AIM: To determine the changes of quantitative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) that predicts early detection of non- response or breakthrough to long-term lamivudine (LAM) therapy.METHODS: Among HBeAg positive chronic he...AIM: To determine the changes of quantitative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) that predicts early detection of non- response or breakthrough to long-term lamivudine (LAM) therapy.METHODS: Among HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients who failed to achieve HBeAg seroconversion within 12 mo, we retrospectively analyzed 220 patients who had received LAM more than 24 mo. RESULTS: The mean duration of LAM therapy was 36 (range, 24-72) mo. HBeAg seroconversion after the first 12 mo of LAM therapy was achieved in 53 (24.1%) patients. Viral breakthrough was observed in 105 (47.7%) patients. To find out whether the changing patterns of HBeAg levels can predict the outcome of LAM therapy, we analyzed the reduction rates of HBeAg levels during LAM therapy. Using the decrease more than 90% of pretreatment HBeAg levels, the sensitivity and specificity of response were 96.2% and 70.1%, respectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the reduction patterns of the decrease of quantitative HBeAg: decrescendo, decrescendo-crescendo, no change or fluctuating groups. The optimal time to predict non- response or breakthrough was the first 9 mo of therapy. At 9 mo of therapy, 49 (92.5%) of 53 patients who had achieved HBeAg seroconversion were included in the decrescendo group. On the contrary, in the no change or fluctuating group, only four (7.5%) had achieved HBeAg seroconversion. Among patients who did not show the continuous decrease of HBeAg levels at 9 mo, 95.2% (negative predictive value) failed to achieve HBeAg seroconversion.CONCLUSION: Almost all patients who failed to showa continuous decrease of HBeAg levels at 9 mo of LAM therapy were non-response or breakthrough. Therefore, monitoring changes of HBeAg levels during LAM therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B may be valuable for identifying patients who are at high risk of non-response or breakthrough.展开更多
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) represents the most common kind of mesenchymal tumor that arises from the alimentary tract. GIST is currently defined as a gastrointestinal tract mesenchymal tumor showing CD117 (...Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) represents the most common kind of mesenchymal tumor that arises from the alimentary tract. GIST is currently defined as a gastrointestinal tract mesenchymal tumor showing CD117 (c-kit protein) positivity at immunohistochemistry. Throughout the whole length of the gastrointestinal tract, GIST arises most commonly from the stomach followed by the small intestine, the colorectum, and the esophagus. Only 3%-5% of GISTs occur in the duodenum, and especially, if GIST arises from the C loop of the duodenum, it can be difficult to differentiate from the pancreas head mass because of its anatomical proximity. Here, we report a case of duodenal GIST, which was assessed as a pancreatic head tumor preoperatively.展开更多
文摘AIM: To determine the changes of quantitative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) that predicts early detection of non- response or breakthrough to long-term lamivudine (LAM) therapy.METHODS: Among HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients who failed to achieve HBeAg seroconversion within 12 mo, we retrospectively analyzed 220 patients who had received LAM more than 24 mo. RESULTS: The mean duration of LAM therapy was 36 (range, 24-72) mo. HBeAg seroconversion after the first 12 mo of LAM therapy was achieved in 53 (24.1%) patients. Viral breakthrough was observed in 105 (47.7%) patients. To find out whether the changing patterns of HBeAg levels can predict the outcome of LAM therapy, we analyzed the reduction rates of HBeAg levels during LAM therapy. Using the decrease more than 90% of pretreatment HBeAg levels, the sensitivity and specificity of response were 96.2% and 70.1%, respectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the reduction patterns of the decrease of quantitative HBeAg: decrescendo, decrescendo-crescendo, no change or fluctuating groups. The optimal time to predict non- response or breakthrough was the first 9 mo of therapy. At 9 mo of therapy, 49 (92.5%) of 53 patients who had achieved HBeAg seroconversion were included in the decrescendo group. On the contrary, in the no change or fluctuating group, only four (7.5%) had achieved HBeAg seroconversion. Among patients who did not show the continuous decrease of HBeAg levels at 9 mo, 95.2% (negative predictive value) failed to achieve HBeAg seroconversion.CONCLUSION: Almost all patients who failed to showa continuous decrease of HBeAg levels at 9 mo of LAM therapy were non-response or breakthrough. Therefore, monitoring changes of HBeAg levels during LAM therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B may be valuable for identifying patients who are at high risk of non-response or breakthrough.
文摘Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) represents the most common kind of mesenchymal tumor that arises from the alimentary tract. GIST is currently defined as a gastrointestinal tract mesenchymal tumor showing CD117 (c-kit protein) positivity at immunohistochemistry. Throughout the whole length of the gastrointestinal tract, GIST arises most commonly from the stomach followed by the small intestine, the colorectum, and the esophagus. Only 3%-5% of GISTs occur in the duodenum, and especially, if GIST arises from the C loop of the duodenum, it can be difficult to differentiate from the pancreas head mass because of its anatomical proximity. Here, we report a case of duodenal GIST, which was assessed as a pancreatic head tumor preoperatively.
