bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low incidence of hepatitis C virus transmission between spouses: A prospective study
Authors: Kao Jia‐Horng , Liu Chun‐Jen , Chen Pei‐Jer , Chen Wendy , Lai Ming‐Yang , Chen Ding‐Shinn 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Background
: Interspousal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been documented; however, the annual risk of interspousal transmission remains unclear.
Methods
: A long‐term prospective study to define the risk of interspousal transmission of HCV was conducted. One hundred and twelve index patients with chronic hepatitis C and their anti‐HCV seronegative spouses were enrolled.
Results
: The mean follow‐up period was 45.9 months. Antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV) and HCV‐RNA were tested for in each seronegative spouse every year. Seroconversion of anti‐HCV occurred in only one spouse, 2 years after enrolment, with a concomitant acute hepatitis. This subject and his spouse were infected with HCV genotype 1b. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the hypervariable region of their HCV genomes showed a homology of 98%. Further phylogenetic analysis suggested that they had virtually the same isolate. Accordingly, the annual risk of interspousal transmission of HCV infection was 0.23% per year.
Conclusions
: These findings suggest a low incidence of interspousal transmission of HCV; however, the risk may be cumulative and such couples should be educated to avoid HCV infection from their spouses.
Enhancement of poly‐adenosine diphosphate‐ribosylation in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Nomura Fumio , Yaguchi Masae , Togawa Akira , Miyazaki Masaru , Isobe Kazumasa , Miyake Masami , Noda Masatoshi , Nakai Toshiaki 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Background
: Poly‐adenosine diphosphate (ADP)‐ribosylation, catalysed by poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP), is a post‐translational modification of nuclear proteins and is involved in a wide range of biological processes including DNA repair, cell proliferation and malignant transformation. Alteration of this reaction in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of interest, but has not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate poly‐ADP‐ribosylation and to compare the expression of PARP in HCC and adjacent non‐tumour tissues.
Methods
: Tumorous and adjacent non‐tumorous tissues were obtained from five consecutive patients with HCC during surgery for tumour resection. Tissue homogenates were subjected to ADP‐ribosylation with [32P]‐nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The ADP‐ribosylated proteins were separated by sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by autoradiography. Expression of PARP was also evaluated by western blotting.
Results
: Several proteins were ADP‐ribosylated in human HCC tissues. Notably, the radiolabelling of a 116‐kDa protein was remarkably greater than that in adjacent non‐tumorous tissues (86.5 ± 35.2 arbitrary units by densitometry vs 12.2 ± 9.9, mean± SD, n = 5, P < 0.02). The radiolabelling of the 116‐kDa protein was decreased in the presence of PARP inhibitors in a concentration‐dependent manner. Immunoblot analyses revealed that the radiolabelled protein was PARP and that its expression was significantly greater in HCC than in adjacent non‐tumorous tissues (333 ± 204% of non‐tumorous tissue, P < 0.05).
Conclusions
: We found that poly‐ADP‐ribosylation and PARP expression were significantly increased in human HCC compared with those in adjacent non‐tumorous tissues in surgically obtained specimens.
Clinicopathologic analysis of stage II–III hepatocellular carcinoma showing early massive recurrence after liver resection
Authors: Yamanaka Junichi , Yamanaka Naoki , Nakasho Keiji , Tanaka Tsuneo , Ando Tatsuya , Yasui Chiaki , Kuroda Nobukazu , Takata Masafumi , Maeda Shigeto , Matsushita Kazuyuki , Uematsu Kunio , Okamoto Eizo 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Background and Aims: Prognosis after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been improved by progress in the evaluation of hepatic functional reserve, surgical techniques and perioperative management. However, even when curative resection is performed at a relatively early stage, a considerable number of patients develop early intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic recurrence postoperatively. This study analyzed the clinicopathologic features of HCC with early recurrence.Methods: We reviewed records of 513 consecutive patients who had undergone liver resection for HCC. There were 48 deaths within a year after surgery from recurrence, including 21 patients with stage II or III HCC (group I). Clinicopathologic parameters of group I patients were compared with those of 188 patients (group II) who developed recurrence following resection of stage II or III HCC and died more than 1 year after surgery.Results: On univariate analysis, age, tumor diameter (Φ), α‐fetoprotein (AFP):Φ and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA‐II):Φ were significantly greater in group I than in group II. Macroscopic portal vein invasion, microscopic vascular invasion, intrahepatic metastasis, poor differentiation, pleomorphism, sarcomatous change, vascular lake, and angiographic condensed pooling were more frequently observed in group I than group II. Five independent determinants were selected by multivariate analysis: AFP:Φ, histologic pleomorphism, sarcomatous change, vascular lake and angiographic condensed pooling.Conclusions: Highly malignant HCC with extremely poor prognosis exhibits peculiar clinicopathologic characteristics, particularly histologic immaturity, and can be predicted by preoperative indicators such as markedly elevated tumor marker concentrations and condensed pooling on angiography.
Immunohistochemical localization of vascular endothelial growth factor in the rat portal hypertensive gastropathy
Authors: Tsugawa Kouji , Hashizume Makoto , Tomikawa Morimasa , Migou Shinichirou , Kawanaka Hirofumi , Shiraishi Sachiko , Sueishi Katsuo , Sugimachi Keizo 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground and Aims: Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is now recognized to be a distinct entity. Recently, angiogenesis has been noticed as a key factor in clarifying the pathophysiology of various diseases. Angiogenesis in the PHT of explored gastric mucosa has yet to be explored. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate whether the hypoxic state exists in PHG, and whether VEGF appears more strongly in PHG than in normal gastric mucosa and, if so, what exactly is the role of the hypoxic state and VEGF in PHG.Methods: At 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after either a portal ligation or sham operation, the portal venous pressure, the gastric mucosal blood flow volume and the blood gas were measured and, the expression of VEGF and antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in gastric mucosal specimens was immunohistochemically assessed.Results: The portal pressure (PP) and the gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) in the PHT rats were significantly greater than in the control (CTR). Both the SaO2 and PaO2 of the arterial blood gas were lower in the PHT rats than in the control rats. The percentage of VEGF expression in the PHG was found to be higher than that in the control gastric mucosa. The percentage of PCNA expression in the PHG was higher than that in the control gastric mucosa.Conclusion: The levels of SaO2 and PaO2 were lower in the PHT rats. There is a possibility that a kind of portal hypertensive gastric change may trigger an enhanced histochemical expression of VEGF. The increased activity of VEGF may have a possibility of the hypoxic gastric mucosal state caused by the presence of active congestion. This damaged mucosal state ‘PHG’ may thus facilitate the fragility in PHG and such lesions may be slow and insidious, which may therefore lead to sudden and severe anemia, thus causing massive and sometimes fatal hemorrhaging.
Medium‐chain fatty acids stimulate interleukin‐8 production in Caco‐2 cells with different mechanisms from long‐chain fatty acids1
Authors: Tanaka Seigou , Saitoh Osamu , Tabata Kazue , Matsuse Ryoichi , Kojima Keishi , Sugi Kazunori , Nakagawa Ken , Kayazawa Masanobu , Teranishi Tsutomu , Uchida Kazuo , Hirata Ichiro , Katsu Ken‐Ichi 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim: It has been suggested that dietary fat exacerbates intestinal inflammation. We investigated the effect of fatty acids on interleukin (IL)‐8 production in a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco‐2).Methods: The cells were cultured as monolayers on microporous membranes in culture inserts. Oleic acid (OA), capric acid (CA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were applied to the apical compartment of Caco‐2 cell monolayers. The concentration of IL‐8 in the basolateral medium was measured by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of IL‐8 mRNA was measured by using competitive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Protein kinase C inhibitors (GF109203X and calphostin C) and H‐7 (a protein kinase inhibitor) were used to study the mechanisms by which IL‐8 production is stimulated.Results: Both OA and CA enhanced IL‐8 production (approximately fivefold), whereas DHA and EPA did not. Both OA and CA also enhanced IL‐1‐induced IL‐8 production. The onset of OA‐induced IL‐8 production was delayed compared with that of CA‐induced IL‐8 production. Both OA and CA enhanced IL‐8 mRNA expression (approximately fivefold) after 6 and 3 h, respectively. The protein kinase inhibitor (H‐7) reduced both OA‐ and CA‐induced IL‐8 production by 88.0 and 85.9%, respectively. The protein kinase C inhibitors (GF109203X and calphostin C) reduced OA‐induced IL‐8 production by 29.3 and 54.5%, respectively, but showed no effect on CA‐induced IL‐8 production.Conclusions: These findings suggest that not only OA but also CA stimulates IL‐8 production in intestinal epithelial cells, and the mechanisms of action differ between OA and CA.
Increased risk of antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity in individuals with glutathione S‐transferase M1 ‘null’ mutation
Authors: Roy Bidyut , Chowdhury Abhijit , Kundu Somnath , Santra Amal , Dey Badal , Chakraborty Madan , Majumder Partha P 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground: Pathogenesis and genetic factors influencing predisposition to antituberculosis drug (ATD)‐induced hepatotoxicity are not clear. Polymorphism at the genetic locus of a drug and xenobiotic compound metabolizing enzyme, N‐acetyltransferase type 2 (NAT2), is reported to be associated with the excess generation of toxic reactive metabolites. Polymorphisms at the glutathione S‐transferase (GST) loci (GSTM1 and GSTT1) are involved in the detoxification of these toxic metabolites in the human body to a lesser extent. We have examined whether polymorphisms at these loci are associated with the risk of ATD‐induced hepatotoxicity.Methods: In this case‐control study, 33 pulmonary tuberculosis patients with ATD‐induced hepatotoxicity and 33 pulmonary tuberculosis patients receiving ATD drugs without any evidence of hepatotoxicity were considered as cases and controls, respectively. Point mutations at NAT2 and homozygous ‘null’ mutations at GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes were looked into genomic DNA, isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: The frequency of homozygous ‘null’ mutation at the GSTM1 gene was significantly higher among cases (n = 17, 52%) than controls (n = 8, 24%) (P < 0.05, relative risk 2.13, 95% CI: 1.25–3.10). Frequencies of mutations at GSTT1 and NAT2 genes did not differ significantly between cases and controls.Conclusion: Homozygous ‘null’ mutation at the GSTM1 gene might predispose an individual to ATD‐induced hepatotoxicity.
Multicenter prospective analysis of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma with respect to the percentage of Lens culinaris agglutinin‐reactive α‐fetoprotein1
Authors: Oka Hiroko , Saito Akiko , Ito Kazuki , Kumada Takashi , Satomura Shinji , Kasugai Hiroshi , Osaki Yukio , Seki Toshihito , Kudo Masatoshi , Tanaka Masatoshi 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground and Aim: The Lens culinaris agglutinin‐reactive fraction of α‐fetoprotein (AFP‐L3) has been reported to be a highly useful marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with a conventional serum AFP concentration, which allows earlier detection of HCC compared with using other imaging modalities and predicting prognosis after therapy. A collaborative prospective study involving nine Japanese hospitals was conducted to analyze the relationships between the tumor characteristics of a HCC patient and the percentage of AFP‐L3/AFP total at the initial detection.Methods: Between 1 October 1996 and 30 September 1997, a total of 388 patients with newly diagnosed HCC were registered.Results: The cut‐off level of the percentage of AFP‐L3 was altered from 15 to 10%. The AFP‐L3‐positive HCC patients demonstrated the characteristics of having an advanced tumor, such as the number of tumors, maximum diameter, tumor spread, portal vein invasion, tumor stage, and tumor classification. With the conventional cut‐off level of 15% of the percentage of AFP‐L3, the malignant characteristics were more definite than that of 10%. However, no significant differences of serum AFP concentration were observed for malignant characteristics such as maximum diameter and histopathological grading.Conclusion: Serum AFP concentration does not reveal a malignancy of HCC, however, the AFP‐L3‐positive HCC has biologically malignant characteristics, especially portal vein invasion and lower tumor classification, and is an advanced tumor regardless of small tumor size and lower serum AFP concentration. As AFP‐L3 shows the tumor characteristics, its presence should be an important factor in the determination of therapy and prognosis of patients.
Case–control study of calcification of the hepatic artery in chronic hemodialysis patients: Comparison with the abdominal aorta and splenic artery
Authors: OKUDA KUNIO , KOBAYASHI SUSUMU , HAYASHI HARUYUKI , OHTAKE YOSHIO , NAKAJIMA KAZUAKI , YOSHIDA HIROMICHI , KASHIMA TAKASHI , IRIE YASUBUMI 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground and Aims: Studies of the hepatic artery are scarce. We have observed that hepatic artery calcification is very uncommon in patients with hyperparathyroidism that expedites calcification.Methods: Plain abdominal CT was studied in 221 patients on chronic hemodialysis. Control consisted of 442 sex‐ and age‐matched patients with other diseases. Calcification was graded as a percentage of the entire wall circumference for the aorta, and as a percentage of the entire length of the hepatic and splenic arteries from the celiac trunk to the hilum of each organ.Results: Aortic calcification was seen in 79.2% of male dialysis patients, 22.1%

of controls, 74.1% of female dialysis patients and 17.3% of controls

(P < 0.0001). Hepatic artery calcification was seen in only 13 dialysis

patients. The degree of calcification of the abdominal aorta was correlated with

the length of hemodialysis period (P = 0.008), but not with serum calcium, serum phosphate or their product. Although serum parathormone levels were not correlated with calcification, seven of eight dialysis patients with hepatic artery calcification had very high parathormone levels.Conclusions: The hepatic artery is far less frequently calcified than are the abdominal aorta and splenic artery. This may be a teleologic phenomenon of the liver.
Changing disease burden and management issues for esophageal cancer in the Asia–Pacific region
Authors: Law Simon , Wong John 
Published: March 2003

Abstract  The changing epidemiology of esophageal cancer in developed countries is from squamous cell type to adenocarcinomas arising from Barrett’s epithelium and the gastric cardia. This has implications for management of this disease. Earlier diagnosis of cancer from screening high‐risk patients with Barrett’s esophagus is potentially possible, and mucosal ablation together with acid‐suppressive therapies have been investigated to revert Barrett’s epithelium in its premalignant stage. When a cancer has developed, the strategies of staging methodology and surgical approaches also differ from those applicable for squamous cell cancers located in more proximal locations of the esophagus. By contrast, in the Asia–Pacific region (with the exceptions of Australia and New Zealand), squamous cell cancers in the middle portion of the esophagus remain the main cell type seen. An overall increase in life expectancy has led to more elderly patients presenting with carcinoma of the esophagus. This is of particular importance when surgical resection is contemplated. Advances in surgical management, multimodality programs, and endoscopic therapies are most marked in recent years. Treatment for patients with esophageal cancer should be individualized. The choice depends on expertise and facilities available, tumor and patient factors , and local economics.© 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Hepatitis C in childhood
Authors: Hardikar Winita 
Published: March 2003

Abstract  The approach of a pediatric hepatologist in managing children with hepatitis C virus (HCV) differs from adult practice, because the pediatric hepatologist is dealing with the beginning of a chronic illness in which long‐term outcomes will not occur for 20 or 40 years, and it is not possible to predict in the early stages of the infection which patients have a more sinister prognosis. The prevalence of chronic HCV in children is low, but varies between different countries in the Asia–Pacific region. In most countries, screening of blood products for HCV has virtually eliminated the risk of post‐transfusion HCV, so that in Australia children aged less than 11 years will not have acquired HCV from blood transfusion or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The risk of perinatal transmission of this virus is only about 6%, but this remains virtually the only source of HCV transmission for children in most countries. While available data are limited, mild histological changes are present in the majority of children with hepatitis C, and cirrhosis is rare. Unfortunately, long‐term natural history studies of the course of HCV infection in children have not been reported. Individual decisions on antiviral treatment are more difficult in childhood, not because the treatment is any less effective or because of the severity of side‐effects (which tend to be less severe than for adults), but because the long‐term outcome of infection is unclear. At present, treatment should be confined to those with significant hepatic fibrosis and continued moderate to severe necroinflammatory change. Measures to prevent HCV infection in childhood center on whether, as recently suggested, elective cesarean section may reduce the risk of transmission. Despite the presence of HCV‐RNA in some breast milk samples, there is no evidence that breast‐feeding confers any risk of HCV infection.© 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Chronic pancreatitis: Asia–Pacific consensus report
Authors: Tandon Rakesh Kumar , Sato Nobuhiro , Garg Pramod Kumar ,   The Consensus Study Group
Published: March 2003

Abstract Current knowledge about chronic pancreatitis (CP) is limited and there is a particular dearth of information about the entity known as tropical pancreatitis. A consensus working party was convened by the Trustees of theJournal of Gastroenterology and HepatologyFoundation to conduct a systematic investigation into available evidence about the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of CP. A literature search and formal survey of international experts in the field were used to assemble reliable evidence about these issues. The present review summarizes the results of the working party’s findings and presents a series of practice guidelines to improve diagnosis, investigation and treatment of patients with CP, particularly those in the Asia–Pacific region. Areas for further research have also been identified.© 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Pyogenic liver abscess: Retrospective analysis of 80 cases over a 10‐year period
Authors: Wong Wai‐Man , Wong Benjamin Chun Yu , Hui Chee Kin , Ng Matthew , Lai Kam Chuen , Tso Wai Kuen , Lam Shiu Kum , Lai Ching Lung 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground: A total of 80 patients with pyogenic liver abscess managed at a single institution over a 10‐year period were studied.Methods: The clinical features, laboratory, imaging, and microbiologic findings, management strategy, and final outcome were studied.Results: Fever and chills, leucocytosis and elevated alkaline phosphatase were the most common clinical and laboratory findings. Forty‐one percent of patients were diabetic and 61% had biliary pathology. Systemic antibiotics and image‐guided aspiration had a success rate of 94%. By multiple logistic regression analysis, malignancy on presentation (P = 0.011) was an independent risk factor associated with mortality. A past history of endoscopic sphincterotomy was an independent factor associated with resolution of liver abscess within 6 weeks (P = 0.03).Conclusion: Pyrexia, leucocytosis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, presence of diabetes, and underlying biliary pathology are common clinical and laboratory findings in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. Malignancy was associated with a poor outcome. Previous endoscopic sphincterotomy was a good prognostic factor for early resolution.© 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Role of cyclooxygenase‐2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Kong Gu , Kim Eun Kyung , Kim Wan Sup , Lee Kyu Taek , Lee Yong Wook , Lee Jong Kyun , Paik Seung Woon , Rhee Jong Chul 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Background and Aim: Recently, it has been recognized that both cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produce important endogenous factors of human tumor progression. However, the clinicopathological and biological significance of the expression of COX‐2 and iNOS in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study is to find the possible roles and clinical significance of COX‐2 and iNOS expression in pancreatic cancer.Methods: Seventy‐two pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue specimens were obtained through surgical resection. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of COX‐2 and iNOS in respect to variable clinicopathological characteristics, proliferation activity (by Ki‐67 expression), apoptosis (by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling stain), and microvessel density (by CD34 expression; angiogenesis).Results: Immunohistochemical investigations demonstrated immunolabeling of tumor cells with the primary antibodies, bovine anti‐iNOS and anti‐COX‐2 antibodies. The COX‐2 and iNOS positive rates were 41.7 and 66.7%, respectively. There was significant correlation between positive COX‐2 and positive iNOS expression (P
= 0.043). The proliferation index (Ki‐67 labeling index) was higher in COX‐2 positive specimens compared to COX‐2 negative specimen (P
= 0.015). The apoptotic index of positive iNOS expressions was significantly higher than negative expressions (P < 0.001). The expression of COX‐2 and iNOS proteins did not correlate with age, sex, serum bilirubin, CA‐19–9, location, size, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, differentiation, distant metastasis, patient survival, or microvessel density.Conclusions: Although the pattern of positive expression was similar in both enzymes, the effect on tumor progression differed; iNOS expression may play a role in apoptosis of tumor cell, while COX‐2 expression may contribute to tumor proliferation. However, COX‐2 and iNOS expression is not related to prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer.© 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd