OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively compare treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using gelatin sponges or microspheres plus lipiodol-doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin-loaded drug-eluting beads (DEB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 158 patients with HCC received TACE from November 2010 to November 2011 were enrolled in this study, including 64 (40.5%) received TACE with lipiodol-doxorubicin and gelatin sponges (group A), 41 (25.9%) received TACE with lipiodol-doxorubicin and microspheres (group B), and 53 (33.5%) received TACE with doxorubicin-loaded DEB (group C). Tumor response and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. RESULTS: No significant difference was found at baseline among the three groups. The doxorubicin dosage in group C was significantly (p < 0.001) higher compared to the dose used in groups A or B (median, 50 mg vs. 31 mg or 25 mg). Significantly (p < 0.001) more patients in group C achieved complete response compared to those in groups A or B (32.1% vs. 6.3% or 2.4%). Significantly (p < 0.001) less patients in group C had progressive disease compared to those in groups A or B (34.0% vs. 57.8% or 68.3%). Minor AEs were more common in groups A and B compared to group C, with rates of 54.7%, 34.1%, and 5.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with HCC, TACE with DEB offers better safety and efficacy profiles compared to either TACE with gelatin sponges or TACE with microspheres.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy/mortality ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Drug Carriers/*chemistry ; Ethiodized Oil/chemistry ; Female ; Fever/etiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin/chemistry ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality ; Male ; Microspheres ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDEstrogen deficiency results in loss of bone mass. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived non-steroidal compounds with estrogen-like activity that bind to estrogen receptors. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the phytoestrogen puerarin on adult mouse osteoblasts.

METHODSOsteoblast cells were harvested from 8-month old female imprinting control region (ICR) mice. The effects of puerarin stimulation on the proliferation, differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts were examined. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), SMAD4, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), core binding factor α1/ runt-related transcription factor 2 (Cbfa1/Runx2), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) genes were analyzed. The activation of signal pathways was further confirmed by specific pathway inhibitors.

RESULTSThe osteoblast viability reached its maximum at 10(-8) mol/L puerarin. At this concentration, puerarin increases the proliferation and matrix mineralization of osteoblasts and promotes NO synthesis. With 10(-8) mol/L puerarin treatment, BMP-2, SMAD4, Cbfa1/Runx2, and OPG gene expression were up-regulated, while the RANKL gene expression is down-regulated. Concurrent treatment involving the (bone morphogenetic protein) BMP antagonist Noggin or the NOS inhibitor L-NAME diminishes puerarin induced cell proliferation, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, NO production, as well as the BMP-2, SMAD4, Cbfa1/Runx2, OPG, and RANKL gene expression.

CONCLUSIONSIn this in vitro study, we demonstrate that puerarin is a bone anabolic agent that exerts its osteogenic effects through the induction of BMP-2 and NO synthesis, subsequently regulating Cbfa1/Runx2, OPG, and RANKL gene expression. This effect may contribute to its induction of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, resulting in bone formation.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; RANK Ligand ; genetics

Background/Aims: Data on treatment efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Asian patients with severe renal impairment are limited. This study aimed to study the treatment and side effects of GLE/PIB in these patients infected with non-1 genotype (GT) HCV. Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with Child’s A cirrhosis and eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 in Hong Kong and Taiwan during 2017–2018 to receive GLE/PIB treatment. Results: Twenty-one patients (GT2, n=7; GT3, n=6; and GT6, n=8) received GLE/PIB for 11.2±1.8 weeks. All except one were treatment-naïve. GLE/PIB was initiated in 16 patients while on dialysis (seven on peritoneal dialysis [PD] and nine on hemodialysis) and in five patients before dialysis. One patient died of PD-related peritonitis during treatment and two were lost to follow up. The SVR12 rate in the remaining 18 patients was 100%. All patients achieved undetectable levels at 4-, 12-, 24- and 48-week after treatment. Patients with deranged alanine aminotransferase showed normalization after 4 weeks and the response was sustained for 48 weeks. No significant adverse event was observed. Conclusions GLE/PIB treatment was associated with high efficacy and tolerability in HCV-infected patients with severe renal impairment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Transplantation ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult