Hepatitis: Chang JY

Chang KY, Chang JY, Yen Y. · National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institute, Taiwan. · J Natl Compr Canc Netw. · Pubmed #19406042 No free full text.

Abstract: Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver tumor after hepatocellular carcinoma. Because the incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is rising in most areas worldwide, identification of the main causes of this problem is urgently needed. Despite well-known risk factors in the development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, recent reports focus on chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections because an increasing number of studies have observed an association. The relationship, however, is still not conclusive because of the diversity in clinical reports and the lack of in vitro evidences. This issue should be emphasized and further investigation is required for clarification.

Shiah HS, Chao Y, Chen LT, Yao TJ, Huang JD, Chang JY, Chen PJ, Chuang TR, Chin YH, Whang-Peng J, Liu TW. · Division of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Ward 191 Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, and Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC. · Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. · Pubmed #16520988 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and pharmacokinetics of thalidomide in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Patients with advanced HCC who were not feasible for definitive local therapy were eligible. Patients were enrolled in a cohort of three to receive thalidomide twice daily for 1 week to determine the MTD. Intra-patient dose escalation was permitted. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed at the first dose level and repeated at the second dose level of each patient. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were accrued at four dose levels with the starting dose range 100-400 mg/day. Two patients at 400 mg/day experienced DLT (grade 3 angioedema and dyspnea, respectively). The MTD of twice-daily schedule was determined as 300 mg/day. The mean steady-state maximal blood concentration and mean steady-state area under the curve had a trend toward positive correlation, but non-linear proportionate, to the daily dose of thalidomide. Pharmacokinetic parameters are comparable for patients of Child-Pugh's A and B. Apparent mild, transient drug-induced transaminitis was early onset, self-limited, which occurred in 30.7% of patients. Serum hepatitis B or C viral titers was largely not affected. CONCLUSION: The absorption and elimination of thalidomide are not significantly different in HCC patients with compensated or decompensated hepatic dysfunction.

Chang JY, Chiang CP, Hsiao CK, Sun A. · School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. · J Oral Pathol Med. · Pubmed #18764857 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown the presence of serum anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-smooth muscle (SMA), anti-mitochondrial (AMA), anti-gastric parietal cell (GPCA), anti-thyroglobulin (TGA) and anti-thyroid microsomal autoantibodies (TMA) in small groups of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP). METHODS: In this study, the serum levels of ANA, SMA, AMA, GPCA, TGA and TMA were measured in a group of 320 Chinese OLP patients and 53 healthy control subjects to assess whether Chinese OLP patients had significantly higher frequencies of serum autoantibodies than healthy control subjects and to assess which risk factors had a significant influence on the possession of a specific serum autoantibody in OLP patients. RESULTS: We found that autoantibodies were present in 195 (60.9%) of the 320 OLP patients. The frequencies of presence of serum ANA (28.1%), GPCA (26.3%), TGA (21.3%) and TMA (24.4%) in OLP patients were significantly higher than those (5.7%, 1.9%, 1.9% and 1.9%, respectively) in healthy control subjects (all P-values were < 0.005). Forty-one (12.8%) OLP patients also had anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVA) in their sera. The multivariate logistic regression found that major erosive OLP (EOLP) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.786], TGA/TMA-positivity (OR = 2.517), and HCVA-positivity (OR = 2.214) were significant risk factors to influence ANA-positivity in OLP patients. Moreover, only major EOLP (OR = 1.879) and ANA-positivity (OR = 2.581) were significant risk factors to influence TGA/TMA-positivity in OLP patients. CONCLUSIONS: There are significantly higher frequencies of presence of ANA, GPCA, TGA and TMA in Chinese OLP patients than in healthy control subjects.