficon%2F00007_3.gif

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)アークメディア  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本門脈圧亢進症学会  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本門脈圧亢進症学会  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-中国支部  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-中国支部  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)メディカルレビュー社  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)メディカルレビュー社  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)メディカルレビュー社  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本移植学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本門脈圧亢進症学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC CLINICAL ONCOLOGY  

DOI： 10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.e15674

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本移植学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本門脈圧亢進症学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

researchmap