Hepato Gastroenterol
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Hepato Gastroenterol · Jun 2013
ReviewValue of serum procalcitonin levels in predicting spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening disease that poses a great diagnostic challenge to clinicians. We aimed to systemically and quantitatively summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic value of the procalcitonin (PCT) test in identifying SBP. ⋯ The existing literature suggests moderate to high accuracy for PCT as a diagnostic aid for SBP. However, larger, appropriately designed prospective studies are needed to conclusively address the value of serum PCT testing in SBP diagnosis.
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Hepato Gastroenterol · Jun 2013
Influence of etiology on host immunity in liver cirrhosis patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving intra-arterial chemotherapy.
We have shown that continuous intra-arterial combination chemotherapy (IACC) might be more effective for advanced HCC (aHCC) in patients with HCV-related (C-LC) or alcoholic (A-LC) liver cirrhosis (LC) patients than in patients with HBV-related LC (B-LC). This study retrospectively assesses the difference of etiology on host immunity in LC patients with aHCC treated by IACC. ⋯ These results indicate that IACC was more effective for aHCC in A-LC patients with normal Th1/Th2 balance and in C-LC patients without Th2 dominance than in B-LC patients who showed Th2 dominance after chemotherapy.