Blockade of angiotensin II modulates insulin-like growth factor 1-mediated skeletal muscle homeostasis in experimental steatohepatitis

New research progress of sarcopenia in surgically resectable malignant tumor diseases

With the aging global population, the decline in muscle mass and function among the elderly has emerged as a significant concern. This systemic progressive generalized loss of muscle function and mass is referred to as sarcopenia (SP). In recent years, a growing number of studies have investigated SP, revealing that many tumor diseases, especially in the digestive system, promote its occurrence due to the influence of the disease itself, diet, and other factors. Moreover, SP patients tend to have poorer postoperative recovery. At present, many diagnostic methods have been developed for SP, but no unified standard has been established. Furthermore, the cutoff values of many diagnostic methods for different populations are still in the exploratory stage, and additional clinical studies are required to explore these issues. This article comprehensively and systematically summarizes the diagnostic methods and criteria mentioned in previous research, focusing on the impact of SP on post-surgical patients with various malignant tumors.

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidases and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by lipid accumulation in the liver due to an excess in their supplies or an impairment in their management. While some patients remain stable for years, a proportion of them progress up to steatohepatitis (MASH). MASLD links with systemic pathways being associated with metabolic and non-metabolic diseases. Although liver lipid accumulation represents the first hit for MASLD, the pathophysiology of its development and progression to MASH remains not completely understood. Oxidative stress has received particular attention in recent years, as most of the oxidative process occurs in the liver, which is also the target of oxidative stress-induced damage. Growing evidence linked the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (NOX) to the increased liver production of reactive oxygen species up to liver damage and fibrosis. NOX acts both in hepatocytes and in non-parenchymal hepatic cells, contributing to hepatocyte lipotoxicity, impaired hepatic microcirculation, hepatic stellate, and mesenchymal stem cells activation and proliferation. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the involvement of oxidative stress in the MASLD-MASH transition, focusing on the role of NOX isoforms, and to suggest targeting NOX as a therapeutic approach in MASLD.

GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of diabetic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients

INTRODUCTION

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic disease affecting almost 30% of the world population. Approximately 25% of people with NAFLD develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the fulminant version of the disease. Diabetes mellitus is present in 22.5% of people with NAFLD and 44.60% of individuals with NASH. This review was undertaken to examine the current contribution of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to the pharmacotherapy of diabetic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

AREAS COVERED

The author analyzed the current status of GLP-1 receptor agonists for pharmacotherapy of diabetic NASH. Research data and literature reports were taken from the database and or websites of Diabetes UK, American Diabetes Association, ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, and Scopus. The keywords utilized included type 2 diabetes, GLP-1, NASH, NAFLD, and clinical trials.

EXPERT OPINION

Since diabetic NASH is associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, oxidative stress and inflammation, drugs capable of mitigating all of these conditions simultaneously, are most ideal for the treatment of diabetic NASH. These drugs include (in order of relevance), GLP-1 receptor agonists, GLP-1 and GIP dual receptor agonists, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and pioglitazone. The future, FDA-approved drug for diabetic NASH treatment will likely be GLP-1 agonist, which could be used as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs.