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To the best of our knowledge, none of the prognostic staging systems for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent sorafenib therapy is universally adopted or preferred. In the present study, we aimed to compare prognostic ability among five prognostic systems, including the Japan Integrated Staging (JIS) system, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system, the tumor-node-metastasis classification system, the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program scoring system and the Chinese University Prognostic Index (CUPI) scoring system for HCC patients who received sorafenib therapy. A total of 143 HCC patients treated with sorafenib were analysed. We compared prognostic ability among the five prognostic systems using the likelihood ratio (LR) χ2 test, linear trend χ2 test and concordance index (c-index). Our cohort included 114 men and 29 women. The median patient age was 71 years (range, 45–89 years). A total of 102 patients were classified as Child-Pugh A and 41 as Child-Pugh B, whereas 31 patients (21.7%) had portal vein invasion and 63 (44.1%) extrahepatic metastases. The median survival time was 6.9 months. In the LR χ2 test, the CUPI scoring system had the highest value (35.804), followed by the JIS system (17.469). In the linear trend χ2 test, the CUPI scoring system had the highest value (17.523), followed by the JIS system (15.819). In addition, the JIS system had the highest value in the 6-month c-index (0.659) as well as in the 1-year c-index (0.674). However, the CUPI classification system had the lowest value in the 1-year c-index (0.590). In conclusion, the JIS system may be an appropriate staging system for HCC patients undergoing sorafenib therapy.

The significance of gastric xanthelasma in relation to gastric cancer still remains unclear. We investigated whether gastric xanthelasma would be a useful marker for predicting the development of early gastric cancer. A total of 1823 patients who underwent a medical health checkup were enrolled. We examined the relationship between gastric xanthelasma and various clinical features, and in an endoscopic follow-up study investigated whether the presence of gastric xanthelasma was predictive of the development of early gastric cancer. In the initial endoscopic examination, gastric xanthelasma was detected in 107 (5.9 %) of the 1823 patients. The presence of gastric xanthelasma was significantly associated with age ≥65 years, male gender, open-type atrophy, and the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (p

The present study examined the prognostic ability of our proposed performance status combined Japan Integrated Staging (PS-JIS) system in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) comparing with other four prognostic systems including original JIS system, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system, TNM classification system and the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scoring system. A total of 1,170 HCC patients complicated with LC were analysed. The disease was staged for all analysed patients by means of the five staging systems. The cumulative overall survival (OS) rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and tested by log-rank test. We also examined prognostic factors associated with OS using univariate and multivariate analyses and compared the prognostic ability in each prognostic system using concordance index (c-index) at 1-, 3- and 5-year time-points. Overall significance in each prognostic system was P

Background and study aims Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for small colorectal polyps has lower incidence of adverse events, especially delayed postpolypectomy bleeding (DPPB). However, few data are available on comparisons of the incidence of DPPB of CSP and hot polypectomy (HP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of DPPB after CSP and compare it with that of HP. A propensity score model was used as a secondary analysis. Patients and methods This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a single municipal hospital. We identified 539 patients with colorectal polyps from 2 mm to 11 mm in size who underwent CSP (804 polyps in 330 patients) or HP (530 polyps in 209 patients) between July 2013 and June 2015. Results There were no cases of DPPB in the CSP group. Conversely, DPPB occurred in 4 patients (1.9 %) after HP, resulting in a significant difference between the CSP and HP groups (0.008 % vs 0 %, P = 0.02). Propensity score-matching analysis created 402 matched pairs, yielding a significantly higher DPPB rate in the HP group than CSP group (0.02 % vs 0 %, P = 0.04). However, significantly more patients in the CSP group had unclear horizontal margins that precluded assessment (83 vs 38 cases, P Conclusions DPPB was less frequent with CSP than HP, as selected by the propensity score-matching model. Our findings indicate that CSP is recommended polypectomy in daily clinical setting. However, special care should be taken during polyp retrieval and horizontal margin assessment, and these issues could be taken into account in follow-up after CSP.

We examined whether supplementation of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) granules in an early stage of underlying liver disease (pretreatment serum albumin levels ≥ 3.6 g/dl) can improve overall survival (OS) after therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using propensity score matching analysis. We compared OS between patients treated with BCAA granules and control group patients in two propensity score matched cohorts (cohort 1: pretreatment serum albumin levels ≥ 3.6 g/dl and

The aim of the present study was to compare clinical outcomes in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent the following treatments: transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using an epirubicin-mitomycin-lipiodol (EML) emulsion at initial therapy (TACE group; n=145), and transcatheter chemotherapy infusion (TACI) using an EML emulsion at initial therapy (TACI group; n=81). Overall survival (OS) and treatment efficacy in the TACE and TACI groups were retrospectively compared. Prognostic factors associated with OS were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Treatment-related mortality was also calculated. The median observation periods were 1.8 years (range, 0.2-9.0 years) in the TACE group and 2.0 years (range, 0.2-8.7 years) in the TACI group. The median survival time and the 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year cumulative OS rates were 2.68 years and 81.5, 63.4, 43.9 and 32.7%, respectively, in the TACE group, and 2.64 years and 85.0, 60.0, 43.2 and 26.0%, respectively, in the TACI group (P=0.691). The objective response rate was significantly higher in the TACE group compared to the TACI group (80.0 vs. 66.7%; P=0.009). Using multivariate analysis, the Child-Pugh classification (P=0.017), tumor number ≤5 (P=0.045) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin level >100 mAU/ml (P=0.002) were found to be significant predictors linked to OS. In all subgroup analyses involving Child-Pugh classification, maximum tumor size and tumor distribution, the differences in the two groups did not reach statistical significance in terms of OS. Treatment mortality was 0% in the two groups. In conclusion, patients with intermediate-stage HCC had a comparable prognosis when treated with TACI or TACE.

Aim To examine the effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib. Methods Seventy-eight subjects with unresectable HCC with a serum level of albumin of 3.5 g/dL or less treated with sorafenib were evaluated. They were classified into two groups: those receiving BCAA granules (n = 34; BCAA group) or a regular diet (n = 44; control group). We compared overall survival and administration period of sorafenib, and analyzed absolute changes in serum levels of albumin during sorafenib therapy in 41 patients who continued sorafenib therapy for 1 month or more with a follow up of more than 3 months. Results Median survival time (MST) in BCAA and control groups was 350 and 143 days (P = 0.007), respectively. Median administration period of sorafenib in the two groups was 59 and 41 days (P = 0.018). In the 41 patients described above, at 1 month, there was no significant change in the serum level of albumin between the two groups, but at 3 months, the difference in the absolute change in the serum level of albumin in the two groups reached significance (P = 0.023). In these subgroup analyses, the administration period of sorafenib as well as the MST in the BCAA group were significantly longer than those in the control group (P = 0.020 and = 0.004). Conclusion BCAA treatment during sorafenib therapy in HCC patients is useful for maintaining hepatic functional reserve, which may help to avoid early discontinuance of sorafenib therapy and improve survival.

The value of serum cholinesterase (ChE) level as a predictive marker in sorafenib therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been investigated. The present retrospective study therefore analyzed the impact of the serum ChE level in 93 patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib. Patients were categorized into two groups: group A with pretreatment serum ChE ≥140 IU/l (n=46) and group B with pretreatment serum ChE

To compare clinical outcome in patients with Child-Pugh C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with non-transplant therapies and those treated with best supportive care.A total of 182 patients with HCC with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis were analyzed. Patients were classified into two groups: patients treated with non-transplant therapies (n=113, treated group) and untreated patients (n=69, untreated group). Furthermore, for reducing the bias in patient selection, a propensity score matching analysis was performed (55 pairs).The median survival time in the treated group was significantly longer than that in the untreated group (1.16 years vs. 0.21 years, p0.001). After propensity score matching, the median survival time in the treated group remained significantly longer than that in the untreated group (0.95 years vs. 0.17 years, p=0.01).In patients with HCC with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis, those treated with non-transplant therapies might have longer survival than untreated patients.

To examine the effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib.Seventy-eight subjects with unresectable HCC with a serum level of albumin of 3.5 g/dL or less treated with sorafenib were evaluated. They were classified into two groups: those receiving BCAA granules (n = 34; BCAA group) or a regular diet (n = 44; control group). We compared overall survival and administration period of sorafenib, and analyzed absolute changes in serum levels of albumin during sorafenib therapy in 41 patients who continued sorafenib therapy for 1 month or more with a follow up of more than 3 months.Median survival time (MST) in BCAA and control groups was 350 and 143 days (P = 0.007), respectively. Median administration period of sorafenib in the two groups was 59 and 41 days (P = 0.018). In the 41 patients described above, at 1 month, there was no significant change in the serum level of albumin between the two groups, but at 3 months, the difference in the absolute change in the serum level of albumin in the two groups reached significance (P = 0.023). In these subgroup analyses, the administration period of sorafenib as well as the MST in the BCAA group were significantly longer than those in the control group (P = 0.020 and = 0.004).BCAA treatment during sorafenib therapy in HCC patients is useful for maintaining hepatic functional reserve, which may help to avoid early discontinuance of sorafenib therapy and improve survival.

We aimed to compare clinical outcomes and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients aged75 years (elderly group) versus patients aged75 years (control group).There were 130 patients in the elderly group and 238 in the control group. Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), recurrence free survival (RFS) and local tumor progression (LTP), and safety were analysed for these two groups after initial RFA.The mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) tumor diameter in the elderly and the control groups was 2.13 +/- 0.86 cm and 1.92 +/- 0.63 cm, respectively; the mean (+/- SD) observation period was 2.5 +/- 1.8 years and 3.2 +/- 2.0 years, respectively. The 1 and 3 year OS rates were 90.0 and 64.1%, respectively, in the elderly group and 97.6 and 83.7%, respectively, in the control group (P=0.001); the corresponding RFS rates were 66.9 and 21.3%, respectively, in the elderly group and 80.5 and 40.0%, respectively, in the control group (P=0.001). The 1 and 3 year LTP rates were 15.0 and 43.0%, respectively, in the elderly group and 8.3 and 26.3%, respectively, in the control group (P=0.002). In terms of duration of hospitalization (P=0.807) and serious adverse events related RFA (P=0.670), there was no significant difference between these two groups.The clinical outcomes in the elderly group were poorer than those in the control group, although RFA in the elderly patients was a safe procedure.

To compare the overall survival (OS) in patients without recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after initial radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and in those with recurrence, treated with repeat-RFA.We compared OS between patients without recurrence (group A; n=150) and those with recurrence treated with repeat-RFA (group B; n=130).One-, 3- and 5-year OS after initial RFA was 92.6%, 84.1% and 81.0%, respectively, in group A, and 99.0%, 84.1% and 61.8% in group B (p=0.296). There was no significant difference in OS between group A patients and patients with a single recurrent HCC (p=0.834). On multivariate analysis, serum albumin3.5 g/dl and first HCC recurrence, comprising of two or three nodules were significant predicting factors of poorer OS.Even if HCC recurs after initial RFA, survival comparable to that of patients without recurrence can be achieved in patients with a single recurrent tumor treated with repeat-RFA.

We report a case of a 41-year-old male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) who was successfully treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). He presented with epigastralgia, and an upper endoscopic examination revealed submucosal tumors and ulcerations in his stomach. Histopathologic examination of a biopsy specimen resulted in a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He also showed systemic lymphadenopathy; whereas, a concurrent inguinal lymph node biopsy produced a diagnosis of follicular hyperplasia. He was treated with CHOP chemotherapy but the response was poor. He demonstrated several immunological abnormalities, such as eosinophilia and bone marrow insufficiency, and was suspected to be in an immunocompromised state. He was examined for HIV infection and turned out to be positive. The gastric and inguinal lymph node specimens were re-evaluated and diagnoses of HIV-LPD and HIV lymphadenitis were made, respectively. He was treated with HAART and achieved complete remission and has remained tumor-free for 20 months. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous report in which HIV-LPD was successfully treated with antiretroviral therapy alone. It is assumed that HAART resulted in the restoration of anti-tumor immunity in this case, which led to the eradication of LPD cells.

Background/Aims: Although chromosomal abnormalities in bone marrow (BM) cells, such as trisomy 8, are risk factors for the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as well as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), the mechanisms of how these cytogenetic abnormalities cause intestinal inflammation are poorly understood. Methods and Results: A 55-year-old man with a 3-month history of watery diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain was admitted. Blood examinations revealed pancytopenia. Pathological analysis and endoscopic images of the entire colon led to the diagnosis of IBD of unclassified type. BM examination showed that the pancytopenia was due to MDS and that his BM cells had dual chromosomal abnormalities: 47, XY, +1, der(1;7)(q10;p10), +8. Immunological studies using peripheral blood monocytes from this patient revealed that the dual chromosomal abnormalities of BM cells led to the development of colitogenic monocytes producing a large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines and showing resistance to apoptosis upon stimulation with microbial antigens. Conclusion: An abnormal karyotype of BM cells is not only responsible for the development of MDS, but also for IBD in this case.