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Purpose: Few studies have compared survival outcomes between liver resection (LR) and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating solitary 3–5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to clarify this issue. Methods: Patients with Child–Pugh class A liver disease and a solitary HCC of 3–5 cm without macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis who underwent LR or percutaneous RFA between 2011 and 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective study; 310 patients underwent LR and 114 patients underwent percutaneous RFA. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline variables, including age, sex, alpha-fetoprotein level, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, between the two groups. Results: Before PSM, 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were significantly lower in the percutaneous RFA group than in the LR group (both p < 0.001). After PSM, 5-year OS was comparable between the two modalities (p = 0.367); however, 5-year RFS was significantly lower in the RFA group than in the LR group (p = 0.001). The two modalities did not differ in severe post-treatment complications (p = 1.000). Conclusions: Five-year OS did not differ between treatment modalities for patients with a solitary HCC of 3–5 cm; however, the LR group's 5-year RFS was superior. LR should be recommended as the first-line treatment for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Multiple studies have reported models for predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver resection (LR). However, these models are too complex to use in daily practice. We aimed to develop a simple model. Method: We enrolled 1133 patients with newly diagnosed HCC undergoing LR. The Kaplan − Meier method and log-rank test were used for survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis to identify prognostic factors associated with early recurrence (i.e., recurrence within two years after LR). Results: Early recurrence was identified in 403 (35.1%) patients. In multivariate analysis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) 20–399 vs. < 20 ng/ml (HR = 1.282 [95% confidence interval = 1.002–1.639]; p = 0.048); AFP ≥ 400 vs. < 20 ng/ml (HR = 1.755 [1.382–2.229]; p < 0.001); 7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage 2 vs. 1 (HR = 1.958 [1.505–2.547]; p < 0.001); AJCC stage 3 vs. 1 (HR = 4.099 [3.043–5.520]; p < 0.001); and pathology-defined cirrhosis (HR = 1.46 [1.200–1.775]; p < 0.001) were associated with early recurrence. We constructed a predictive model with these variables, which provided three risk strata for recurrence-free survival (RFS): low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk, with two-year RFS of 79%, 57%, and 35%, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We developed a simple model to predict early recurrence risk for patients undergoing LR for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have compared outcomes of liver resection (LR) of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to those of patients with non-NAFLD-related HCC. However, results have been inconsistent. We aim to clarify this issue. We enrolled 801 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC, 433 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC, and 128 patients with NAFLD-related HCC undergoing LR. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with different etiologies of chronic liver disease was compared using the Kaplan–Meier estimator and log-rank test after propensity score matching (PSM). After PSM, 83 patients remained in each group. The groups did not differ significantly in age, sex, the proportion of patients with pathological American Joint Committee on Cancer stage 1, tumor size > 50 mm, receipt of major resection, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥ 20 ng/ml, presence of cirrhosis, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification. The five-year OS of patients with HBV-, HCV-, and NAFLD-related HCC was 78%, 75%, and 78%, respectively (p = 0.789). The five-year DFS of the HBV, HCV, and NAFLD groups was 60%, 45%, and 54%, respectively (p = 0.159). Perioperative morbidity was noted in 17 (20.5%) in the HBV group, 22 (26.5%) in the HCV group, and 15 (18.1%) in the NAFLD group (p = 0.398). The five-year OS, DFS, and perioperative morbidity of patients undergoing LR for NAFLD-related HCC and those for viral hepatitis-related HCC was similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether the etiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) impacts the overall survival (OS) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We aim to clarify this issue. Materials and methods: Between 2011 and 2020, 3941 patients who were newly diagnosed with HCC at our institution were enrolled in this study. In patients with multiple CLD etiologies, etiology was classified using the following hierarchy: hepatitis C virus (HCV) > hepatitis B virus (HBV) > alcohol-related > all negative. All negative was defined as negative for HCV, HBV, and alcohol use disorder. Results: Among 3941 patients, 1407 patients were classified with HCV-related HCC, 1677 patients had HBV-related HCC, 145 patients had alcohol-related HCC, and 712 patients had all-negative HCC. Using the all-negative group as the reference group, multivariate analysis showed that HBV is an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio: 0.856; 95% confidence interval: 0.745–0.983; p = 0.027). Patients with HBV-related HCC had superior OS compared with patients with other CLD etiologies (p<0.001). Subgroup analyses were performed, for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages 0–A (p<0.001); serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels≧20 ng/ml (p<0.001); AFP levels < 20 ng/ml (p<0.001); age > 65 years (p<0.001); and the use of curative treatments (p = 0.002). No significant difference in OS between HBV and other etiologies was observed among patients aged ≤ 65 years (p = 0.304); with BCLC stages B–D (p = 0.973); or who underwent non-curative treatments (p = 0.1). Conclusion: Patients with HBV-related HCC had superior OS than patients with other HCC etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting recurrence patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be helpful in developing surveillance strategies. This study aimed to use the hazard function to investigate recurrence hazard and peak recurrence time transitions in patients with HCC undergoing liver resection (LR). We enrolled 1204 patients with HCC undergoing LR between 2007 and 2018 at our institution. Recurrence hazard, patterns, and peak rates were analyzed. The overall recurrence hazard peaked at 7.2 months (peak hazard rate [pHR]: 0.0197), but varied markedly. In subgroups analysis based on recurrence risk factors, patients with a high radiographic tumor burden score (pHR: 0.0521), alpha-fetoprotein level ≥ 400 ng/ml (pHR: 0.0427), and pT3–4 (pHR: 0.0656) showed a pronounced peak within the first year after LR. Patients with cirrhosis showed a pronounced peak within three years after LR (pHR: 0.0248), whereas those with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B (pHR: 0.0609) and poor tumor differentiation (pHR: 0.0451) showed multiple peaks during the 5-year follow-up period. In contrast, patients without these recurrence risk factors had a relatively flat hazard function curve. HCC recurrence hazard, patterns, and peak rates varied substantially depending on different risk factors of HCC recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor necrosis is a significant risk factor affecting patients' prognosis after liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to develop a model with tumor necrosis as a variable to predict early tumor recurrence in HCC patients undergoing LR. Materials and methods: Patients who underwent LR between 2010 and 2018 for newly diagnosed HCC but did not receive neoadjuvant therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Six predictive factors based on pathological features—tumor size > 5 cm, multiple tumors, high-grade tumor differentiation, tumor necrosis, microvascular invasion, and cirrhosis—were chosen a priori based on clinical relevance to construct a multivariate logistic regression model. The variables were always retained in the model. The impact of each variable on early tumor recurrence within one year of LR was estimated and visualized using a nomogram. The nomogram's performance was evaluated using calibration plots with bootstrapping. Results: Early tumor recurrence was observed in 161 (21.3%) patients. The concordance index of the proposed nomogram was 0.722. The calibration plots showed good agreement between nomogram predictions and actual observations of early recurrence. Conclusion: We developed a nomogram incorporating tumor necrosis to predict early recurrence of HCC after LR. Its predictive accuracy is satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and lethal form of liver cancer, and most patients with HCC die due to HCC-related causes. Although most patients die of HCC-related causes, non–HCC-related death represents a competing event among patients who engage in alcohol use and receive curative treatment and among patients 75 years and older in the hepatitis B virus and all-negative groups who receive curative treatments. All negative was defined as negative for hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and alcohol-related causes. The results of the current study underscore the importance of assessing and managing underlying comorbidities, especially among certain subgroups of patients with HCC. This study was conducted to determine whether the causes of death among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) differ according to chronic liver disease (CLD) etiology. Between 2011 and 2020, 3977 patients who were newly diagnosed with HCC at our institution were enrolled in this study. We determined whether the cause of death was HCC-related and non-HCC-related. For patients with multiple CLD etiologies, etiology was classified using the following hierarchy: hepatitis C virus (HCV) > hepatitis B virus (HBV) > alcohol-related causes > all negative. All negative was defined as negative for HCV, HBV, and alcohol-related causes. Among 3977 patients, 1415 patients were classified as HCV-related, 1691 patients were HBV-related, 145 patients were alcohol-related, and 725 patients were all negative. HCC-related mortality was the leading cause of death, irrespective of etiology. Among patients who underwent curative treatment, HCC-related mortality was the leading cause of death for patients in the HCV, HBV, and all-negative groups, but not for patients in the alcohol-related group. Among patients 75 years and older who underwent curative treatment, HCC-related mortality was the leading cause of death in the HCV but not HBV or all-negative groups. In conclusion, although most patients with HCC die due to HCC-related causes, non-HCC-related mortality represents a competing event in certain patient subgroups. The current study results underscore the importance of assessing and managing underlying comorbidities, particularly among patients with HCC at risk of non-HCC-related mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we demonstrated that overall 51.2% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. The proportion of patients with elevated AFP levels was stationary in the period from 2011 to 2020. The proportion of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification (BCLC) stages 0–A HCC decreased from 2011 to 2020, whereas the proportion of patients with non-HBV- and non-HCV (NBNC)-HCC increased in the same period. Furthermore, the proportion of patients with early-stage HCC (i.e., BCLC stages 0–A) was lower for NBNC-HCC than for HBV- or HCV-related HCC. Advanced tumor stage, severe underlying liver disease, viral etiology, and female gender are associated with elevated AFP levels in HCC patients. A recent study from the US showed a decreasing trend in the elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (i.e., ≥20 ng/mL) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, advanced tumor stage and severe underlying liver disease were associated with elevated AFP levels. We aimed to evaluate this issue in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Between 2011 and 2020, 4031 patients were newly diagnosed with HCC at our institution. After excluding 54 patients with unknown AFP data, the remaining 3977 patients were enrolled in this study. Elevated AFP level was defined as ≥20 ng/mL. Overall, 51.2% of HCC patients had elevated AFP levels; this proportion remained stationary between 2011 and 2020 (51.8% vs. 51.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that female gender (odds ratio (OR) = 1.462; p < 0.001), tumor size per 10 mm increase (OR = 1.155; p < 0.001), multiple tumors (OR = 1.406; p < 0.001), Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages B–D (OR = 1.247; p = 0.019), cirrhosis (OR = 1.288; p = 0.02), total bilirubin > 1.4 mg/dL (OR = 1.218; p = 0.030), and HBV- or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive status (OR = 1.720; p < 0.001) were associated with elevated AFP levels. In conclusion, a stationary trend in elevated serum AFP level in HCC patients has been noted in the past 10 years. Advanced tumor stage, severe underlying liver disease, viral etiology, and female gender are associated with elevated AFP levels in HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The tumor burden score (TBS) is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem based on the largest tumor size and tumor number (α2 + β2 = γ2, where α is the largest tumor size, β is the tumor number, and γ is the TBS). Patients who underwent liver resection (LR) for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0, A, or B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between 2011 and 2018 were enrolled. Among 743 patients, 193 (26.0%) patients had a low TBS (<2.6), 474 (63.8%) had a moderate TBS (2.6–7.9), and 75 (10.1%) had a high TBS (>7.9). Combining radiographic TBS and alpha-fetoprotein levels could stratify overall survival among HCC patients after LR. We evaluated whether combining the radiographic tumor burden score (TBS) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level could be used to stratify overall survival (OS) among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after liver resection (LR). Patients who underwent LR for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0, A, or B HCC between 2011 and 2018 were enrolled. TBS scores were calculated using the following equation: TBS2 = (largest tumor size (in cm))2 + (tumor number)2. Among 743 patients, 193 (26.0%) patients had a low TBS (<2.6), 474 (63.8%) had a moderate TBS (2.6–7.9), and 75 (10.1%) had a high TBS (>7.9). Those with a TBS ≤ 7.9 and AFP < 400 ng/mL had a significantly better OS than those with a TBS > 7.9 and an AFP < 400 ng/mL (p = 0.003) or ≥ 400 ng/mL (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis using TBS ≤ 7.9 and AFP < 400 ng/mL as the reference values showed that a TBS > 7.9 and an AFP < 400 ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR): 2.063; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.175–3.623; p = 0.012) or ≥ 400 ng/mL (HR: 6.570; 95% CI: 3.684–11.719; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of OS. In conclusion, combining radiographic TBSs and AFP levels could stratify OS among HCC patients undergoing LR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass frit encapsulation for laser-base sealing of the complex interiors results challenges for the electronics manufacturing process. The conventional frit packaging method relies on elevating thermal process by furnace where the package is heated to required temperature, hence limiting the use of temperature-sensitive materials and also creating problems in different packaging processes or multi-stage sealing products. In this paper, the benefits of combining novel laser-assist hermetical sealing and low temperature glass frit packaging are demonstrated and the technique offers a suitable and feasible solution. This frit of absorbent at specific laser wavelength is selected and applied as excellent contact with both large CTE range substrates. Glass frit composites consisting of a PbTiO ceramic and the rare earth NdO are evaluated for thermal properties and electrical characteristics. This developed glass frit hermetical sealing method achieves moisture durability, satisfying the enculturation of electronics-level. In this paper, we demonstrate successfully using laser to seal organic light emitting diode (OLED) via low melting temperature glass frit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process that evolves from cirrhosis or dysplastic nodule (DN), and eventually leads to overt hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Differentiation between early HCC and DN is an important issue in the clinical setting. This study aims to investigate the potential of circulating microRNA (miRNA) levels in the diagnosis of early HCC. RNA was extracted from sera of 30 chronic hepatitis B patients with pathologically proven DN and 120 age- and sex-matched patients with early HCC. Paired samples were collected from ten patients with DN who developed overt HCC in the follow-up. A panel of ten cancer-associated miRNAs was analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Serum levels of miR-16, miR-122, miR-221, let-7b and miR-15b were significantly lower in patients with DN than in the HCC group. When DN progressed to overt HCC, serum miR-122, miR-let-7b and miR-15b levels increased significantly (p50.046, 0.043 and 0.044, respectively). As a single marker, α-fetoprotein (AFP) and miR-122 as well as let-7b had the similar performance for differentiate HCC from DN. As limited to subjects with normal AFP, let-7b resulted in a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 50% in separating HCC and DN with a cutoff value of 3.5 (p50.001). In conclusion, miR-122 and let-7b, which are upregulated in the serum of early-HCC patients, can be useful markers for differentiating early HCC from DN in chronic hepatitis B patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Based on up-to-seven criteria and Child- Pugh score, four substages of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer ( BCLC) intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) were proposed. The purpose of this study was to validate and modify this proposal. Methods Between January 2002 and February 2011, newly diagnosed intermediate HCC patients underwent transarterial embolization ( TAE) were enrolled. Patients were stratified into four ( B1- B4) substages and followed up until death or end of 2012. Patients' survivals and discriminatory ability of substaging systems were compared. Results Five-hundred and eighty patients were enrolled. There were 56.6%, 33.8%, 7.4%, and 2.2% in substage B1, B2, B3, and B4. The 5-year survival rate was 21.4%, 13.9%, 7.4%, and 7.7% with median survival time of 2.4, 1.3, 0.5, and 0.8 years ( P < 0.001). In addition to substage B1- B4, α-fetoprotein ( AFP) level was an independent factor associated with survival in multivariate analysis. According to AFP < or > 200 ng/mL, B1 was classified into B1a and B1b, and B2 into B2a and B2b. There were no differences in survivals between B1b and B2a ( P = 0.174), and B2b and B3 ( P = 0.785). Patients were re-classified into modified (m) B1 ( B1a), mB2 ( B1b + B2a), m B3 ( B2b + B3). The modified substages (m B1-m B3) showed a more desirable substaging system. Conclusions For BCLC intermediate HCC patients, substages B1- B4 were useful in predicting survival after TAE. However, modified substaging system provided better prognostic prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major modification of the 7th tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was divided into 6th stage IIIA to 7th IIIA (multiple tumors, any >5 cm) and IIIB (tumors involving a major vessel). This study aimed to validate 6th and 7th TNM systems in prognostic prediction, then analyze the impact of time, Child-Pugh classification and treatment modalities in survival. Methods: A total of 5,611 and 3,217 HCC patients were enrolled between 1986-2002 (past period) and 2003-2010 (recent period), respectively. The Akaike information criteria (AIC) within a Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to demonstrate the discriminatory ability for staging systems. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of past and recent periods were 44.8, 24.9, 17.1 %, and 65.5, 44.5, 34.6 %, respectively ( p < 0.001). Rates of smaller HCC detection and received curative treatment were significantly higher in the recent period than in the past period ( p < 0.001). Survival rates were different in each Child-Pugh class (all p < 0.001). Patients receiving curative treatment had highest survival rates, followed by non-curative treatment, and untreated patients ( p < 0.05). In both periods, significant differences in survival curves existed between each of the stages in the 6th and 7th TNM staging (all p < 0.05), and also between IIIA and IIIB in the 7th TNM ( p < 0.001). The AIC of two periods in the 6th and 7th TNM systems were decreased, with 77,895 and 77,630, and 19,162 and 19,135, respectively. Conclusion: The 7th TNM provided better prognostic prediction than the 6th TNM after dividing into IIIA and IIIB. Survival rates of HCC have been improving in recent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reported to be associated with or to cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to elucidate the role of triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) levels in the association between anti-HCV seropositivity and T2DM in an HCV-endemic area. Methods: We analyzed a computerized dataset of 56 338 residents from a community-based comprehensive screening program in Tainan County in southern Taiwan. Fasting glucose, anti-HCV status, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status, platelet counts, TG levels, CHOL levels, age, gender, and body mass index were included in the analyses. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with T2DM. Results: Older age, being overweight, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, anti-HCV seropositivity, and HBsAg seronegativity were common factors independently associated with diabetes. Among all models of multiple logistic regression analysis used for identifying factors independently associated with T2DM, anti-HCV seropositivity was only identified in the models that included either hypertriglyceridemia or hypercholesterolemia. When subjects were divided into hyperlipidemia (CHOL, > 200 or TG, > 150 mg/dL; n = 33 393) or non-hyperlipidemia subgroups (CHOL, < 200 and TG, < 150 mg/dL; n = 22 945), anti-HCV seropositivity was identified as an independent factor only in the non-hyperlipidemia subgroup. The odds ratio was 1.35, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.17-1.55. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the lipid level is associated with the relationship between T2DM and anti-HCV seropositivity in non-hyperlipidemic individuals. However, the relationship between HCV and T2DM did not exist when the lipid level was not included in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Long-term trends of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody titer and their associated factors in patients with sustained virological response (SVR) were investigated. Methods: From May 1999 to July 2005, a total of 166 SVR consecutive patients (M/F: 86/80) were enrolled. Anti-HCV titer, samples to cut-off (S/CO) ratios, were measured with AxSYM HCV version 3.0. Their S/CO ratios were followed every 6 months after SVR and the patterns over time were identified by trajectory analyses. Changes of recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) pattern before treatment and end of follow-up were compared ( n = 64). Results: The mean duration of follow-up was 4.7 ± 1.5 years (median 4.3; range 3-9 years). The rates of S/CO ratios decreased annually ( P < 0.001). Two of them (1.2%) achieved seroreversion. Trajectory groups included lower pretreatment S/CO ratios (LAB, n = 83), rapid decrease (RD, n = 62) and slow decrease (SD, n = 21) groups. Comparing LAB to RD group, odds ratio (OR) of increased platelet count per 1 unit and interferon regimen was 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.20) and 2.17 (95% CI 1.04-4.52) respectively. Comparing SD to LAB and RD groups, the OR of advanced fibrotic stage, using mild fibrotic stage as a reference, was 4.33 (95% CI 1.49-12.63). Reaction strength of all four RIBA bands decreased significantly at the end of follow-up. Conclusions: Anti-HCV titers decreased annually during long-term follow-up after SVR. Higher pretreatment platelet count, interferon regimen and mild fibrosis were associated with decreased anti-HCV titers. However, only a few cases achieved seroreversion. All RIBA bands decreased significantly after long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To evaluate the validity of predicting the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) based on the prevalence of alanine transaminase (ALT) elevation (>40IU/l), we conducted a community-based study. In total, 56698 individuals underwent health examinations in 2004. Another 43738 subjects in 2005 were the validation set. It should be valid to predict the prevalence of anti-HCV in villages (>25 participants) by the prevalence of ALT elevation. The equation was anti-HCV (%)=(% of ALT elevation – 6%)/65% (n =487 villages, R 2 =0.58). Villages with prevalence of ALT elevation >13% had a high probability of being HCV-endemic (anti-HCV >10%). The sensitivity and specificity were 73.6 and 74.6%, respectively. By the validation set, the positive and negative predictive values were 52.0% and 79.4%, respectively. Clinical and epidemiological deductions of the equation were that baseline of ALT elevation was 6% and two-thirds of anti-HCV-positive subjects had elevated ALT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study was aimed to validate the 5th and 6th editions of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and attempted to improve prognostic stratification by modifying the 6th edition according to vascular invasion and tumor size. From 1986 to 2002, a total of 5,613 HCC cases from Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in southern Taiwan were enrolled. The 6th edition was modified by dividing stage I into stages IA (single tumor, ≤2cm) and IB (single tumor, >2cm), and by dividing stage II into IIA (multiple tumors, none >5cm) and IIB (tumor with segmental macro vascular invasion). The Akaike information criteria (AIC), within a Cox proportional hazard regression model were used; lower AIC value indicated a better discriminatory ability for staging system. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival rates were 45.6, 25.9, 17.9, and 13.4%, respectively. Significant differences in survival curve existed in the 5th, 6th, and modified 6th edition TNM systems. For the modified 6th edition TNM, survival differed significantly between stages IA and IB, and between stage IIA and IIB. The AIC values of 5th (72,328), 6th (72,188), modified 6th (71,991) edition TNM system were decreasing. This investigation demonstrated better prognostic stratifications for the 6th edition than the 5th edition TNM staging system. Moreover, the modified 6th edition staging system demonstrated better prognostic prediction than the former two. Pretreatment staging and simple classification of current modified 6th edition TNM staging can be applied to all HCC patients and are clinically useful. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The murine MBT-2 bladder tumor model in syngeneic C[sub 3]H/HeN mice was used to investigate the feasibility of gene therapy based on the delivery of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in vivo by retroviral vectors. We constructed a recombinant retroviral vector pRUFneo/IFNγ, which was transfected into a retroviral packaging cell line ψCRE, to produce ψCRE/pRUFneo/IFN-γ cells. The expressions of the nee and IFN-γ genes were verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and IFN-γ was detected in the culture supernatant from ψCRE/pRUFneo/IFN-γ cells. After receiving MBT-2 cells admixed with retroviral pRUFneolFN-γ supernatant, C[sub 3]H/HeN mice exhibited lower tumor incidence, lower tumor mass, and higher survival rate, as well as higher antitumor responses compared to those injected with MBT-2 cells admixed with control retroviral supernatant. Moreover, the retroviral pRUFneolFN-γ supernatant was able to suppress the growth of rechallenged tumors in postoperated mice. Although the IFN-γ protein secreted from ψCRE/pRUFneo/IFN-γ cells partly contributes to the antitumor effect of retroviral pRUFneolFN-γ supernatant, the retroviruses carrying the IFN-γ gene transduced MBT-2 cells in vivo, which may result in enhancing local IFN-γ production from tumor cells. Because bladder is suitable for the intravesical instillation of therapeutic agents, in vivo administration of retroviral vectors encoding IFN-γ may be explored for the treatment of bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) plays a vital role in lung cancer progression. The current study explored the effect of CA9 gene polymorphisms and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations on the clinicopathological characters of lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, three loci of CA9 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs2071676 A > G, rs3829078 A > G, and rs1048638 C > A) were genotyped using the TaqMan allelic discrimination method in 193 EGFR wild type individuals and 281 EGFR mutation subjects. After adjusting for age, gender, and cigarette smoking status in logistic regression, all three CA9 SNPs illustrated a non-significant difference for the distribution between the EGFR wild type group and EGFR mutation group. Nevertheless, a significantly lower rate of CA9 SNP rs2071676 AG (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16–0.95, p = 0.039) and AG + GG (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.18–0.98, p = 0.046) were found in the male population with L858R EGFR mutation compared to men with EGFR wild type. In addition, the CA9 SNP rs2071676 AG + GG genotype were significantly correlated to the lower tumor stage of lung adenocarcinoma in the whole study population (p = 0.044) and EGFR wild type individuals (p = 0.033). For the male population, the presence of CA9 SNP rs2071676 AG + GG genotype was also correlated to a lower tumor stage (p = 0.037) and fewer lymph node invasion (p = 0.003) in those with EGFR wild type. In conclusion, the existence of CA9 SNP rs2071676 is associated with the rate of EGFR L858R mutation in males. Furthermore, the CA9 SNP rs2071676 is correlated to lower tumor stage and lower risk for developing lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, mainly in the EGFR wild type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical and electronic properties of thin films of FZO (F:ZnO = 2:98 at.%) after annealing at different temperature was investigated. The films used in this study were prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering (RF-sputtering) on Corning glass substrates. The results show that the FZO transparent conductive films made at a sputtering power of 50 W, in an Argon atmosphere 15 sccm, after 90 min of deposition at a pressure of 6 mtorr, annealed at 400 °C had the lowest electrical resistivity, and an average transmittance of 85.16% at 400 nm. XRD analysis revealed a peak of growth in the (002) direction which rose with annealing temperature indicating improved crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]