The utilization of generic drugs in medical practice has been promoted in Japan for the purpose of minimizing drug costs. In order to determine the clinical efficacy of the original preparation of glycyrrhizin, in comparison to its generic drug, a controlled longitudinal study was done of 82 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving the original preparation of glycyrrhizin for 6 months. Patients treated with the original preparation of glycyrrhizin for 6 months at two hospitals were separated into two groups for study: Patients who changed from the original preparation of glycyrrhizin to a generic drug and then changed back from the generic drug to the original preparation of glycyrrhizin (Group A, n=46) ; and, patients who were continuously treated with the original preparation of glycyrrhizin (Group B, n=36) . HCV RNA levels were serially determined by Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor assay. In Group A, the ALT level significantly elevated 3 months after switching treatment from the original preparation of glycyrrhizin to the generic drug (from 65.1 ±22.7 IU/L to 1 12.4±39.9 IU/L) (P<0.05), then significantly decreased 3 months after the change back to the original preparation of glycyrrhizin (from 112.4±39.9 IU/L to 62.1±23.0 IU/L) (P<0.05) . In Group B, however, the ALT level did not significantly change during the same observation period. The serum HCV RNA level did not significantly change in either group, even in Group A patients whose ALT levels significantly changed. The efficacy on ALT of the original preparation of glycyrrhizin and the generic drugs differed in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection causes gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric malignancies, and its eradication has been advocated by many groups. We determined the H. pylori carrier status and eradication rates of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: In total, 76 chronically HCV-infected patients were enrolled for comparison with 228 HCV-noninfected, age- and sex-matched controls. H. pylori infection was confirmed by H. pylori antibody and urea breath testing. RESULTS: The H. pylori infection rate was significantly higher for HCV-infected patients (67 of 76, 88.2%) than for HCV-noninfected controls (158 of 228, 69.3%). Endoscopic findings showed that the rates of gastric ulcers and gastritis were significantly higher for the 67 HCV-infected patients with H. pylori infection (34.3% and 77.6%) than for the 158 HCV-noninfected controls with H. pylori infection (15.2% and 57.6%). Treatment to eradicate H. pylori had a significantly higher success rate for HCV-infected patients (61 of 67, 91.0%) than for HCV-noninfected controls (115 of 158, 72.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The markedly high H. pylori eradication rate observed in this study shows that eradication of H. pylori holds promise for the improvement of the long-term health condition of patients with chronic HCV infection.
Gastritis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urea ; Viruses

Background: /Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy of ablation and surgery in solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring ≤5 cm with a large HCC cohort database. Methods: The study included consecutive 2,067 patients with solitary HCC who were treated with either ablation (n=1,248) or surgery (n=819). Th e patients were divided into three groups based on the tumor size and compared the outcomes of the two therapies using propensity score matching. Results: No significant difference in recurrence-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS) was found between surgery and ablation groups for tumors measuring ≤2 cm or >2 cm but ≤3 cm. For tumors measuring >3 cm but ≤5 cm, RFS was significantly better with surgery than with ablation (3.6 and 2.0 years, respectively, P=0.0297). However, no significant difference in OS was found between surgery and ablation in this group (6.7 and 6.0 years, respectively, P=0.668). Conclusion The study suggests that surgery and ablation can be equally used as a treatment for solitary HCC no more than 3 cm in diameter. For HCCs measuring 3-5 cm, the OS was not different between therapies; thus, ablation and less invasive therapy can be considered a treatment option; however, special caution should be taken to prevent recurrence.