Article
Immunology
Jie Li, Hwai- Yang, Ming-Lun Yeh, Michael H. Le, An K. Le, Yee Hui Yeo, Chia-Yen Dai, Scott Barnett, Jian Q. Zhang, Jee-Fu Huang, Huy N. Trinh, Christopher Wong, Clifford Wong, Joseph K. Hoang, Ramsey Cheung, Ming-Lung Yu, Mindie H. Nguyen
Summary: This study found that concurrent FL in patients with CHB significantly reduces the risk of cirrhosis and HCC, as well as increases the rate of HBsAg seroclearance. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms of FL on CHB.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jeong-Hoon Lee, Yun Bin Lee, Eun Ju Cho, Su Jong Yu, Jung-Hwan Yoon, Yoon Jun Kim
Summary: This study found that adding pegylated interferon alfa-2a treatment to chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir, followed by sequential HBV vaccination under an intensified schedule, significantly increases the chance of HBsAg seroclearance compared to entecavir alone.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tai-Chung Tseng, Chieh Chiang, Chun-Jen Liu, Chun-Ming Hong, Tung-Hung Su, Hung-Chih Yang, Wan-Ting Yang, Chen-Hua Liu, Pei-Jer Chen, Jia-Horng Kao
Summary: This study aimed to explore the association between spontaneous seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels. The results showed that lower HBcrAg levels were associated with an increased likelihood of HBsAg seroclearance. Especially for patients with HBsAg levels >1000 IU/mL, HBcrAg levels <10,000 U/mL served as an independent predictor for HBsAg seroclearance.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hyun Yang, Si Hyun Bae, Heechul Nam, Hae Lim Lee, Sung Won Lee, Sun Hong Yoo, Myeong Jun Song, Jung Hyun Kwon, Soon Woo Nam, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Jeong Won Jang
Summary: After HBsAg seroclearance, there is still a risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Age, cirrhosis, family history, and more-than-moderate alcohol consumption are independent factors predictive of HCC. The novel prediction model based on these four variables allows reliable risk estimation of HCC after HBsAg seroclearance.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fumitaka Suzuki, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Yusuke Kawamura, Norio Akuta, Masahiro Kobayashi, Satoshi Saitoh, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Mariko Kobayashi, Rie Mineta, Yukiko Suzuki, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: The study reported a patient with hepatitis B and cirrhosis who experienced viral breakthrough during combination therapy with TDF and ETV. The patient's genetic mutations were similar to those of Korean patients, potentially resulting in tenofovir resistance.
HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fumitaka Suzuki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Hitomi Sezaki, Norio Akuta, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Yusuke Kawamura, Satoshi Saitoh, Yasuji Arase, Mariko Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who achieved HBsAg seroclearance after nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy rarely experienced virological or clinical relapse after treatment cessation.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Takanori Suzuki, Kentaro Matsuura, Takehisa Watanabe, Takeshi Matsui, Shintaro Ogawa, Hayato Kawamura, Kayoko Kuno, Kei Fujiwara, Shunsuke Nojiri, Hiromi Kataoka, Yasuhito Tanaka
Summary: Two novel assays, iTACT-HBcrAg and iTACT-HBsAg, have been developed to investigate the longitudinal profiles of these antigens in HBsAg seroclearance patients. The presence of HBcrAg may contribute to the progression of chronic hepatitis B.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sun Yoo, Ji Yoon Kim, Young-Suk Lim, Seungbong Han, Jonggi Choi
Summary: HBsAg seroclearance is associated with a lower risk of late recurrence of HBV-related HCC among Korean patients who undergo curative liver resection.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Gustaf E. Rydell, Kasthuri Prakash, Simon B. Larsson, Catarina Skoglund, Johan Ringlander, Maria Andersson, Maria Castedal, Helene Norder, Magnus Lindh
Summary: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA levels showed significant variation between different tissue samples, with up to a 1000-fold difference. When replication was high, core RNA and S RNA levels were similar, indicating transcription from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). In patients with medium-high or low replication, enhanced expression of S RNA relative to cccDNA and core RNA suggested that HBsAg can be primarily expressed from integrated HBV DNA.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Shuyan Chen, Jialing Zhou, Xiaoning Wu, Tongtong Meng, Bingqiong Wang, Hui Liu, Tailing Wang, Xinyan Zhao, Yuanyuan Kong, Shanshan Wu, Xiaojuan Ou, Jidong Jia, Yameng Sun, Hong You
Summary: In chronic hepatitis B patients, adding Peg-IFN-alpha-2a therapy did not result in additional fibrosis regression and virologic response compared to using nucleos(t)ide analogues alone.
HEPATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hsin-Wei Fang, Tsung-Hui Hu, Jing-Houng Wang, Chao-Hung Hung, Sheng-Nan Lu, Chien-Hung Chen
Summary: Little is known about the role of post-treatment HBsAg decline in HBsAg loss following nucleos(t)ide analogues cessation. This study showed that post-treatment HBsAg decline could predict a high HBsAg loss rate among HBeAg-negative patients who discontinued nucleos(t)ide analogues and did not require retreatment.
DIGESTIVE AND LIVER DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Goh Eun Chung, Ju Yeon Kim, Hyunjae Shin, Ji Hoon Hong, Moon Haeng Hur, Heejin Cho, Min Kyung Park, Na Ryung Choi, Jihye Kim, Yun Bin Lee, Eun Ju Cho, Su Jong Yu, Yoon Jun Kim, Jung-Hwan Yoon, Jeong-Hoon Lee
Summary: The study found a significant linear correlation between quantitative HBsAg and semi-quantitative HBsAg in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, patients with HBeAg-positive status may exhibit a negative correlation due to the presence of a hook effect. These findings have implications for the management and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B in clinical practice.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jeong Won Jang, Jin Seoub Kim, Hye Seon Kim, Kwon Yong Tak, Heechul Nam, Pil Soo Sung, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Lewis R. Roberts
Summary: The study revealed that HBV integration contributes to HCC development in some CHB patients, particularly after HBsAg seroclearance. HBV integration sites were more enriched within genic areas in tumors, while intergenic integrations were more common in non-tumor tissues. HBV integration plays an important role in carcinogenesis.
CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sammy Saab, Nguyen Pham, William Wu, Long Dang, An Dang, Jung Yum, Kisub Shim, Steven Wu
Summary: There is a potential clinical association between HBsAg seroclearance and the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance remains rare in these patients.
DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Virology
Aixin Song, Xiao Lin, Xinyue Chen
Summary: HBsAg clearance is considered the ideal endpoint for antiviral treatment, with recent advances in combined and extended treatment strategies improving clearance rates. However, durability and clinical outcomes post-clearance remain areas of focus for researchers and clinicians.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kenji Yamaoka, Satoshi Saitoh, Keiichi Kinowaki, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Yusuke Kawamura, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Norio Akuta, Masahiro Kobayashi, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Toshio Fukusato, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study aimed to compare the clinicopathological features of typical steatohepatitic HCC (SH-HCC) with other HCCs. The results showed significant differences between SH-HCC and other HCCs in terms of age, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Tumor size and background steatosis were also significantly different between the two groups. The combined use of ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improved the diagnostic accuracy of SH-HCC. According to LI-RADS, 87% of SH-HCC cases were classified as malignant tumors.
CLINICS AND RESEARCH IN HEPATOLOGY AND GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tetsuya Hosaka, Fumitaka Suzuki, Masahiro Kobayashi, Shunichirou Fujiyama, Yusuke Kawamura, Hitomi Sezaki, Norio Akuta, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Satoshi Saitoh, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Mariko Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study found that switching from TDF or ADV to TAF resulted in favorable renal safety over 2 years. In the CKD stage 3a-4 subgroup, eGFR recovered within the first 12 weeks after TAF and then stabilized.
HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nozomu Muraishi, Yusuke Kawamura, Masahiro Kobayashi, Junichi Shindoh, Yuta Kobayashi, Satoshi Okubo, Soichi Iritani, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Tetsuya Hosaka, Satoshi Saitoh, Hitomi Sezaki, Norio Akuta, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kenji Ikeda, Yasuji Arase, Masaji Hashimoto, Ichiro Yasuda, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between the decrease in tumor blood flow and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with lenvatinib. The results showed that a decrease in CT attenuation values of >=40% may indicate a poor prognosis. This finding could serve as a surrogate marker for estimating tumor aggressiveness and prognosis.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Norio Akuta, Yusuke Kawamura, Fumitaka Suzuki, Mariko Kobayashi, Yasuji Arase, Satoshi Saitoh, Nozomu Muraishi, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kenji Ikeda, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: Serum TERT C228T mutation is useful for the diagnosis of liver cancer with non-viral fatty liver disease, and it may not be influenced by inflammation.
HEPATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Soichi Iritani, Yusuke Kawamura, Nozomu Muraishi, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Norio Akuta, Masahiro Kobayashi, Satoshi Saitoh, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study identified ALD, CONUT score, aspartate aminotransferase, and hemoglobin as predictors of zinc deficiency in chronic liver disease. The rate of zinc deficiency is high even in patients classified as mALBI grade 1, especially in ALD, while caution may be required in those classified as mALBI grade 1-CONUT undernutrition.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Junichi Shindoh, Yusuke Kawamura, Masahiro Kobayashi, Norio Akuta, Satoshi Okubo, Masaru Matsumura, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Masaji Hashimoto
Summary: After lenvatinib therapy for advanced HCC, additional interventions/treatments may have prognostic advantage in strictly selected populations. Successful conversion to curative resection may offer survival benefit with acceptable clinical outcomes.
JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Akira Kajiwara, Yusuke Kawamura, Keiichi Kinowaki, Nozomu Muraishi, Soichi Iritani, Norio Akuta, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Satoshi Saitoh, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: We report a case of a patient who developed abnormal liver function after betamethasone treatment for sudden-onset deafness. The patient received plasma exchange treatment and recovered successfully.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Nozomu Muraishi, Yusuke Kawamura, Norio Akuta, Junichi Shindoh, Masaru Matsumura, Satoshi Okubo, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Tetsuya Hosaka, Satoshi Saitoh, Hitomi Sezaki, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kenji Ikeda, Yasuji Arase, Masaji Hashimoto, Ichiro Yasuda, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: In this study, the effect of lenvatinib on tumor blood vessel diameter in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated. It was found that lenvatinib can reduce the diameter of tumor blood vessels, which may be considered as a process of normalization. The decrease in tumor blood vessels in imaging analysis may be associated with improved prognosis, but further studies are still required.
Article
Oncology
Norio Akuta, Hitomi Sezaki, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Yusuke Kawamura, Tetsuya Hosaka, Mariko Kobayashi, Satoshi Saitoh, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Fumitaka Suzuki, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study found that a combination of simple markers can help non-specialized doctors evaluate the risk of PLC following HCV clearance with DAAs. However, regular imaging studies are still recommended for the early detection of PLC.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yusuke Kawamura, Norio Akuta, Junichi Shindoh, Masaru Matsumura, Satoshi Okubo, Licht Tominaga, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Tetsuya Hosaka, Satoshi Saitoh, Hitomi Sezaki, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kenji Ikeda, Yasuji Arase, Masaji Hashimoto, Takuyo Kozuka, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study showed that curative-intent subsequent treatment is more beneficial for HCC patients with better liver function (mALBI grade 1 and 2a) and intrahepatic target nodules who have received lenvatinib treatment.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Norio Akuta, Yusuke Kawamura, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Kenichi Nakamichi, Eiji Saegusa, Hidetoshi Ogura, Masaki Kato, Etsuko Doi, Naoko Inoue, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Mariko Kobayashi, Satoshi Saitoh, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Hiromitsu Kumada, Fumitaka Suzuki
Summary: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the treatment efficacy and predictive factors of a combined diet and exercise program for fatty liver. The program improved liver function tests and body weight, and the etiology of non-NAFLD, presence of diabetes mellitus, and large waist circumference were identified as independent predictors of decreased hemoglobin A1c levels.
HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yusuke Kawamura, Norio Akuta, Junichi Shindoh, Masaru Matsumura, Satoshi Okubo, Licht Tominaga, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Tetsuya Hosaka, Satoshi Saitoh, Hitomi Sezaki, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kenji Ikeda, Yasuji Arase, Masaji Hashimoto, Takuyo Kozuka, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study analyzed the data of 64 BCLC stage C patients with intrahepatic target nodules who received systemic therapy. The results showed that the combined use of multiple treatment procedures improved the overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Article
Oncology
Yusuke Kawamura, Masahiro Kobayashi, Junichi Shindoh, Masaru Matsumura, Satoshi Okubo, Nozomu Muraishi, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Tetsuya Hosaka, Satoshi Saitoh, Hitomi Sezaki, Norio Akuta, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kenji Ikeda, Yasuji Arase, Masaji Hashimoto, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: The utility of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG-PET/CT) as a predictor of early progressive disease (e-PD) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo/Bev) was investigated in this study. The results showed that a tumor-to-normal liver ratio (TLR) >= 2, indicating higher oncological aggressiveness, was associated with lower objective response rates, higher e-PD rates, and worse early progression-free survival (e-PFS). Pretreatment F-18-FDG-PET/CT may be a useful new predictor of e-PD and may enable early decision-making based on early treatment changes following Atezo/Bev treatment of HCC.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Norio Akuta, Yusuke Kawamura, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Satoshi Saito, Nozomu Muraishi, Hitomi Sezaki, Tetsuya Hosaka, Masahiro Kobayashi, Mariko Kobayashi, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: This study investigated the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after 5 years of treatment. The results showed that, after 5 years, 50% of patients had histological improvement, 17% had no change, and 33% had worsening. Insulin resistance and serum ferritin levels also significantly decreased at 5 years. In addition, patients who added another treatment after long-term use of SGLT2i showed minimal worsening. This study provides important insights for understanding the long-term effects of SGLT2i in treating NAFLD with T2DM.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tetsuya Hosaka, Fumitaka Suzuki, Mariko Kobayashi, Shunichiro Fujiyama, Yusuke Kawamura, Hitomi Sezaki, Norio Akuta, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Satoshi Saitoh, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Hiromitsu Kumada
Summary: The study found that measuring HBcrAg using an ultrasensitive assay has a better potential for predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B undergoing antiviral treatment.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
