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Background Post-operative recurrence rates are high for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to explore the factors associated with post-operative 1-year recurrence rate in patients with HBV-related HCC who had a single small primary tumor (≤3 cm in diameter). Methods This was a retrospective study of 203 (training cohort) and 64 (validation cohort) patients newly diagnosed with HBV-related HCC who had a single small primary tumor. The first year of post-operative follow-up was examined. Factors potentially associated with HCC recurrence were identified using Cox regression analyses. A model was constructed based on the factors identified and the prognostic value of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and calculation of the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results A history of alcoholism and serum levels of α-fetoprotein, total protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were independently associated with 1-year recurrence rate after surgery. A predictive model based on these four factors had an AUC of 0.711 (95% confidence interval, 0.643–0.772) in the training cohort and 0.727 (95% confidence interval, 0.601–0.831) in the validation cohort. The 1-year recurrence rate was significantly lower in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group in both the training cohort (17.0% vs. 49.5%, P  <   0.001) and the validation cohort (43.2% vs. 74.1%, P  =   0.031). Conclusion A history of alcoholism and serum levels of α-fetoprotein, total protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were independently associated with post-operative 1-year recurrence rate in patients with HBV-related HCC who had a single small primary tumor (≤3 cm in diameter). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods. Sixty-four pSS subjects and 108 non-pSS patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Serum anti-alpha-fodrin IgA and IgG were detected by ELISA in a blind fashion. The diagnostic accuracy of anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Logistic regression was used to investigate whether anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies could improve the accuracy of pSS diagnosis if used in addition to anti-SSA and anti-SSB. Results. The areas under the ROC curves for anti-alpha-fodrin IgG and IgA were 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.77) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.54-0.72), respectively ( P < 0.01 for both). The optimal diagnostic thresholds for anti-fodrin IgG and IgA were 11.75 U/ml and 9.75 U/ml, respectively, with a sensitivity of 0.59 and 0.55, and a specificity of 0.75 and 0.73, respectively. Anti-alpha-fodrin IgG and IgA antibodies were associated with pSS after adjustment for anti-SSA and anti-SSB. Conclusions. Anti-alpha-fodrin IgG and IgA antibodies are useful diagnostic markers which may improve the accuracy of pSS diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]