A total of 2,574 residents in Yaeyama District of Okinawa, Japan, were investigated using real time ultrasonography to determine the real prevalence of fatty liver in the general population and to define its associated factors. Overall prevalence of fatty liver was 14.0%. Prevalence of fatty liver in persons under 19 years old was only 1.2%, and increased with age to a maximumin persons 40-49 years of age and then decreased. For persons over 20 years old, obesity index and serum levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol were measured, and alcohol consumption was asked. Prevalence of fatty liver was significantly higher in drinkers than non-drinkers (p <0.01), and increased with alcohol consumption. Furthermore, in persons not suffering from obesity prevalence of fatty liver was significantly higher in drinkers than in non-drinkers (p < 0.001). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that obesity and elevated serum triglyceride level in both sexes, and alcohol in males were significant predictors of fatty liver. In conclusion, prevalence of fatty liver increased with age to a maximumin persons 40-49 years of age and overall was 14.0%. Obesity was the strongest associated factor in both sexes and in males alcohol was also a strong factor.

From the studies on the thermal desorption behaviors of GeO 2 film and its impact on the electrical properties of GeO 2 /Ge metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors, it was clarified that the GeO volatilization is driven by the interface reaction at GeO 2 /Ge, and that volatilization is the origin of the interface deterioration of the MIS capacitors. We found that a Si cap layer formed on top of the GeO 2 film suppresses the GeO desorption very efficiently. Then, a marked improvement of the capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics was successfully demonstrated with the GeO 2 /Ge MIS capacitors fabricated by capped annealing process, where a Ni silicide electrode was used as the cap layer. These results provided us quite an important guide for realizing high-quality Ge/dielectric interfaces.

In an investigation of the mode of transmission of adult T cell leukemia virus (ATLV) in family settings, 275 male and 444 female subjects positive for antibody to ATLV-associated antigen (anti-ATLA) were studied. Their children were surveyed for anti-ATLA status. None of the 82 children of a positive father and a negative mother were positive for anti-ATLA. In contrast, the antibody prevalence among children with a positive mother and a positive or negative father was 27.9% and 19.9%, respectively. Of 39 parents who had one or more anti-ATLA-positive children less than 20 years old, 56.3% of the fathers and 97.1% of the mothers were anti-ATLA positive. Algorithm computation showed the possibility of ATLV transmission from husband to wife to be 60.8% and from wife to husband to be 0.4% over a 10-year period. These data suggest that ATLV is transmitted from mother to child and from husband to wife in family settings.

For cirrhotic patients after elimination of HCV, serum EOT-AFP level and previous HCC characteristics would be useful markers for predicting de novo HCC or recurrence.

Acute hepatitis C often progresses to chronic infection. We undertook a randomized controlled trial to determine whether short-term therapy with interferon (IFN) during acute hepatitis C is effective in preventing the development of chronic hepatitis. Thirty patients with acute hepatitis C were randomized into 1 of 2 treatment groups. IFN therapy was initiated 8 weeks after the onset of acute hepatitis in the early-intervention group and after 1 year of observation in the late-intervention group. Short-term therapy consisted of natural IFN-alfa (6 million units) administered on consecutive days for a period of 4 weeks. Any signs of recrudescence of disease were immediately followed by interval IFN therapy (3 times weekly for 20 weeks). In the early-intervention group, short-term therapy was associated with a sustained virological response in 13 of 15 patients (87%). Follow-up treatment was associated with a sustained virological response in both of the remaining 2 patients (100%). The sustained virological response rate was significantly higher in the early-intervention group (87%, 13 of 15 patients after short-term therapy alone, and 100%, 15 of 15 patients after short-term with or without follow-up therapy) than in the late-intervention group (40%, 6 of 15 patients after short-term therapy alone, and 53%, 8 of 15 patients after short-term therapy with or without follow-up therapy, P ‫؍‬ .021 and P ‫؍‬ .006, respectively). A cute hepatitis that develops after infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is often followed by chronic hepatitis, which may progress eventually to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 1,2 In the past, the primary causes of infection with HCV were blood transfusion and various medical procedures. Today, blood products in Japan are aggressively screened for HCV and disposable medical devices are in widespread use; there has been a reduction in the incidence of HCV infection. However, patients with acute hepatitis C resulting from treatment-related accidents (needle-stick injury), intravenous drug abuse, sexual contact with HCVpositive partners and unknown causes still occasionally present. [3][4][5] Interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C has considerable potential for preventing the development of HCC, either by eradicating HCV, or by decreasing the activity of hepatitis. 6 -9 However, the therapeutic effects of IFN vary depending on the HCV genotype and viral load. 10,11 Although much research has already been undertaken on IFN therapy for acute hepatitis C, findings in trials that relate to the effectiveness of this therapy have not been particularly favorable. Possible reasons include differences in types of IFN, differences in study populations, and inclusion of patients with posttransfusion hepatitis. 12-17 However, Jaeckel et al. 3 reported that a 24-week course of IFN therapy was effective, and that the response to IFN treatment was more favorable in acute hepatitis C than in chronic hepatitis C. Although randomized controlled trials have been used t...

No abstract

In the 2008 guidelines for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) combined with ribavirin for 48 weeks are indicated for treatment-naive patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) of genotype 1. Treatment is continued for an additional 24 weeks (72 weeks total) in the patients who have remained positive for HCV RNA detectable by the real-time polymerase chain reaction at 12 weeks after the start of treatment, but who turn negative for HCV RNA during 13-36 weeks on treatment. Re-treatment is aimed to either eradicate HCV or normalize transaminase levels for preventing the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For patients with compensated cirrhosis, the clearance of HCV RNA is aimed toward improving histological damages and decreasing the development of HCC. The recommended therapeutic regimen is the initial daily dose of 6 million international units (MIU) IFN continued for 2-8 weeks that is extended to longer than 48 weeks, if possible. IFN dose is reduced to 3 MIU daily in patients who fail to clear HCV RNA by 12 weeks for preventing the development of HCC. Splenectomy or embolization of the splenic artery is recommended to patients with platelet counts of less than 50 x 103/mm(3) prior to the commencement of IFN treatment. When the prevention of HCC is at issue, not only IFN, but also liver supportive therapy such as stronger neo-minophagen C, ursodeoxycholic acid, phlebotomy, branched chain amino acids (BCAA), either alone or in combination, are given. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, by contrast, reversal to compensation is attempted.

The findings suggest that triple therapy with PPI, AMPC, and STFX for one week would be an effective standard third-line eradication regimen for H. pylori in Japan.