Results: A total of 51 patients (mean age, 54.3±9.8 years; male, 78.4%) were included. Median follow-up duration was 14.2 months (range, 5.6-37.3) and 20 patients (39.2%) experienced local tumor recurrence during the observational period. Multivariable analyses showed that low P2/MS level (relative risk, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96-0.99; P=0.035) and serum alpha-fetoprotein level >100 ng/mL (relative risk, 5.41; 95% CI, 1.59-18.18; P=0.007) were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. Patients with P2/MS level <45.0 revealed 3.79-fold (95% CI, 1.05-13.76; P=0.042) increase in the risk of recurrence after adjustment for serum alpha-fetoprotein level, as compared to those with P2/MS level >45.0. However, tumor size, Child-Pugh score, and hepatitis B virus DNA level failed to significantly affect the time-to-recurrence. Conclusion: Our study suggests that lower P2/MS value, which means more severe liver fibrosis, is an independent predictor for HCC recurrence after RFA. Background/Aims: Despite of its high prevalence, osteoporosis is an underestimated complication of liver cirrhosis. The aims of this study is to prove the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify the principal risk factors associated. Methods: The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia was studied in patients with alcoholic or viral liver cirrhosis who were admitted to the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CNUH between March 2008 and September 2008. Osteoporosis and osteopenia was evaluated by measuring their bone density using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at lumbar spine and femoral head. The variables taken into consideration were: sex, body mass index (BMI), presence of cholestasis, severity and duration of liver disease. Results: Total 45 patients (male 32 and female 13, respectively) were estimated for association of liver disease and osteoporosis. Of these, 39 patients were estimated for bone density of lumbar spine and neck of femur by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Morning blood samples were taken for hormonal and biochemical analysis from all patients. Among 39 patients, 25 patients (64%) were found to have osteopenia or osteoporosis. There was no statistically significant correlation between age, BMI, severity and duration of liver disease, PTH, Vitamin D, ALP and IGF-1. Conclusion: There is high prevalence rate of osteopenia or osteoporosis in liver cirrhosis. Although the causes of osteopathy are heterogeneous, the early diagnosis and treatment of osteopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis is important. Background: To build and to evaluate mathematical models for predicting liver fibrosis progression by using conventional laboratory indicators in chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Liver biopsy and routine laboratory tests were performed in 391 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Using Multiple logistic regression to analyze evidently relevant indicators, then the predicting models were built and analyzed by ROC curve. Results: After Spearman analysis, factors such as age, platelet count(PLT), international rate(INR), total bilirubin(TBIL), albumin(ALB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), total bile acid(TBA) and cholinesterase(CHE) were found to be correlated with liver fibrosis P 0.01 . Three models (s 2, s 3, s=4, respectively) were built by PLT, INR, ALB, GGT and CHE, which were independent predictors after multiple Logistic regression analysis.Finally, Fibrosis Score (FS) was calculated to predict different liver fibrosis stages. ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC of FS was 0.784 in model1 (s 2), 0.768 in model2 (s 3) and 0.806 in model3(s=4) fig1 .The cut-off FS in model1 was at 7.09 with 67.4% sensitive, 79.3% specificity and the accuracy was 71.1%. The cut-off FS in model2 was at 5.67 with 75.0% sensitive, 67.7% specificity and the accuracy was 72.9%. The cut-off FS in model3 was at 3.65 with 71.4% sensitive, 78.5% specificity and the accuracy was 73.7%. Conclusions: The predicting models, built by using conventional laboratory indicators, have fairly well value for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis or hepatocirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B. Background: To investigate the effect of liver cirrhosis on the development of atherosclerosis in the rabbits chronically fed with high fat diet. Methods: Normal male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, a high fat diet group, a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) group and a complex group. Pathologic changes in ascending aortas and livers were observed. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase ALT , lipid, C-reactive protein (CRP) were also determined. Results: Significant hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis could be observed in the three treatment groups; while atherosclerosis and typical arteriosclerotic plaques in ascending aortas could only be observed in the two high fat diet groups. Compared with the control group, serum ALT and lipid levels in CCl4 group were increased significantly (P<0.05), but no difference of arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) and I/M ratio between these two groups. The levels of serum ALT, lipid, CRP and IMT in two high fat diet groups were significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.05). The level of serum ALT in the complex group was significant higer than that in the high fat diet group, but the I/M ratio was just opposite (all P<0.05), and there was no difference of IMT between the two groups. Conclusions Rabbits treated with CCl4 can elevate serum lipid levels, but can not induce atherosclerosis. Though the activity of liver inflammation was aggravated in the complex model group, it has no effect on atherosclerosis possibly partly because of malnutrition.