bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple hilar cysts of the liver in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: Report of three cases
Authors: FUJIOKA YASUNORI , KAWAMURA NAOYUKI , TANAKA SHINYA , FUJITA MIRI , SUZUKI HIROAKI , NAGASHIMA KAZUO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe present report concerns the clinicopathological study of three patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (a 40‐year‐old man, a 52‐year‐old woman and a 48‐year‐old man) who had multiple cysts along their intrahepatic bile ducts. The cysts were visible on gross examination of the liver and, in two cases, an enlargement of the cysts had been detected in abdominal computed tomography scans performed 1 year apart. Histologically, the cysts consisted of proliferating and dilated peribiliary glands. The cysts occasionally compressed the original bile ducts. The latter showed mucosal hyperplasia with antral‐type gland metaplasia. Neoplastic changes and necroinflammation were not seen. Immuno‐histochemical assays revealed that the peribiliary glands and antral‐type glands expressed not only cytokeratin and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9, but also c‐MET protein, the hepatocyte growth factor receptor which may be related, at least in part, to the cystic dilatation of the peribiliary glands.
Evaluation of the timing of the booster injection after a primary vaccination against hepatitis A
Authors: FUJIYAMA SHIGETOSHI , ODOH KOICHI , TANAKA MOTOHIKO , KURAMOTO IZUMI , TOMITA KIMIO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTTo evaluate the long‐term efficacy and the timing of booster injection of a lyophilized, inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (HAV), we studied the acquired anti‐hepatitis A virus titres in 45 subjects who received either two or three doses of the vaccine. With three doses ≥ 0.5 μg administered at 0, 1 and 6 months, antibody titres increased to approximately half those seen in people with a history of natural hepatitis A infection. Although the titres decreased gradually, all subjects remained anti‐HAV positive at least 5 years after the third injection. The geometric mean titre exceeded 100 mlU/mL, which approximated the highest titre obtainable by the inoculation of immune serum globulin. A prompt antibody reaction was seen with two doses administered 2 weeks apart, with the titres achieved being 5.6‐fold the peak titres obtained by the inoculation of immune serum globulin. All 33 subjects were antibody positive 18 months after the first injection, but some became seronegative by 30 months, suggesting that a third booster dose would be desirable at 18 months.
Hepatitis C virus genotypes in a cohort of Australian blood donors and haemophiliac and liver transplant patients
Authors: CHEN JJ , McGUINNESS PH , KOOREY DJ , RICKARD K , WYLIE B , McCAUGHAN GW 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to characterize hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes using the INNO‐LiPA HCV line probe assay and direct sequencing from three different HCV‐RNA‐positive (serum) groups: (i) blood donors (n= 59); (ii) haemophiliacs (n= 43); and (iii) patients undergoing liver transplantation (n= 26). Of 128 HCV‐RNA‐positive samples, 74 (58%) were genotype 1. Of these, 41 were genotype 1a, 32 were genotype 1b and one was genotype 1 indeterminate. Of the remaining 54 samples, seven (5%) were genotype 2a, two (2%) were genotype 2b, 26 (20%) were genotype 3a, three (2%) were genotype 4a, while 16 (12.5%) were of a mixed genotype. There was no significant difference between the three groups with regard to the prevalence of any specific genotype. However, in blood donors and haemophiliac patients there was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of genotype 3a in patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (30.3%) compared with those patients with persistently normal ALT levels (5.6%; P= 0.004; x2) Genotype 3a was also uncommon in liver transplant patients (one of 14) with ‘sporadic’ HCV infection. Genotype 4a was detected only in liver transplant patients. These patients had originated from Egypt (n= 1), Italy (n= 1) and Romania (n= 1).
Viral hepatitis in Japan: Update
Authors: NISHIOKA MIKIO , MORSHED SYED AHMED 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTViral hepatitis is defined as a hepatitis virus infection in which hepatic inflammation and necrosis lead to a characteristic feature. It is caused by at least five viral agents with specific epidemio‐logical attributes and distinctive immunoserologic findings. The well‐characterized forms are hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses. Recent status and the current progress of viral hepatitis in Japan are discussed in the present article.
Tropical calcific pancreatitis and fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes in Bangladesh
Authors: KHAN AK AZAD , ALI L 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe relationship between tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) and fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is still unclear. The clinical, biochemical and radiological data of age‐matched TCP and FCPD subjects have been briefly discussed in the present review. Fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes patients present with a significantly lower BMI compared with TCP patients. Analysis of the family history reveals that some kind of environmental factors seem to play a predominant role in the development of diabetes in FCPD patients, although these factors remain to be identified. Both TCP and FCPD patients predominantly come from a rural background. Fasting and 2 h blood glucose values as well as fructosamine levels in FCPD patients are approximately four‐times higher than those of TCP patients. Measurements of early renal haemodynamic and microvascular changes (glomerular filtration rate, kidney size, microalbuminuria and microtransferrinuria) indicate an early renal involvement in FCPD patients. Tropical calcific pancreatitis subjects have approximately twice as high fasting C‐peptide values compared with FCPD patients. Findings of single stranded DNA measurements suggest the involvement of oxidative damage in FCPD patients. Ketosis resistance is the most conspicuous clinical feature in the FCPD group and this relative absence of ketosis is probably due to a defect in the ketone body synthesis pathway and/or in the regulation of counterbalancing hormones. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography findings of TCP and FCPD patients suggest that FCPD should not be considered only as a form of secondary diabetes consequent to generalized pancreatic damage in TCP.
Intestinal‐type tumour in resected gastric remnant cancer
Authors: LO SU‐SHUN , TSAY SHYH‐HAW , WU CHEW‐WUN , HSIEH MAO‐CHIH , LI ANNA FEN‐YAU , LUI WING‐YIU 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTLauren's intestinal type of gastric cancer was proposed to be dependent on long‐term environmental factors and is always preceded by chronic premalignant change. A cohort study was performed and demonstrated an increased cancer risk of gastric remnant after gastric surgery for benign disease. It is generally believed that after gastrectomy the residual stomach has an environmental change and, thus, enters a neoplastic process. Based on the carcinogenic theory of intestinal‐type tumour, it would be of interest to know whether the intestinal‐type tumour is more common in gastric remnant cancer. Forty patients with gastric remnant cancer had gastrectomy in the Veterans General Hospital‐Taipei. Another 683 patients with primary gastric carcinoma underwent resection and were used as controls. The clinical characteristics, tumour stage and intestinal‐type tumour were analysed in gastric remnant cancer and were compared with the various portions of primary gastric carcinoma. Although the overall distribution of intestinal‐type carcinoma in gastric remnant (45%) was no different to that of any other portion of stomach cancer, intestinal‐type carcinoma was more common in the early stage of gastric remnant (73%) and distal stomach (73%), but not in the proximal stomach (50%), which was supposed to have the same characteristics as the gastric remnant because of identical anatomic location. More than expected, intestinal‐type carcinoma in early gastric remnant cancer together with a long incubation interval between primary surgery and later tumour occurrence were compatible with the theory of carcinogenesis of intestinal‐type carcinoma.
Liver transplantation for hepatitis C‐associated cirrhosis in a single Australian centre: Referral patterns and transplant outcomes
Authors: LEVY MT , CHEN JJ , McGUINNESS PH , KOOREY D , SHEIL AGR , McCAUGHAN GW 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTDuring the study period, 63 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis were referred to our unit for liver transplantation. All cases referred and transplanted were retrospectively examined. Eighty‐six per cent of referred patients were male, 35% consumed alcohol in the harmful hazardous range, 13% were infected with hepatitis B and 7% had hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with sporadic infection were more likely to be born outside Australia and were an average of 10 years older than those with HCV acquired via intravenous drug use (P< 0.001). However, patients were an average of 12 years younger at referral if they consumed harmful amounts of alcohol than if they abstained (P = 0.002). We examined the impact of HCV on the outcome of 28 patients who underwent liver transplantation (mean follow up 25 months; range 3–76 months). The use of OKT3, HCV genotype and hepatitis B status were examined for their effect on HCV‐related graft dysfunction. Three year survival was 84%, equivalent to a control group. Chronic HCV‐related graft dysfunction occurred in 15 (56%) patients, of whom 10 had an asymptomatic elevation in serum amino transferase, two had cholestatic hepatitis and three had severe hepatitis C that progressed onto chronic rejection. Hepatitis C virus genotype 1b tended to be associated with HCV graft dysfunction (5/6 type 1b vs 10/16 in non‐type 1b). In conclusion, HCV is an increasingly common‐indication for liver transplantation. Alcohol and hepatitis B were frequently occurring cofactors in the referral cohort. Most patients referred were male, although the reason why is not clear. Transplantation offers a good medium‐term outcome, despite the high incidence of HCV‐associated graft dysfunction.
Earlier loss of hepatitis C virus RNA in interferon therapy can predict a long‐term response in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: KAKUMU SHINICHI , AIYAMA TOSHIYUKI , OKUMURA AKIHIKO , IWATA KAZUO , ISHIKAWA TETSUYA , YOSHIOKA KENTARO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTTo distinguish responders from non‐responders early in interferon (IFN) treatment would be beneficial in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Those patients unlikely to respond would be spared the cost and hazard of prolonged treatment. Forty‐three chronic hepatitis C patients who had received IFN‐α therapy (6–9 MU; six times weekly for 2 weeks followed by thrice weekly for 22 additional weeks) were randomly enrolled into the present study. Serially obtained sera were retrospectively tested for HCV‐RNA by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (AmplicorTM HCV) with a low limit detection of approximately 102 copies/mL. Genotypes were determined by type‐specific primers. Sixteen subjects were defined as sustained responders (SR), who showed sustained loss of viraemia with normalized alanine aminotransferase values for at least 6 months of follow‐up after completion of therapy. The other 27 subjects were non‐responders (NR), whose viraemia persisted during follow‐up. Pretreatment serum HCV‐RNA levels (P< 0.0001) and the genotype (P<0.01) were significant predictors for sustained response to IFN therapy. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detectable in only one (6%) SR and in 23 (85%) NR at the second week of therapy (P< 0.0001) and was detected in none of the SR subjects and in 18 (67%) NR at the fourth week of therapy (P< 0.0001). Pretreatment viral load was correlated with the time until loss of viraemia. Multivariate analysis revealed that loss of viraemia at the second week of therapy was the strongest predictor for a long‐term response, followed by the initial viral load and loss of viraemia at the fourth week of therapy. These findings suggest that it is possible to predict a long‐term response to IFN as early as at the second and fourth weeks after the start of therapy by identifying the presence or absence of HCV‐RNA with a sensitive assay.
Helicobacter pylori induces an array of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in human gastric epithelial cells: Quantification of mRNA for interleukin‐8, ‐1α/β, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and tumour necrosis factor‐α
Authors: JUNG HYUN CHAE , KIM JUNG MOGG , SONG IN SUNG , KIM CHUNG YONG 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTDespite the fact that Helicobacter pylori is known to be non‐invasive, mucosal infiltration of inflammatory cells have been observed in the gastric mucosa. The exact pathogenesis of such an inflammatory reaction has not been well defined. We explored the repertoire of cytokine genes expressed in human gastric epithelial cells in response to coculture with H. pylori. After gastric epithelial cells, SNU‐5 and KATO III, were infected with H. pylori, expression of several cytokine genes was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Interleukin (IL)‐8, ‐1α and ‐1β mRNA were expressed in both gastric epithelial cells throughout the entire infection period. In SNU‐5, IL‐1α and IL‐8 mRNA were expressed at 1 h, reached a peak level at 4 h and then decreased. Interleukin‐1β mRNA was expressed less frequently than IL‐1α or IL‐8 mRNA. In SNU‐5 cells, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) mRNA were expressed at 9h, but was not expressed in KATO III. Gene expression paralleled the amount of IL‐8 protein measured by enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Interleukin‐8 mRNA expression was not observed in KATO III cells infected with Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus, Campylobacter jejuni or Escherichia coli. IL‐8 mRNA expression was increased not only in gastric epithelial cells but also in non‐gastric cells infected with H. pylori. These results suggest that an inflammatory reaction induced by H. pylori may be initially triggered by an array of pro‐inflammatery cytokines expressed by infected gastric epithelial cells.
Circulating antioxidants in ulcerative colitis and their relationship to disease severity and activity
Authors: RAMAKRISHNA BS , VARGHESE R , JAYAKUMAR S , MATHAN M , BALASUBRAMANIAN KA 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTOxygen free radicals produced by neutrophils are important in the pathogenesis of mucosal damage in ulcerative colitis. Vitamin A, vitamin E and cysteine in the plasma can scavenge free radicals. In the present study, plasma levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, cysteine, cystine and protein‐bound cysteine were measured in active ulcerative colitis before and immediately after treatment of the active disease, and correlated with disease severity, extent and activity. Plasma vitamin A and cysteine were significantly reduced in active ulcerative colitis compared with controls. Levels of vitamin E, cystine and protein‐bound cysteine were not significantly altered in active ulcerative colitis. Vitamin A and cysteine concentrations returned to normal levels (P< 0.05) within 2 weeks of treating active colitis. There were significant negative correlations between clinical severity and the plasma concentrations of vitamin A and cysteine. Plasma cysteine levels also correlated inversely to disease extent. Depletion of the circulating antioxidants, vitamin A and cysteine, in active ulcerative colitis is likely to be important in the pathophysiology of the disease.
Hepatitis C virus RNA present in saliva but absent in breast‐milk of the hepatitis C carrier mother
Authors: KAGE MASAYOSHI , OGASAWARA SACHIKO , KOSAI KEN‐ICHIRO , NAKASHIMA EISUKE , SHIMAMATSU KAZUHIDE , KOJIRO MASAMICHI , KIMURA AKIHIKO , FUJISAWA TAKUJI , MATSUKUMA YOSHINORI , ITO YUJI , KONDO SHIGENOBU , KAWANO KATSUICHI , SATA MICHIO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTIn order to examine whether saliva and breast‐milk are mediators of the vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from an HCV carrier mother, serum, saliva, and breast‐milk samples from 11 HCV carrier mothers were collected at the time of delivery, and at approximately 1‐ to 3‐month intervals for as long as 30 months postpartum. Serum was also sampled from their children. All samples were analysed for the presence of HCV RNA, using the nested polymerase chain reaction method. No HCV RNA was detected in any breast‐milk samples. In saliva, HCV RNA was detected in four of the 11 mothers (36%). These four mothers also had liver function abnormalities. Hepatitis C virus RNA was not detected in any serum samples of the children, and all children had normal liver function. The children were monitored for periods from 2 to 44 months. During this period, there was no evidence of virus transmission. Breast‐milk is not likely to be a source of mother‐to‐child transmission of HCV. Maternal saliva may harbour HCV, but it may not result in infant infection.
Review: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus
Authors: SMITH DONALD B , SIMMONDS PETER 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTMolecular techniques have been used to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) at several different levels. At a global level, the time of divergence of the diverse HCV genotypes isolated from different geographical regions has been estimated from the rate of divergence observed among a cohort of individuals infected from a common source. Estimates of more than 300 years for virus subtypes and more than 500–2000 years for virus types are consistent with their current geographical distributions. Analysis of virus sequences has also provided evidence for a common source of infection in several large‐scale outbreaks of HCV infection, although where there is evidence that the implicated source contains more than one variant it may be difficult to distinguish individuals infected by different sources. Finally, sequence analysis has been used to investigate the vertical or horizontal transmission of HCV between pairs of individuals. The hypervariable region of the E2 gene is the most informative region to study if samples are available soon after the transmission event, but evidence for more distant events can still be obtained from analysis of genes such as NS5b and E1. Interpretation of some studies is complicated by the conservation of the gene region studied, or by the failure to make comparisons with sequences from epidemiologically unrelated viruses.
Visual and auditory evoked responses in acute severe hepatitis
Authors: SAWHNEY IMS , VERMA PK , DHIMAN RK , CHOPRA JS , SHARMA A , CHAWLA YK , DILAWARI JB 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTEvoked responses have not been studied in patients with acute severe hepatitis (ASH) with or without hepatic encephalopathy. This prospective study was undertaken to find out diagnostic as well as prognostic value of visual evoked responses (VER), and brain stem auditory evoked responses (BAER) in patients with ASH with or without encephalopathy. Visual evoked responses and BAER were studied in 20 patients (14 males and six females) with ASH. The patients were diagnosed as having severe hepatitis if acute hepatitis was associated with raised serum bilirubin and serum transaminases, and if they had a prothrombin time index of < 50%. After a detailed neuropsychiatric examination of each patient, the study sample was divided into two groups of 10 patients: ASH without encephalopathy (ASH‐WOE), and ASH with encephalopathy (fulminant hepatic failure, FHF). The median P100 latencies of FHF patients were significantly increased compared with controls and patients in the ASH‐WOE group. Abnormal P100 latencies, exceeding 95th percentile values of the controls, were present in one patient in the ASH‐WOE group and six patients in the FHF group. The median interpeak latencies I‐III, III‐V and I‐V were significantly prolonged in the FHF group. Interpeak latencies III‐V were also increased significantly in patients in the ASH‐WOE group. While abnormal BAER were seen frequently in both groups, VER abnormalities were largely confined to patients in the FHF group. In the FHF group, six out of 10 patients survived and exhibited clinical improvement in the status of hepatic encephalopathy. Evoked responses were repeated after 2–3 weeks of recovery in these patients and VER abnormalities showed a tendency to normalize, thereby suggesting a prognostic implication. The incidence of abnormal VER in hepatic encephalopathy complicating ASH far exceeded that of abnormal BAER. Markedly prolonged P100 latencies in FHF patients indicate poor prognosis.
Molecular biology of hepatitis D virus: Research and potential for application
Authors: CHEN PEI‐JER , WU HUI‐LIN , WANG CHUAN‐JEN , CHIA JU‐HSIN , CHEN DING‐SHINN 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTSuperinfection by hepatitis D virus (HDV) leads to acute hepatitis and causes progression to liver cirrhosis in a significant proportion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. Current regimens (interferon) to treat hepatitis D patients has only transient but no lasting effects. New approaches are, therefore, warranted. Recently, several laboratory studies have discovered interesting properties of HDV that may become targets for antiviral chemicals. Viral replication requires the small hepatitis delta antigen (s‐HDAg). The s‐HDAg is a nuclear phosphoprotein. There is evidence indicating that phosphorylation is important for HDV replication. A second step of replication requires HDV‐RNA self‐cleavage and self‐ligation. Interestingly, one group of antibiotics, the aminoglycosides, exerts strong suppression effects on HDV ribozyme activities. In the following stage of viral assembly, two post‐translational modifications, namely isoprenylation of large HDAg and glycosylation of HBsAg are involved. Agents capable of blocking the two modifications should reduce viral production. These four possible targets are reviewed. For prevention, effective vaccines are not yet available. Two novel approaches are discussed. The first demonstrates the immunogenicity of a nucleic acid vaccine in mice. The second approach assembled an empty HDV particle in yeast. Advances on such laboratory investigations may provide new methods for the control of hepatitis D in the future.
Novel hepatitis agents: The significance of clinical and experimental studies. An overview
Authors: KRAWCZYNSKI K 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA new virus with genomic organization similar to that of the family Flaviviridae was identified in patients with viral hepatitis and designated hepatitis G virus (HGV) or hepatitis GB virus C (GBV‐C). HGV/GBV‐C can be transmitted by blood and results in persistent infection, as shown in patients with posttransfusion non‐A, non‐B hepatitis, in transfusion recipients, and in donors of blood received by HGV‐positive patients. The parenteral route of transmission of HGV/GBV‐C infection was confirmed in experimentally infected chimpanzees. Epidemiologic studies of sporadic, community‐acquired viral hepatitis have not indicated an association between HGV/GBV‐C and acute non A‐E hepatitis. Thus, the disease association of this new virus remains unconfirmed and its role in the etiology of acute and chronic hepatitis is unclear. The experimental model of HGV/GBV‐C infection may define the biology of the virus replication.