bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of SEN‐virus on interferon response in chronic hepatitis C patients
Authors: LIN JIUN‐GUEY , GOTO TAKASHI , NAKANE KUNIO , MIURA KOUICHI , MIKAMI KEN‐ICHIRO , OHSHIMA SHIGETOSHI , YONEYAMA KAZUO , WATANABE SUMIO 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  A novel virus, SEN‐virus (SENV), was recently discovered. It has been reported as a candidate for a non‐A–E hepatitis virus. However, much is still unknown about the clinical significance of SENV. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical significance of SENV in patients coinfected with SENV and hepatitis C virus (HCV).Methods:  The 52 subjects had chronic hepatitis C and had undergone interferon (IFN) therapy. SEN virus DNA was investigated by using polymerase chain reaction with SENV‐specific primers, which we designed to detect all strains of SENV. Additionally, SENV‐D and ‐H were detected by consensus primers.Results:  Thirty‐five patients were SENV‐DNA positive and 22 patients were SENV‐D‐ or ‐H‐positive before IFN therapy. After IFN therapy, in the HCV‐RNA eradication group, all cases normalized their serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). However, in the no eradication group, the ALT no‐response rate was 68.7%. In contrast, in the SENV eradication group, the ALT no‐response rate was 51.9%, and in the no eradication group, it was 37.5%. Also, in the SENV‐D and ‐H eradication group, the ALT no‐response rate was 54.5%, and in the no eradication group, it was 36.4%. The changes in ALT after IFN therapy were significantly correlated with the changes in HCV RNA, but no correlation was found with the SENV DNA presence.Conclusions:  Hepatocellular injury in patients with chronic hepatitis who are coinfected with HCV and SENV appears to primarily be caused by HCV, and is less attributable to SENV.
Clinical outcome of endoscopically removed early colorectal cancer
Authors: TUNG SHUI‐YI , WU CHENG‐SHYONG 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Endoscopic resection is widely adopted for early colorectal cancer. Most studies examining the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment of early colorectal cancer are from Japan, and little is known about the success of this treatment in other areas of the world. The authors performed this study to investigate the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment of early colorectal cancer.Methods:  The medical records of patients with histologically proven early colorectal cancer and who were treated by endoscopic resection between January 1985 and December 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Information regarding the demographic data of patients, clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors, and follow‐up events were recorded and analyzed.Results:  Altogether 91 patients, including 73 with mucosal cancers and 18 with submucosal invasive cancers, were enrolled. Nineteen patients (eight with mucosal cancers and 11 with submucosal invasive cancers) underwent subsequent surgical colectomy. Larger tumors, and those with sessile or flat depressed morphology, and deep submucosal invasion were more difficult to remove completely through endoscopic resection alone. Five patients had local recurrent tumors, occurring between 4 and 12 months after endoscopic resection, and were treated surgically. Furthermore, two patients died of unrelated diseases, one at 1 month and one at 3 years after treatment. All the other patients were well after an average follow‐up interval of 40.9 months (range 18–189 months).Conclusions:  Endoscopic resection safely and effectively removed most early colorectal cancers. Careful histological examinations of resected specimens to determine the indications of subsequent surgical colectomy, and close post‐treatment surveillance would improve the outcome and life quality for these patients.
Cellular distribution of telomerase reverse transcriptase in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: ONISHI TORU , NOUSO KAZUHIRO , HIGASHI TOSHIHIRO , TOSHIKUNI NOBUYUKI , NAKATSUKASA HARUSHIGE , KOBAYASHI YOSHIYUKI , UEMURA MASAYUKI , YUMOTO EIICHIRO , FUJIWARA KEISHI , SATO SHUICHIRO , NAKAMURA SHINICHIRO , YOKOYAMA JUNKO , HANAFUSA TADASHI , SHIRATORI YASUSHI 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Telomerase is the enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA, and the activation of telomerase is closely related to cellular immortality. Telomerase activity has been reported in many human cancer tissues and is regulated by the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The aim of the present study was to identify hTERT‐expressing cells in human liver tissues and evaluate the feasibility of the hTERT promoter for gene therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:  The authors examined the cellular distribution of hTERT transcripts in surgically resected HCC by in situ hybridization.Results:  Among 20 samples, hTERT expression was observed in 15 HCC. Transcripts of hTERT were homogenously distributed in the cytoplasm of HCC cells in nine of 15 cases; six of 15 cases displayed a heterogeneous staining pattern. All poorly differentiated HCC that expressed hTERT showed a homogenous pattern of staining. None of the non‐cancerous hepatocytes were positive for the transcripts, but infiltrating lymphocytes were faintly stained. The homogenous expression of hTERT was also observed in the vascular invasion of HCC.Conclusions:  The results indicate that most HCC cells express hTERT RNA and that the promoter is a good candidate as a target for gene therapy. However, careful consideration must be taken concerning the potential effects on lymphocytes.
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole determined by 23S ribosomal RNA and rdxA gene analyses in Hiroshima, Japan
Authors: HIYAMA TORU , TANAKA SHINJI , MASUDA HIROSHI , SHIMA HIDEYUKI , KOSE KAZUHIRO , TUNCEL HANDAN , ITO MASANORI , KITADAI YASUHIKO , SUMII MASAHARU , UEMURA NAOMI , YOSHIHARA MASAHARU , SHIMAMOTO FUMIO , HARUMA KEN , CHAYAMA KAZUAKI 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Resistance to antibiotics in Helicobacter pylori is increasing and becoming a serious problem in eradication treatment of H. pylori. The prevalence of H. pylori infections that are resistant to clarithromycin, metronidazole, or both were determined in H. pylori isolates in Hiroshima, Japan.Methods:  Sixty Japanese patients with H. pylori infection were collected between 1999 and 2000. To detect the resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole, mutations of the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and rdxA genes that are responsible for resistance in H. pylori, were examined by direct sequencing analysis.Results:  Resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole was detected in 12 (20.0%) and nine (15.0%) of the patients, respectively. Dual resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole was detected in five (8.3%) patients.Conclusion:  These results indicate that the relatively high prevalence of the dual resistance in H. pylori isolates may need special attention and new therapeutic approaches in Japan.
Value of regional cerebral blood flow in the evaluation of chronic liver disease and subclinical hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: YAZGAN YUSUF , NARIN YAVUZ , DEMIRTURK LEVENT , SARACOGLU MEHMET , ERCAN MUSTAFA , AKYATAN NEVZAT , DALKANAT NAGEHAN , OZEL A MELIH , CETIN MESUT 
Published: September 2003

AbstractAims:  Regional changes in cerebral blood flow in patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and subclinical hepatic encephalopathy were investigated in the present study using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).Methods:  Twenty patients with cirrhosis, 11 patients with chronic hepatitis, and nine healthy controls were included in the study. Cerebral SPECT were obtained for all patients. The percentages of cerebral blood flow of 14 regions to the cerebellar blood flow were determined. Only the patients with cirrhosis underwent psychometric evaluation: visual evoked potentials (VEP) measurements and electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings along with blood levels of albumin, bilirubin, and ammonia were measured and prothrombin time was determined in cirrhotic patients. These patients were classified according to the Child–Pugh classification.Results:  Among cirrhotic patients, six had abnormal results in VEP studies, 11 in psychometric tests and with six in EEG evaluation. Any abnormality in psychometric tests and/or VEP studies is taken as the main criterion; subclinical hepatic encephalopathy was detected in 12 of 20 patients. According to SPECT results in patients with subclinical encephalopathy, a statistically significant decrease in cerebral blood flow in right thalamus and nearly significant decrease in left thalamus were observed. Regional blood flow was significantly higher in the frontal lobes of patients with cirrhosis when compared with healthy controls. Similarly, cerebral blood flow in frontal and cingulate regions was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis than in healthy controls. There was no relationship between cerebral blood flow and blood levels of ammonia or Child–Pugh score, in cirrhotic patients.Conclusion:  Significant changes in cerebral blood flow may be present in chronic liver diseases and the authors suggest that the measurement of changes in cerebral blood flow might be useful in detecting subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.
Contribution of capsaicin‐sensitive afferent nerves to rapid recovery from ethanol‐induced gastric epithelial damage in rats
Authors: SOBUE MASASHI , JOH TAKASHI , OSHIMA TADAYUKI , SUZUKI HIDEO , SENO KYOJI , KASUGAI KUNIO , NOMURA TOMOYUKI , OHARA HIROTAKA , YOKOYAMA YOSHIFUMI , ITOH MAKOTO 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  It is well known that capsaicin‐sensitive nerve signaling acts as a protective factor against various ulcerogens. However, the contribution of topical capsaicin‐sensitive nerves within the stomach to rapid restitution has not been fully investigated. The present study was therefore conducted focusing on recovery from gastric mucosal damage induced by ethanol in vivo.Methods:  Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fasted and anesthetized. 51Cr‐EDTA was administered intravenously and gastric mucosal integrity was continuously monitored by measuring the blood to lumen 51Cr‐EDTA clearance. Capsaicin or vehicle was irrigated before, together with or after the perfusion of 20% ethanol, followed by perfusion with saline. In another experiment, ruthenium red, a capsaicin‐sensitive cation antagonist, was given before the ethanol‐capsaicin perfusion. Furthermore, this study was verified using lafutidine, a histamine H2‐receptor antagonist, which has a gastric mucosal protective action through the capsaicin‐sensitive afferent nerves.Results:  When capsaicin was administered before ethanol treatment, mucosal damage was significantly reduced and recovery was significantly rapid compared to the control. When capsaicin (160 µM) and ethanol were administered simultaneously, the mucosal damage was exacerbated but recovery was nevertheless more rapid than the control group. With a lower dose of capsaicin (80 µM), mucosal damage was not exacerbated and recovery was enhanced. When capsaicin or lafutidine was administered after the induction of ethanol injury no change was detected regarding the damage. However, recovery was significantly accelerated. Ruthenium red reversed the action of post‐treatment with capsaicin on restitution.Conclusions:  These results indicate that luminal administration of capsaicin exerts protection against and accelerates restitution from gastric damage in the very early phase after ethanol injury. This action is probably due to activation of topical capsaicin‐sensitive afferent nerves in the rat.
Plasma erythropoietin level in patients with cirrhosis and its relationship to the severity of cirrhosis and renal function
Authors: YANG YING‐YING , LIN HAN‐CHIEH , LEE WUI‐CHIANG , HUANG YI‐TSAU , HOU MING‐CHIH , LEE FA‐YAUH , CHANG FULL‐YOUNG , LEE SHOU‐DONG 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The level of plasma erythropoietin (EPO) in patients with cirrhosis is controversial. It is known that overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) plays, in part, a role for the development of peripheral arterial vasodilatation in cirrhosis with portal hypertension. It has also been hypothesized that a possible interaction is noted between endogenous EPO and NO production. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between plasma EPO levels and the severity of liver disease, hemodynamic values, renal functions, and plasma nitrate/nitrite levels in patients with cirrhosis.Methods:  The authors measured the biochemistry, plasma EPO and nitrate/nitrite levels in 67 patients with cirrhosis (Child–Pugh class A in 23 and Child–Pugh class B and C in 44) and compared their values with those in 34 healthy subjects. Systemic and splanchnic hemodynamic measurements and effective renal plasma flow were obtained from cirrhotic patients.Results:  Plasma EPO and nitrate/nitrite levels were significantly increased in patients with cirrhosis compared with healthy subjects. Additionally, plasma EPO values were higher in cirrhotic patients with ascites or with anemia than in those without ascites or without anemia, respectively. Plasma EPO levels were positively correlated to the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and Child–Pugh score, negatively correlated to the renal and hepatic blood flows, but were not correlated to nitrate/nitrite level and systemic vascular resistance in cirrhotic patients. Multiple regression analysis showed that HVPG and renal plasma flow were independent predictors for the elevated EPO level in cirrhotic patients.Conclusions:  Plasma EPO levels were increased in patients with cirrhosis compared with those in healthy subjects. The increase in plasma EPO levels is related to the degree of portal hypertension, the severity of cirrhosis and the renal plasma flow. In contrast, the EPO levels had no correlation to the nitrate/nitrite levels and systemic vascular resistance in patients with cirrhosis.
Identification of a novel pre‐S2 mutation in a subgroup of chronic carriers with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus surface antigen
Authors: YEH CHAU‐TING , CHANG MEI‐HUI , LAI HSIN‐YU , CHANG MING‐LING , CHU CHIA‐MING , LIAW YUN‐FAN 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The aim of the present study was to investigate whether spontaneous seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in patients with chronic hepatitis B could be attributed to the presence of pre‐S/S gene mutations.Methods:  Of 34 hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers who experienced spontaneous seroclearance of HBsAg, 30 were still seropositive for HBV DNA. The serum samples of these carriers were subjected to sequence analysis.Results:  A novel pre‐S2 mutation, G149R, was found in nine (group I) but not in 17 (group II) patients carrying HBV DNA with intact pre‐S/S reading frames. In the remaining four patients (group III), only aberrant pre‐S/S transcripts were found in their sera. Distinct patterns of amino acid substitutions specific to group I and II patients were identified. Superinfection by hepatitis C or D virus occurred predominantly in group II patients (P = 0.019). Superinfection by HBV of a different genotype occurred predominantly in patients without hepatitis C or D virus superinfection (P = 0.013). Site‐directed mutagenesis experiments showed that secretion of HBsAg was not defective in the pre‐S2 G149R mutant.Conclusions:  In a particular subgroup (group I) of patients, seroclearance of HBsAg was not caused by superinfection of other hepatitis viruses, nor was it caused by failure of HBsAg secretion or detection. Instead, a yet unrecognized mechanism associated with emergence of a novel pre‐S2 mutation is responsible.
Novel diagnostic method of testing for Helicobacter pylori infection using the rapid leukocyte strip test, Leukostix
Authors: MATSUDA MITSURU , NODA YATSUGI , TAKEMORI YASUHIRO 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  A characteristic of gastric mucosa infected with Helicobacter pylori is infiltration of inflammatory cells, mainly consisting of neutrophils. The present study aimed to detect neutrophils in homogenates of biopsied gastric mucosa semiquantitatively using the rapid leukocyte strip test, Leukostix. The authors then investigated the association of these results with H. pylori status.Methods:  The authors studied 342 patients undergoing endoscopy. Of these, 160 were treated for eradication of H. pylori infection and were reassessed after treatment. For the definitive diagnosis of H. pylori infection, quantitative culture, the rapid urease test and immunohistostaining were performed. Additionally, serum antibody against H. pylori was determined at the initial examination, and the 13C‐urea breath test was performed after treatment. With the use of Leukostix, homogenates of biopsied gastric mucosa were spotted onto strips and judged 2 min later.Results:  There was a significant correlation between the positive reaction of Leukostix and the number of neutrophils in gastric tissues determined by microscopic observation. The sensitivity and specificity of Leukostix at the initial examination were 97.9% and 76.9%, respectively, while those after eradication treatment were 100% and 97.2%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the degree of reaction of Leukostix and the amount of H. pylori determined by quantitative culture.Conclusions:  The Leukostix test, using biopsied samples of gastric mucosa, was excellent for quantitative determination of neutrophils and useful for diagnosis of H. pylori infection and early assessment of treatment efficacy. Positive gradations of Leukostix results corresponded closely with the amount of H. pylori in gastric tissues.
Effects of aspirin and indomethacin on endothelial cell proliferationin vitro
Authors: PEARCE HR , KALIA N , BARDHAN KD , BROWN NJ 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim: Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are associated with delayed peptic ulcer healing. Ulcer healing is dependent on angiogenesis, which requires endothelial cell (EC) proliferation. The present study aimed to determine whether NSAID and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) inhibited EC proliferationin vitro.Methods: Effects of 50 µL aspirin (10 µM‐1 mM), indomethacin (10 µM‐1 mM) and PGE2(1 µM‐0.1 mM) on the proliferation, viability and cell cycle of human dermal microvascular (HuDMEC) and human umbilical vein (HUVEC) EC were assessed using dual staining cell viability, 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2 thiazoyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide and flow cytometry assays.Results: Proliferation of HuDMEC and HUVEC was significantly inhibited by 0.1 mM/1 mM indomethacin, 1 mM aspirin and 100 µM PGE2, with a significant (P < 0.05) increase in EC necrosis with 1 mM indomethacin and 100 µM PGE2. No effects on cell cycle were demonstrated.Conclusions: High concentrations of NSAID inhibit both HuDMEC and HUVEC proliferationin vitroby cytotoxic (indomethacin) or cytostatic (aspirin and indomethacin) mechanisms.Interestingly, PGE2was also antiproliferative. Inhibition of EC proliferation may prevent angiogenesis at the ulcer site, which may in part explain the delayed ulcer healing associated with NSAID.
Genetic variants of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: Association with disease severity
Authors: SELMI CARLO , ZUIN MASSIMO , BIONDI MARIA LUISA , INVERNIZZI PIETRO , BATTEZZATI PIER MARIA , BERNINI MARA , MEDA FRANCESCA , GERSHWIN M ERIC , PODDA MAURO 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) presents a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. In experimental models of liver cirrhosis and cholestasis it has been suggested that altered nitric oxide production is involved in liver injury and portal hypertension development. The present study investigated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genetic polymorphisms (894G/T, −786T/C) in patients with PBC and in controls to verify whether disease susceptibility and progression are associated with a particular genotype.Methods:  Genomic DNA from 109 Italian PBC patients (65 with advanced disease, i.e. liver transplantation or histological stage III–IV) was obtained and polymorphisms determined by fluorescent probe analysis. Healthy subjects (n = 242) were used as a control group.Results:  The allelic frequencies of both polymorphisms did not differ significantly between PBC patients and controls. When the association between genotypes and disease severity was addressed, both the 894T and the −786T alleles were more frequently found in the 22 patients with progressing disease (894T, frequency 0.455 compared with 0.240; P = 0.032; −786T, frequency 0.682 compared with 0.460; P = 0.038). Patients with 894TT presented higher Mayo score values (6.1 ± 1.2 compared with 5.4 ± 1.3 in 894G/G patients; P = 0.030) but similar age and disease duration values.Conclusions:  The authors suggest that genetic variants of eNOS are not associated with susceptibility to PBC, although the genotypes may lead to differences in disease severity and progression.
Transforming growth factor‐beta‐1 genetic polymorphism in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: SUZUKI SEIJI , TANAKA YASUHITO , ORITO ETSURO , SUGAUCHI FUMINAKA , HASEGAWA IZUMI , SAKURAI MAYUMI , FUJIWARA KEI , OHNO TOMOYOSHI , UEDA RYUZO , MIZOKAMI MASASHI 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Transforming growth factor beta‐1 (TGF‐β1) is one of the most dominant fibrogenic cytokines in hepatic fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of TGF‐β1 polymorphisms in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in healthy control subjects.Methods:  The TGF‐β1 genotypes at codon 10 and codon 25 were determined in 206 Japanese patients with chronic HCV infection and in 101 Japanese healthy control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) was used for the detection of these polymorphisms. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was assessed by liver biopsy and graded according to the New Inuyama Classification for chronic hepatitis graded F0–4.Results:  The authors found no significant differences in genotype distributions and allele frequency between the HCV patients and the healthy control subjects. The frequencies of the TT, TC, and CC genotypes of codon 10 were 24%, 42% and 35%, respectively, among the patients of the F0–2 group, and 31%, 40% and 29%, respectively, among those of the F3–4 group. No significant differences were shown between the TGF‐β1 polymorphism at codon 10 and the stage of hepatic fibrosis. In contrast, no genetic alteration of codon 25 was found in healthy controls and patients with chronic HCV infection.Conclusion:  These results suggest that there may not be a significant relationship between polymorphism at codon 10 and the development of progressive hepatic fibrosis in the Japanese population.
Epidemiology of autoimmune liver disease
Authors: FELD JJ , HEATHCOTE EJ 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPrimary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are chronic liver diseases that likely have an autoimmune basis to their pathogenesis. Although significant strides have been made in the clinical management of these conditions, their pathogenesis remains obscure. Understanding of various epidemiological factors may shed light on predisposing or causative factors for these diseases. Most is known about the epidemiology of PBC, with only minimal information on that of PSC and AIH. In this review, the current data on the epidemiology of PBC, AIH and PSC are summarized and suggestions are made for future work in this important area.