The changing epidemiology of liver diseases in the Asia-Pacific region

Steatotic liver disease among lean and non-lean individuals in Southern Lao PDR: a cross-sectional study of risk factors

BACKGROUND

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) prevalence is rising worldwide, linked to insulin resistance and obesity. SLD prevalence can surpass 10% even among those with normal weight. In Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), where Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) trematode infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common, infection related liver morbidity such as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is high, but data on SLD prevalence is lacking. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and explore determinants of SLD in rural southern Lao PDR for lean and non-lean populations.

METHOD

A cross-sectional community-based study assessed SLD prevalence using abdominal ultrasonography (US). Factors investigated for association with SLD were identified by interview, serological tests (Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); lipids and HbA1c), anthropometrical measurements, and parasitological assessments (OV infection). Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses with SLD as endpoint were conducted separately for lean (body mass index (BMI) <23.0 kg/m2) and non-lean (BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m2) participants.

RESULT

2,826 participants were included. SLD prevalence was 27.1% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 24.0%-30.4%), higher among non-lean (39.8%) than lean individuals (17.4%). Lean individuals with OV infection had a statistically significant association with lower odds of SLD (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.49, 95% CI 0.33 - 0.73). T2DM showed a significant positive association with SLD in both lean (aOR 3.58, 95% CI 2.28 - 5.63) and non-lean individuals (aOR 3.31, 95% CI 2.31 - 4.74) while dyslipidemia was significantly associated only in the non-lean group (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.09 - 3.07). Females participants exhibited elevated odds of SLD in both lean (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.02 - 2.01) and non-lean SLD (aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.12 - 2.01).

CONCLUSION

SLD prevalence is notably high among Laotian adults in rural areas, particularly in females and in non-lean individuals. Lean individuals with OV infection exhibited lower SLD prevalence. SLD was more prevalent in individuals with T2DM, independent of BMI. SLD adds to the burden of infection-related liver morbidity in Lao PDR.

The prognostic value of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Studies have suggested that vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) is a strong predictor of prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Overall survival (OS) and tumor efficacy (TE) were two outcome measures used to evaluate the relationship between VETC and HCC prognosis. Hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies with 4429 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that VETC was significantly associated with both OS (HR 2.00; 95% CI 1.64-2.45) and TE (HR 1.70; 95% CI 1.44-1.99) in HCC patients. Furthermore, recurrence-free survival (RFS) was a stronger indicator of tumor efficacy (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.44-2.07) than disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 1.69; 95% CI 1.22-2.35). This suggests that VETC-positive HCC has a higher risk of recurrence and a lower survival rate.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that VETC is a significant predictor of overall survival and tumor efficacy in HCC patients and may be a valid prognostic indicator.

Analysis of host factor networks during hepatitis B virus infection in primary human hepatocytes

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects around 250 million people worldwide, causing approximately 887,000 deaths annually, primarily owing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current approved treatments for chronic HBV infection, such as interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogs, have certain limitations as they cannot completely eradicate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Considering that HBV replication relies on host transcription factors, focusing on host factors in the HBV genome may provide insights into new therapeutic targets against HBV. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and hepatocyte pathogenesis, along with the associated host factors, is crucial. In this study, we investigated novel therapeutic targets for HBV infection by identifying gene and pathway networks involved in HBV replication in primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). Importantly, our study utilized cultured primary hepatocytes, allowing transcriptomic profiling in a biologically relevant context and enabling the investigation of early HBV-mediated effects.

METHODS

PHHs were infected with HBV virion particles derived from HepAD38 cells at 80 HBV genome equivalents per cell (Geq/cell). For transcriptomic sequencing, PHHs were harvested 1, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7 days post-infection (dpi). After preparing the libraries, clustering and sequencing were conducted to generate RNA-sequencing data. This data was processed using Bioinformatics tools and software to analyze DEGs and obtain statistically significant results. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to validate the RNA-sequencing results, ensuring consistent findings.

RESULTS

We observed significant alterations in the expression patterns of 149 genes from days 1 to 7 following HBV infection (R2 > 0.7, q < 0.05). Functional analysis of these genes identified RNA-binding proteins involved in mRNA metabolism and the regulation of alternative splicing during HBV infection. Results from qRT-PCR experiments and the analysis of two validation datasets suggest that RBM14 and RPL28 may serve as potential biomarkers for HBV-associated HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcriptome analysis of gene expression changes during HBV infection in PHHs provided valuable insights into chronic HBV infection. Additionally, understanding the functional involvement of host factor networks in the molecular mechanisms of HBV replication and transcription may facilitate the development of novel strategies for HBV treatment.

Long-term outcomes following hepatectomy in patients with lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma versus overweight and obese counterparts: A multicenter analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

With the rising prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a significant etiology for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), lean NAFLD-HCC has emerged as a specific distinct subtype. This study sought to investigate long-term outcomes following curative-intent hepatectomy for early-stage NAFLD-HCC among lean patients compared with overweight and obese individuals.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective analysis was used to assess early-stage NAFLD-HCC patients undergoing curative-intent hepatectomy between 2009 and 2022. Patients were stratified by preoperative body mass index (BMI) into the lean (<23.0 kg/m2), overweight (23.0-27.4 kg/m2) and obese (≥27.5 kg/m2) groups. Study endpoints were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), which were compared among groups.

RESULTS

Among 309 patients with NAFLD-HCC, 66 (21.3 %), 176 (57.0 %), and 67 (21.7 %) were lean, overweight, and obese, respectively. The three groups were similar relative to most liver, tumor, and surgery-related variables. Compared with overweight patients (71.3 % and 55.6 %), the lean individuals had a worse 5-year OS and RFS (55.4 % and 35.1 %, P = 0.017 and 0.002, respectively), which were comparable to obese patients (48.5 % and 38.2 %, P = 0.939 and 0.442, respectively). After adjustment for confounding factors, multivariable Cox-regression analysis identified that lean bodyweight was independently associated with decreased OS (hazard ratio: 1.69; 95 % confidence interval: 1.06-2.71; P = 0.029) and RFS (hazard ratio: 1.72; 95 % confidence interval: 1.17-2.52; P = 0.006) following curative-intent hepatectomy for early-stage NAFLD-HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with overweight patients, individuals with lean NAFLD-HCC had inferior long-term oncological survival after hepatectomy for early-stage NAFLD-HCC. These data highlight the need for examination of the distinct carcinogenic pathways of lean NAFLD-HCC and its potential consequences in HCC recurrence.

Fetuin-A: a relevant novel serum biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a retrospective case-control study

OBJECTIVES

To determine how fetuin-A contributes to diagnosing and assessing MASLD severity.

METHODS

Fifty MASLD patients and fifty healthy control participants were involved in this retrospective case-control research. Abdominal ultrasonography, fibroscan with controlled attenuated parameter scan (CAP scan), laboratory investigation (including fetuin-A assessment), clinical examination, and history-taking were performed on every case.

RESULTS

Fetuin-A level was considerably higher in the Cases group (1154.85 ± 629.89) than in the Control group (505.29 ± 150.4) (p < 0.001). Fetuin-A had significant validity in the prediction of MASLD at a cut-off > 702.5 with 82% sensitivity, 90% specificity, and 86% overall accuracy.

CONCLUSION

One possible marker for MASLD diagnosis could be fetuin-A. Furthermore, a substantial association between such marker and the severity of the disease as it revealed a significant correlation with ultrasound grading and fibroscan with controlled attenuated parameters. Trial registration 1- Pan African Clinical Trial Registry. Unique Identifying number/registration ID: PACTR202309644280965. URL: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=26860 . Registration Approval date: 21/09/2023. 2- ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique Identifying number /registration ID: NCT06097039. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06097039?cond=NCT06097039&rank=1 . Registration Approval date: 25/10/2023.

Hepatitis B virus X protein promotes tumor glycolysis by downregulating lncRNA OIP5-AS1/HKDC1 in HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection being the leading cause. This study aims to investigate the role of HBV in HCC pathogenesis involving glucose metabolism. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) OIP5-AS1 was significantly downregulated in HBV-positive HCC patients, and its low expression indicated a poor prognosis. This lncRNA was primarily localized in the cytoplasm, acting as a tumor suppressor. HBV protein X (HBx) repressed OIP5-AS1 expression by inhibiting a ligand-activated transcriptional factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). Furthermore, mechanistic studies revealed that OIP5-AS1 inhibited tumor growth by suppressing Hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1)-mediated glycolysis. The expression of HKDC1 could be enhanced by transcriptional factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1). OIP5-AS1 facilitated the ubiquitination and degradation of SREBP1 to suppress HKDC1 transcription, which inhibited glycolysis. The results suggest that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 plays an anti-oncogenic role in HBV-positive HCC via the HBx/OIP5-AS1/HKDC1 axis, providing a promising diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for HBV-positive HCC patients.

Lipid nanoparticles as the drug carrier for targeted therapy of hepatic disorders

The liver, a complex and vital organ in the human body, is susceptible to various diseases, including metabolic disorders, acute hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent decades, these diseases have significantly contributed to global morbidity and mortality. Currently, liver transplantation remains the most effective treatment for hepatic disorders. Nucleic acid therapeutics offer a selective approach to disease treatment through diverse mechanisms, enabling the regulation of relevant genes and providing a novel therapeutic avenue for hepatic disorders. It is expected that nucleic acid drugs will emerge as the third generation of pharmaceuticals, succeeding small molecule drugs and antibody drugs. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent a crucial technology in the field of drug delivery and constitute a significant advancement in gene therapies. Nucleic acids encapsulated in LNPs are shielded from the degradation of enzymes and effectively delivered to cells, where they are released and regulate specific genes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the structure, composition, and applications of LNPs in the treatment of hepatic disorders and offers insights into prospects and challenges in the future development of LNPs.

Trends in Mortality Related to Hepatitis B and C from 1990 to 2019 in the Western Pacific Region

Background/Aims

: This study aimed to analyze the trends in mortality attributed to hepatitis B and C around the Western Pacific region from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

: We used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study for a systematic analysis. The deaths related to hepatitis B and C were analyzed by age, sex, year, risk factors, geographical location, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI).

Results

: From 1990 to 2019, the annual total deaths from hepatitis B decreased from 0.266 to 0.210 million and those from hepatitis C increased from 0.119 to 0.142 million in the Western Pacific region. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of hepatitis B and C decreased by 63.5% and 48.0%, respectively. The declines in the ASMR related to hepatitis B and C were only detected in 12 and two Western Pacific countries, respectively. As the major risk factors, the contribution of alcohol use to hepatitis B deaths was 52% and drug use to hepatitis C was 80%. In males and females, the ASMR attributed to hepatitis B decreased by 61% and 71%, respectively, and the ASMR attributed to hepatitis C decreased by 43% and 55%, respectively. The association between SDI and ASMRs suggested that hepatitis B and C, respectively, showed an overall decline and stable trends as the SDI improved in the Western Pacific region.

Conclusions

: Although the mortality rate from hepatitis B and C decreased from 1990 to 2019, notable variation was observed among 27 Western Pacific countries. Efforts targeting hepatitis B and C prevention and treatment are still required in this region, especially for the pandemic countries.

Network pharmacology-based analysis on the key mechanisms of Yiguanjian acting on chronic hepatitis

Chronic hepatitis (CH) encompasses a prevalent array of liver conditions that significantly contribute to global morbidity and mortality. Yiguanjian (YGJ) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of medicinal as a treatment for CH. Although it has been reported that YGJ can reduce liver inflammation, the intricate mechanism requires further elucidation. We used network pharmacology approaches in this work, such as gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, and network-based analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPIs), to clarify the pharmacological constituents, potential therapeutic targets, and YGJ signaling pathways associated with CH. Employing the random walk restart (RWR) algorithm, we identified GNAS, GNB1, CYP2E1, SFTPC, F2, MAPK3, PLG, SRC, HDAC1, and STAT3 as pivotal targets within the PPI network of YGJ-CH. YGJ attenuated liver inflammation and inhibited GNAS/STAT3 signaling in vivo. In vitro, we overexpressed the GNAS gene further to verify the critical role of GNAS in YGJ treatment. Our findings highlight GNAS/STAT3 as a promising therapeutic target for CH, providing a basis and direction for future investigations.

Impact of fine particulate matter on liver injury: evidence from human, mice and cells

BACKGROUND

A recently discovered risk factor for chronic liver disease is ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Our research aims to elucidate the effects of PM2.5 on liver injury and the potential molecular mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A population-based longitudinal study involving 102,918 participants from 15 Chinese cities, using linear mixed-effect models, found that abnormal alterations in liver function were significantly associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, direct bilirubin, and triglyceride increased by 2.05%, 2.04%, 0.58%, 2.99%, and 1.46% with each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5. In contrast, the serum levels of total protein, albumin, and prealbumin decreased by 0.27%, 0.48%, and 2.42%, respectively. Mice underwent chronic inhalation exposure to PM2.5 experienced hepatic inflammation, steatosis and fibrosis. In vitro experiments found that hepatocytes experienced an inflammatory response and lipid metabolic dysregulation due to PM2.5, which also activated hepatic stellate cells. The down-regulation and mis-localization of polarity protein Par3 mediated PM2.5-induced liver injury.

CONCLUSIONS

PM2.5 exposure induced liver injury, mainly characterized by steatosis and fibrosis. The down-regulation and mis-localization of Par3 were important mechanisms of liver injury induced by PM2.5.

Long-term Risks of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Across Steatotic Liver Disease Subtypes

INTRODUCTION

The prospective study aimed to investigate the long-term associated risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) across various subtypes of steatotic liver disease (SLD).

METHODS

We enrolled 332,175 adults who participated in a health screening program between 1997 and 2013. Participants were categorized into various subtypes, including metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD), MASLD with excessive alcohol consumption (MetALD), and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), based on ultrasonography findings, alcohol consumption patterns, and cardiometabolic risk factors. We used computerized data linkage with nationwide registries from 1997 to 2019 to ascertain the incidence of cirrhosis and HCC.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 16 years, 4,458 cases of cirrhosis and 1,392 cases of HCC occurred in the entire cohort, resulting in an incidence rate of 86.1 and 26.8 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The ALD group exhibited the highest incidence rate for cirrhosis and HCC, followed by MetALD, MASLD, and non-SLD groups. The multivariate adjusted hazard ratios for HCC were 1.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-2.44), 2.91 (95% CI 2.11-4.03), and 2.59 (95% CI 1.93-3.48) for MASLD, MetALD, and ALD, respectively, when compared with non-SLD without cardiometabolic risk factors. The pattern of the associated risk of cirrhosis was similar to that of HCC (all P value <0.001). The associated risk of cirrhosis for ALD increased to 4.74 (95% CI 4.08-5.52) when using non-SLD without cardiometabolic risk factors as a reference.

DISCUSSION

This study highlights elevated risks of cirrhosis and HCC across various subtypes of SLD compared with non-SLD, emphasizing the importance of behavioral modifications for early prevention.

Nanoplastics and chrysene pollution: Potential new triggers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis, insights from juvenile Siniperca chuatsi

Nanopolystyrene (NP) and chrysene (CHR) are ubiquitous contaminants in the natural environment; however, research on their hepatotoxicity and associated adverse effects remains relatively inadequate. The present study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of NP and/or CHR at environmentally relevant concentrations, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms, in juvenile Siniperca chuatsi (mandarin fish). After a 21-day exposure period, the livers of exposed S. chuatsi exhibited macrostructural and microstructural damage accompanied by oxidative stress. Importantly, our study provides the first evidence that NP exposure leads to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatitis in S. chuatsi. Similarly, CHR exposure has also been found, for the first time, to cause hepatic sinusoidal dilatation (HSD) and hepatitis. Exposure to the combination of NP and CHR alleviated the symptoms of NAFLD, HSD, and hepatitis. Furthermore, our comprehensive multi-omic analysis revealed that the pathogenesis of NP-induced NAFLD was mainly due to induction of the triglyceride synthesis pathway and inhibition of the very-low-density lipoprotein secretion process. CHR induced HSD primarily through a reduction in vasoprotective ability and smooth muscle contractility. Hepatitis was induced by activation of the JAK-STAT/NF-kappa B signaling pathways, which upregulated the expression of inflammation-specific genes. Collectively, results of this study offer novel insight into the multiple hepatotoxicity endpoints of NP and/or CHR exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations in organisms, and highlight the importance of nanoplastic/CHR pollution for liver health.

Global, regional, and national burden and trends analysis of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer from 1990 to 2019 and predictions to 2030: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Objectives

Our aim was to explore the disease burden caused by gallbladder and biliary tract cancer globally, regionally, and nationally, by age and sex.

Methods

The absolute number of cases and age-standardized rates (ASR) of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to gallbladder and biliary tract cancer were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. We estimated the trends in disease burden by calculating the percentage change in the absolute number of cases and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in ASR, by social development index (SDI), region, nation, sex, and age.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, the number of incident cases, prevalent cases, deaths, and DALYs worldwide significantly increased by 1.85-fold, 1.92-fold, 1.82-fold, and 1.68-fold, respectively. However, the age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs tend to decrease globally over time. Nevertheless, heterogeneous disease burden patterns exist between geographic regions due to different geographical risk factors, distinct epidemiologically predominant gallbladder and biliary tract cancer subtypes, and potential genetic predispositions or ethnicity. Additionally, socioeconomic status mediates the regional variation in disease burden, with increasing SDI or HDI scores associated with downward trends in the age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs. Older individuals and females are at higher risk of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, but the increasing burden of early-onset gallbladder and biliary tract cancer is a cause for concern, especially for those living in lower SDI areas and males. High BMI is the primary risk factors underlying gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, accounted for 15.2% of deaths and 15.7% DALYs globally in 2019.

Conclusion

Our study comprehensively elucidated the distribution and dynamic trends of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer burden over the past three decades, from multiple dimensions. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle as a population-level cancer prevention strategy and tailoring cancer control actions based on localized risk factors and the epidemic profiles of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer by anatomical subtype.

Editorial: The tsunami of steatotic liver disease in India, the Asia-Pacific region and the world

This article is linked to Prabhakar et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17892 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17921

High prevalence of MAFLD in general population: A large cross-sectional study calls for concerted public health action

BACKGROUND

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a relatively new term with limited studies done in South Asian population.

AIM

To determine prevalence and clinico-epidemiological characteristics of MAFLD in general population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected regions across Delhi, India. Data were collected on socio-demographic particulars, health status and lifestyle factors. Anthropometric measurements, transient elastography, and laboratory investigations were carried out.

RESULTS

Altogether 6146 participants (mean age: 43.1 ± 13.9 years, 48.1% males) were included. The prevalence of MAFLD was 56.4% (n = 3468), of which lean MAFLD constituted 11.3%. Higher age (OR: 2.47; 95% CI: 2.21-2.76), low education level (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.09-1.39), upper socio-economic class (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.17-1.49), and low physical activity (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.03-1.28) were more common in MAFLD. The association of female sex with MAFLD differed in age groups <40 years (OR: 0.64 and 95% CI: 0.55-0.75) and >40 years (OR: 1.40 and 95% CI: 1.22-1.62) in both magnitude and direction (p < 0.001). Liver fibrosis was present in 23% of the study population (32.2% among MAFLD group). Advanced liver fibrosis was three times more common in MAFLD group (6.2% vs 1.8%, p < 0.001). Obesity and fibrosis had a statistically significant relationship and 75.8% of the individuals with advanced stages of fibrosis had obesity.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of study population was found to have MAFLD. Advanced hepatic fibrosis was three times more common in these subjects. Aggressive public health measures are urgently required to raise awareness and introduce interventional strategies.

Hepatic Fibrosis and Cancer: The Silent Threats of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic (fatty) liver disease (MASLD), previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a worldwide epidemic that can lead to hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The disease is typically a component of the metabolic syndrome that accompanies obesity, and is often overlooked because the liver manifestations are clinically silent until late-stage disease is present (i.e., cirrhosis). Moreover, Asian populations, including Koreans, have a higher fraction of patients who are lean, yet their illness has the same prognosis or worse than those who are obese. Nonetheless, ongoing injury can lead to hepatic inflammation and ballooning of hepatocytes as classic features. Over time, fibrosis develops following activation of hepatic stellate cells, the liver's main fibrogenic cell type. The disease is usually more advanced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, indicating that all diabetic patients should be screened for liver disease. Although there has been substantial progress in clarifying pathways of injury and fibrosis, there no approved therapies yet, but current research seeks to uncover the pathways driving hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, in hopes of identifying new therapeutic targets. Emerging molecular methods, especially single cell sequencing technologies, are revolutionizing our ability to clarify mechanisms underlying MASLD-associated fibrosis and HCC.

Air pollution as a potential risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwanese patients after adjusting for chronic viral hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Air pollution is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effect of air pollution on HCC risk in patients with hepatitis remains unclear.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited 348 patients with chronic hepatitis who were tested for serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (HBcIgG) and hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in 2022. The diagnosis of HCC was based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). Daily estimates of air pollutants were aggregated into mean estimates for the previous year based on the date of recruitment or HCC diagnosis.

RESULTS

Out of 348 patients, 12 had HCC (3.4%). Patients with HCC were older (71.7 vs 50.9 years; p = 0.004), had higher proportion of HBsAg seropositivity (41.7% vs 5.1%; p < 0.001), and substantially higher levels of particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5 ) (21.5 vs 18.2 μg/m 3 ; p = 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with HCC were age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.10; CI, 1.03-1.17; p = 0.01), PM 2.5 level (OR: 1.51; CI, 1.02-2.23; p = 0.04), and HBsAg seropositivity (OR: 6.60; CI, 1.51-28.85; p = 0.01) ( Table 3 ). There was a combined effect of PM 2.5 and HBsAg seropositivity on the risk of HCC development (OR: 22.17; CI, 3.33-147.45; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we demonstrated that PM 2.5 and HBsAg seropositivity were associated with HCC occurrence and had synergistic effects after adjusting for confounding factors.

Pretreatment gamma-glutamyl transferase predicts mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogs

Elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels are associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma. However, their role in predicting mortality in patients with CHB treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogs (NAs) remains elusive. Altogether, 2843 patients with CHB treated with NAs were recruited from a multinational cohort. Serum GGT levels before and 6 months (Month-6) after initiating NAs were measured to explore their association with all-cause, liver-related, and non-liver-related mortality. The annual incidence of all-cause mortality was 0.9/100 person-years over a follow-up period of 17,436.3 person-years. Compared with patients who survived, those who died had a significantly higher pretreatment (89.3 vs. 67.4 U/L, p = 0.002) and Month-6-GGT levels (62.1 vs. 38.4 U/L, p < 0.001). The factors associated with all-cause mortality included cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.66/1.92-3.70, p < 0.001), pretreatment GGT levels (HR/CI: 1.004/1.003-1.006, p < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase level (HR/CI: 0.996/0.994-0.998, p = 0.001), and age (HR/CI: 1.06/1.04-1.07, p < 0.001). Regarding liver-related mortality, the independent factors included cirrhosis (HR/CI: 4.36/2.79-6.89, p < 0.001), pretreatment GGT levels (HR/CI: 1.006/1.004-1.008, p < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase level (HR/CI: 0.993/0.990-0.997, p = 0.001), age (HR/CI: 1.03/1.01-1.05, p < 0.001), and fatty liver disease (HR/CI: 0.30/0.15-0.59, p = 0.001). Pretreatment GGT levels were also independently predictive of non-liver-related mortality (HR/CI: 1.003/1.000-1.005, p = 0.03). The results remained consistent after excluding the patients with a history of alcohol use. A dose-dependent manner of <25, 25-75, and >75 percentile of pretreatment GGT levels was observed with respect to the all-cause mortality (trend p < 0.001). Pretreatment serum GGT levels predicted all-cause, liver-related, and non-liver-related mortality in patients with CHB treated with NAs.

Comparison of size of the liver between patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and healthy controls

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease across all age groups. Limited studies have been conducted to consider the relationship between NAFLD and liver size. This study aimed to compare the size of the liver between NAFLD patients and healthy controls.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted on NAFLD patients (n = 300), and healthy subjects (n = 300) referred to the Golestan Hospital of Ahvaz from April to August 2021. All individuals underwent ultrasonography examination, and liver size was measured in the midclavicular line. Fatty liver was divided into three grades, I (mild), II (moderate), and III (severe), according to the disease severity. Anthropometric parameters, including age, sex, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI), were recorded. Finally, the size of the liver and its relationship with NAFLD and anthropometric parameters was evaluated.

Results

Patients had significantly higher weight, and BMI mean values than controls (P < 0.001). In comparison to controls, NAFLD patients had considerably larger livers on average. (149.05 ± 12.60 mm vs. 134.51 ± 12.09; P < 0.001). There was a significant tendency for larger liver size in normal to severe fatty liver patients (P < 0.001). In patients with mild, moderate, and severe NAFLD, the mean liver size was 144.34 ± 11.35, 154.21 ± 10.84, and 158.63 ± 13.45 mm, respectively. The mean liver size in both groups was significantly higher in males than females (P < 0.05). Age (P = 0.037), sex (P < 0.001), height (P < 0.001), BMI (P = 0.008), and steatosis (P < 0.001) were independent variables for predicting the liver size.

Conclusion

The liver size of persons with fatty liver was substantially more considerable than healthy people. The size of the liver was substantially linked with sex, age, BMI, fatty liver, and hepatic steatosis grade. A straightforward way to predict fatty liver is to use ultrasonography to determine the size of the liver.

Impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease was proposed by international consensus to redefine the metabolic abnormal condition. However, its impact on liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma has not been explored.

METHODS

A two-center retrospective cohort study on liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma was performed to analyze the impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on the clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis.

RESULTS

There were 201 liver transplant recipients enrolled from two hospitals in our study. The pre- and post-transplant prevalences of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease were 9.95% and 28.86%, respectively. The clinicopathological parameters revealed a similarity between patients with and without pre-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. In contrast, the group with post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease was linked with older age, a higher hepatitis recurrence rate and incidence of cardiovascular disease, usage of calcineurin inhibitors, a greater body mass index and waist circumference, lower albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and poorer tumor-free survival and overall survival. The multivariate analysis showed the largest tumor size >4 cm (95% confidence intervals: 0.06~0.63, p = 0.006), microvascular invasion (95% confidence intervals: 1.61~14.92, p = 0.005), post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (95% confidence intervals: 1.40~10.60, p = 0.009), and calcineurin inhibitors-based regimen (95% confidence intervals: 0.33~0.96, p = 0.036) were the independent risk factors for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is more closely to metabolic abnormalities and that it can help identify liver transplant recipients at high risk of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

The potential effect of HBV vaccination on off-treatment HBsAg reversion after interferon-induced HBsAg clearance

Off-treatment HBsAg reversion occurs in a considerable number of chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients after IFN(interferon)-induced HBsAg clearance. HBV vaccination protects the general population against HBV infection. However, it remains unclear whether HBV vaccination could prevent off-treatment HBsAg reversion in CHB patients with HBsAg clearance. CHB patients (n = 199) with HBsAg clearance were included in the current study, comprising spontaneous HBsAg clearance group (n = 51), NA (nucleoside/nucleotide analogues)-induced group (n = 36) and IFN-induced group (n = 112). Log-rank test was performed to compare the cumulative incidences of HBsAg reversion between groups. Cox regression model was used to identify the factors associated with off-treatment HBsAg reversion. The 5-year cumulative incidence of HBsAg reversion in IFN-induced group was significantly higher than that in NA-induced group or spontaneous group (27.6% vs. 3.3% vs. 8.1%, both p < .05). In IFN-induced group, 66.7% of CHB patients received HBV vaccination. The cumulative incidence of HBsAg reversion in individuals with strong responses to HBV vaccination (HBsAb level >100mIU/ml) was significantly lower than that in those with weak responses to HBV vaccination (HBsAb level ≤100mIU/ml) or without HBV vaccination in IFN-induced group (7.7% vs. 58.5% vs. 31.9%, both p < .05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed strong responses to HBV vaccination were independently associated with a lower cumulative incidence of HBsAg reversion after IFN-induced HBsAg clearance (HR = 0.246, 95%CI: 0.066-0.907, p = .035). HBV vaccination has potential to prevent off-treatment HBsAg reversion in CHB patients after IFN-induced HBsAg clearance via a sufficiently high level of HBsAb, helping clinicians optimize the clinical management of such patients.

Study of liver cirrhosis over twenty consecutive years in adults in Southern China

BACKGROUND

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a prevalent and severe disease in China. The burden of LC is changing with widespread vaccination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and antiviral therapy. However, the recent transition in etiologies and clinical features of LC cases requiring hospitalization is unclear.

AIM

To identify the transition in etiologies and clinical characteristics of hospitalized LC patients in Southern China.

METHODS

In this retrospective, cross-sectional study we included LC inpatients admitted between January 2001 and December 2020. Medical data indicating etiological diagnosis and LC complications, and demographic, laboratory, and imaging data were collected from our hospital-based dataset. The etiologies of LC were mainly determined according to the discharge diagnosis, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), portal vein thrombosis, hepatorenal syndrome, and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) were considered LC-related complications in our study. Changing trends in the etiologies and clinical characteristics were investigated using logistic regression, and temporal trends in proportions of separated years were investigated using the Cochran-Armitage test. In-hospital prognosis and risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality were also investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 33143 patients were included in the study [mean (SD) age, 51.7 (11.9) years], and 82.2% were males. The mean age of the study population increased from 51.0 years in 2001-2010 to 52.0 years in 2011-2020 (P < 0.001), and the proportion of female patients increased from 16.7% in 2001-2010 to 18.2% in 2011-2020 (P = 0.003). LC patients in the decompensated stage at diagnosis decreased from 68.1% in 2001-2010 to 64.6% in 2011-2020 (P < 0.001), and the median score of model for end-stage liver disease also decreased from 14.0 to 11.0 (P < 0.001). HBV remained the major etiology of LC (75.0%) and the dominant cause of viral hepatitis-LC (94.5%) during the study period. However, the proportion of HBV-LC decreased from 82.4% in 2001-2005 to 74.2% in 2016-2020, and the proportion of viral hepatitis-LC decreased from 85.2% in 2001-2005 to 78.1% in 2016-2020 (both P for trend < 0.001). Meanwhile, the proportions of LC caused by alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis and mixed etiology increased by 2.5%, 0.8% and 4.5%, respectively (all P for trend < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was stable at 1.0% in 2011-2020, whereas HCC and ACLF manifested the highest increases in prevalence among all LC complications (35.8% to 41.0% and 5.7% to 12.4%, respectively) and were associated with 6-fold and 4-fold increased risks of mortality (odds ratios: 6.03 and 4.22, respectively).

CONCLUSION

LC inpatients have experienced changes in age distribution and etiologies of cirrhosis over the last 20 years in Southern China. HCC and ACLF are associated with the highest risk of in-hospital mortality among LC complications.

Correlation of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Level With Clinical and Endoscopic Parameters in Decompensated Chronic Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

The amount of liver fibrosis usually correlates with portal pressure, which is measured as the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). The fact that portal pressure significantly decreases after treatment may increase cirrhotic patients' long-term survival suggests that measuring HVPG may offer specific information for outcome prediction. The study thus seeks to determine the relationship between the level of the HVPG and endoscopic and clinical parameters in decompensated chronic liver disease (CLD).

METHODOLOGY

Thirty patients with CLD were studied and subjected to serum creatinine, total bilirubin, serum sodium, serum albumin, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy), and transjugular or transfemoral catheterization for HVPG measurement, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score were calculated.

RESULTS

The results indicates a strong positive connection between MELD and HVPG, which is statistically significant (r=0.754; p<0.001). Similarly, CTP and HVPG also exhibit a significant positive association (r=0.793; p<0.001) suggesting a link between the severity of liver disease. Additionally, the moderate positive correlation for encephalopathy has a significant value (r=0.584; p=0.001), while the weak positive correlations for serum bilirubin, INR, and HVPG have non-significant values (r=0.244; p=0.194, and r=0.375; p=0.041, respectively). A strong negative connection between serum albumin and HVPG was also found (r=0.546; p=0.005) suggesting a relationship between worsening liver function.

CONCLUSION

In patients with decompensated CLD, the severity of the CLD as measured by the CTP and MELD score corresponds with HVPG, and higher HVPG associated with severe CLD and severe ascites, large varices, and variceal hemorrhage. Higher HVPG in cirrhotic patients also suggests the existence of sequelae, such as varices, severe ascites, and severe hepatic encephalopathy, although HVPG has little bearing on the underlying cause.

Development and validation of a case definition to estimate the prevalence and incidence of cirrhosis in pan-Canadian primary care databases

Aims

To develop and validate case definitions to identify patients with cirrhosis and alcohol-related cirrhosis using primary care electronic medical records (EMRs) and to estimate cirrhosis prevalence and incidence in pan-Canadian primary care databases, between 2011 and 2019.

Methods

A total of 689,301 adult patients were included with ≥1 visit to a primary care provider within the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Study Network between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. A subsample of 17,440 patients was used to validate the case definitions. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values were calculated with their 95% CIs and then determined the population-level prevalence and incidence trends with the most accurate case definition.

Results

The most accurate case definition included: ≥1 health condition, billing, or encounter diagnosis for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes 571.2, 571.5, 789.59, or 571. Sensitivity (84.6; 95% CI 83.1%-86.%), specificity (99.3; 95% CI 99.1%-99.4%), positive predictive values (94.8; 95% CI 93.9%-95.7%), and negative predictive values (97.5; 95% CI 97.3%-97.7%). Application of this definition to the overall population resulted in a crude prevalence estimate of (0.46%; 95% CI 0.45%-0.48%). Annual incidence of patients with a clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis nearly doubled between 2011 (0.05%; 95% CI 0.04%-0.06%) and 2019 to (0.09%; 95% CI 0.08%-0.09%).

Conclusions

The EMR-based case definition accurately captured patients diagnosed with cirrhosis in primary care. Future work to characterize patients with cirrhosis and their primary care experiences can support improvements in identification and management in primary care settings.

Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy Sequential Hepatic Artery Embolization Combined with Operation in the Treatment of Recurrent Massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma Achieved Pathological Complete Response: A Case Report

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence, which encompasses both true recurrence resulting from cancer spread and de novo tumors developing within the same cancer-prone liver, presents a complication in approximately 70% of cases within a 5-year timeframe. The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy for recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma is still unclear. We report a case of recurrent massive advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with pathological complete remission was treated by continuous hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and sequential transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) combined with secondary operation. One month after resection, the patient recurred (massive type 141mm×76mm). After 4 times of HAIC sequential TAE conversion therapy, the tumor shrank significantly (70mm×29mm), alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) levels decreased significantly, residual liver volume[left half liver accounted for 39.85% of standard liver volume(left half liver + right anterior lobe) accounted for 80.17% of standard liver volume] and Indocyanine green 15-minute retention(ICG R15 8.0%) complies with surgical requirement.The second operation was performed, and the tumor was completely resected after hepatic blood flow occlusion Requirement. The postoperative pathological results showed complete remission (PCR) of the tumor, and no recurrence was found during the follow-up of 16 months. In this case, HAIC sequential TAE conversion therapy has good short-term effect on patients with postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, tumor burden is significantly reduced, the second surgery pathology achieves complete remission, safety and tolerance, it is worthy of study and promotion.

The outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B

BACKGROUND

The Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score is widely used for assessing the liver's functional reserve in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to explore the outcomes of patients with HCC and CTP class B and to investigate the prognostic accuracy of prediction models for ACLD in these patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 1143 patients with HCC and CTP class B between 2007 and 2022. We divided the patients into three subgroups based on their CTP scores: CTP-B7, CTP-B8, and CTP-B9. We compared the corrected Akaike information criterion among each mortality prediction model, including the CTP score, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, modified ALBI score, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), and MELD 3.0.

RESULTS

Among the enrolled patients, 576 (50.3%) were in the CTP-B7 group, 363 (31.8%) were in the CTP-B8 group, and 204 (17.9%) were in the CTP-B9 group. After a median follow-up of 4.6 months (interquartile range IQR 1.8-17.2 months), 963 patients died, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 11.4%. The 5-year OS rates were 11.6%, 13.6%, and 8.3% in the CTP-B7, CTP-B8, and CTP-B9 groups, respectively. Patients in the CTP-B7 group and CTP-B8 group had comparable OS ( p = 0.089), both of which were better than those in the CTP-B9 group ( p < 0.001). Furthermore, the MELD 3.0 score had the lowest corrected akaike information criteria value and provided a more accurate mortality prediction than the MELD score, ALBI grade, modified ALBI grade, and CTP score.

CONCLUSION

Patients in the CTP-B7 and CTP-B8 groups had comparable OS, both of which were better than those in the CTP-B9 group. Moreover, MELD 3.0 provided the most accurate mortality prediction in patients with HCC and CTP class B.

Frequency of significant steatosis and compensated advanced chronic liver disease among adults with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND

With changes in the epidemiology and treatment of chronic liver disease (CLD), the impact of various etiologies of liver disease on steatosis and advanced fibrosis are uncertain.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted among liver disease patients of various etiologies undergoing transient elastography (TE) over a 9-year duration.

RESULTS

Data for 2886 patients were analyzed and had the following demographics: The median age was 60 (IQR: 45-69) years, 51% were males, and ethnicity was predominantly Chinese (52.5%), followed by Malays (34%) and Indians (12.3%). The median CAP score was 272 (IQR: 219-319) dB/m and the median liver stiffness measurement (LSM) score was 6.5 (IQR: 4.9-9.7) kPa. Hepatic steatosis occurred across the spectrum of etiologies of CLD. Among patients with steatosis, the most common etiologies were nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at 62% and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) at 26.3%. TE findings suggestive of cACLD (10.1-15 kPa) and highly suggestive of cACLD (>15 kPa) were observed in 11.3% and 12.4% of patients, respectively. NAFLD was found to be the most common etiology for cases with suggestive of cACLD (47.2%) and highly suggestive of cACLD (41.5%).

CONCLUSION

Hepatic steatosis is common in CLD, regardless of etiology. Compared with other etiologies, NAFLD is now the leading cause of cACLD.

Anesthesia in patients with chronic liver disease: An updated review

Anesthesia in chronic liver disease patients can be challenging because of the medications given or interventions performed and their effects on liver physiology. Also, the effects of liver disease on coagulation and metabolism should be considered carefully. This review focuses on anesthesia in patients with different chronic liver disease stages. A literature search was performed for Scopus and PubMed databases for articles discussing different types of anesthesia in patients with chronic liver disease, their safety, usage, and risks. The choice of anesthesia is of crucial importance. Regional anesthesia, especially neuroaxial anesthesia, may benefit some patients with liver disease, but coagulopathy should be considered. Regional anesthesia provides optimum intraoperative relaxation and analgesia that extends to the postoperative period while avoiding the side effects of intravenous anesthetics and opioids. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of anesthetic medications must guard against complications related to overdose or decreased metabolism. The choice of anesthesia in chronic liver disease patients is crucial and could be tailored according to the degree of liver compensation and the magnitude of the surgical procedure.

Ethanol-Producing Enterocloster bolteae Is Enriched in Chronic Hepatitis B-Associated Gut Dysbiosis: A Case-Control Culturomics Study

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health epidemic that causes fatal complications, leading to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The link between HBV-related dysbiosis and specific bacterial taxa is still under investigation. Enterocloster is emerging as a new genus (formerly Clostridium), including Enterocloster bolteae, a gut pathogen previously associated with dysbiosis and human diseases such as autism, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Its role in liver diseases, especially HBV infection, is not reported.

METHODS

The fecal samples of eight patients with chronic HBV infection and ten healthy individuals were analyzed using the high-throughput culturomics approach and compared to 16S rRNA sequencing. Quantification of ethanol, known for its damaging effect on the liver, produced from bacterial strains enriched in chronic HBV was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Using culturomics, 29,120 isolated colonies were analyzed by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF); 340 species were identified (240 species in chronic HBV samples, 254 species in control samples) belonging to 169 genera and 6 phyla. In the chronic HBV group, 65 species were already known in the literature; 48 were associated with humans but had not been previously found in the gut, and 17 had never been associated with humans previously. Six species were newly isolated in our study. By comparing bacterial species frequency, three bacterial genera were serendipitously found with significantly enriched bacterial diversity in patients with chronic HBV: Enterocloster, Clostridium, and Streptococcus (p = 0.0016, p = 0.041, p = 0.053, respectively). However, metagenomics could not identify this enrichment, possibly concerning its insufficient taxonomical resolution (equivocal assignment of operational taxonomic units). At the species level, the significantly enriched species in the chronic HBV group almost all belonged to class Clostridia, such as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium sporogenes, Enterocloster aldenensis, Enterocloster bolteae, Enterocloster clostridioformis, and Clostridium innocuum. Two E. bolteae strains, isolated from two patients with chronic HBV infection, showed high ethanol production (27 and 200 mM).

CONCLUSIONS

Culturomics allowed us to identify Enterocloster species, specifically, E. bolteae, enriched in the gut microbiota of patients with chronic HBV. These species had never been isolated in chronic HBV infection before. Moreover, ethanol production by E. bolteae strains isolated from the chronic HBV group could contribute to liver disease progression. Additionally, culturomics might be critical for better elucidating the relationship between dysbiosis and chronic HBV infection in the future.

Association of food intake with a risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study

Background

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common liver disease, the risk of which can be increased by poor diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between food items and MAFLD, and to propose reasonable dietary recommendations for the prevention of MAFLD.

Methods

Physical examination data were collected from April 2015 through August 2017 at Nanping First Hospital (n = 3,563). Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between food intake and the risk of MAFLD was assessed by using the inverse probability weighted propensity score.

Results

Beverages (soft drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages) and instant noodles were positively associated with MAFLD risk, adjusting for smoking, drinking, tea intake, and weekly hours of physical activity [adjusted odds ratio (ORadjusted): 1.568; P = 0.044; ORadjusted: 4.363; P = 0.001]. Milk, tubers, and vegetables were negatively associated with MAFLD risk (ORadjusted: 0.912; P = 0.002; ORadjusted: 0.633; P = 0.007; ORadjusted: 0.962; P = 0.028). In subgroup analysis, the results showed that women [odds ratio (OR): 0.341, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.172-0.676] had a significantly lower risk of MAFLD through consuming more tubers than men (OR: 0.732, 95% CI: 0.564-0.951).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that reducing consumption of beverages (soft drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages) and instant noodles, and consuming more milk, vegetables, and tubers may reduce the risk of MAFLD.

9-POHSA prevents NF-kB activation and ameliorates LPS-induced inflammation in rat hepatocytes

Liver inflammation has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, leading to the development of diseases like hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and fatty liver disease. One factor that has been linked to liver inflammation is increased levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which can be caused by poor diets and sedentary lifestyles that contribute to liver inflammation. There is promising research on a new class of lipids called fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs), which have been shown to potentiate insulin release and exert an anti-inflammatory effect. Specifically, one type of FAHFA called 9-POHSA (palmitoleic acid ester of 9-hydroxy stearic acid) has been studied for its potential to attenuate inflammation-related indexes induced by LPS in hepatocytes, which play a critical role in the progression of liver inflammation. This study found that following LPS treatment, tumor necrosis factor- α, interleukin-6, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were upregulated and increased cell migration, but 9-POHSA pre-treatment attenuated the upregulation of these markers and prevented cell migration induced by LPS. Using flowcytometry analysis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was found to be responsible for CTGF upregulation. In addition, the effects of 9-POHSA were likely associated with its inhibition of the activation of the NF-kB. These results suggest that 9-POHSA has potential as a therapy for liver inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating inflammation-related indexes induced by LPS in hepatocytes. This study provides important insight into the mechanisms of liver inflammation and the potential for new treatments to address liver diseases.

SpeCamX: mobile app that turns unmodified smartphones into multispectral imagers

We present the development of SpeCamX, a mobile application that enables an unmodified smartphone into a multispectral imager. Multispectral imaging provides detailed spectral information about objects or scenes, but its accessibility has been limited due to its specialized requirements for the device. SpeCamX overcomes this limitation by utilizing the RGB photographs captured by smartphones and converting them into multispectral images spanning a range of 420 to 680 nm without a need for internal modifications or external attachments. The app also includes plugin functions for extracting medical information from the resulting multispectral data cube. In a clinical study, SpeCamX was used to implement an augmented smartphone bilirubinometer, predicting blood bilirubin levels (BBL) with superior performance in accuracy, efficiency and stability compared to default smartphone cameras. This innovative technology democratizes multispectral imaging, making it accessible to a wider audience and opening new possibilities for both medical and non-medical applications.

Helicobacter pylori infection increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Possible relationship from an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has long been debated. Although it has been investigated in many observational studies, the results remain controversial. Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis to assess the association between H pylori infection and risk of NAFLD by collecting relevant articles.

METHODS

Literature collections were conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. Pooled odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated to estimate the strength of the link between H pylori infection and NAFLD using Stata 12.0 software.

RESULTS

28 studies with 68,047 cases of NAFLD patients and 134,866 controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall, The results suggested a 27.5% increased risk of developing NAFLD in patients with H pylori infection (odds ratios 1.275 95% confidence intervals 1.179-1.379), although significant heterogeneity was observed. There is no significant publication bias observed based on the funnel plot and Begg test. Subgroup analysis revealed that variables of the study design, study region, publication year, and the method of diagnosing H pylori and NAFLD all contribute to the high heterogeneity, while the positive correlation was seen in all subgroup analysis.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis disclosed 1.275-fold increased risk of the occurrence and development of NAFLD in H pylori (+) group compared with the H pylori (-) group, indicating that H pylori is a serious risk factor in patients susceptible to NAFLD.

Prioritizing non-communicable diseases in the post-pandemic era based on a comprehensive analysis of the GBD 2019 from 1990 to 2019

This study aimed to assess the burden of communicable diseases (CDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2019, and propose global strategies to transform the public health policy. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019, we analyzed CDs and NCDs across various factors such as sex, age, year, and location, and evaluate the temporal trends of these diseases with joinpoint analysis. We also examined the differences between regions based on their socio-demographic index (SDI). In 2019, there were 7,862,907 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 7,183,475 to 8,654,104) deaths from CDs and 42,034,124 (40,081,323 to 43,942,475) deaths from NCDs recorded worldwide. The low SDI region had markedly high age-standardized death and DALY rates of CDs. Although the age-standardized incidence rate of CDs has decreased in about half of the regions since 1990, NCDs have been on the rise in most regions. Over the past 30 years, the global burden of CDs has decreased significantly, while the burden of NCDs has aggrandized to an extent. In the post-pandemic era, effective interventions and cooperation among countries should be promoted to allocate medical resources more reasonably and improve healthcare for NCD patients.

The impact of concomitant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on adverse outcomes in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis: a propensity score matching study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In cirrhotic patients, the clinical relevance of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is unclear. We aimed to research the relationship between MAFLD and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.

METHODS

A total of 439 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were enrolled. Abdominal MRI and computed tomography were used to calculate liver fat content in order to evaluate steatosis. The Kaplan-Meier method was implemented to generate survival curves. The independent risk factors for prognosis were identified by multiple Cox regression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce the influence of confounding factors. This study explored the relevance between MAFLD and mortality, first decompensation and further decompensation.

RESULTS

In our study, most patients were decompensated cirrhosis (n = 332, 75.6%) and the ratio of decompensated cirrhosis patients in non-MAFLD to MAFLD group was 199 : 133. Compared to the non-MAFLD group, patients with MAFLD had worse liver function which mainly reflected that there were more Child-Pugh C patients and higher model for end-stage liver disease score in the MAFLD group. A total of 207 adverse clinical events occurred in the total cohort during a median follow-up of 47 months, including 45 deaths, 28 hepatocellular carcinoma, 23 first decompensation and 111 further decompensation. Cox multivariate analysis showed that MAFLD was an independent risk factor for death [hazard ratio (HR) 1.931; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.019-3.660; P = 0.044 HR 2.645; 95% CI, 1.145-6.115; P = 0.023] and further decompensation (HR 1.859; 95% CI, 1.261-2.741; P = 0.002 HR 1.953; 95% CI, 1.195-3.192; P = 0.008) before and after PSM. In decompensated group with MAFLD, diabetes had a more significant effect on adverse prognosis than overweight or obesity and other metabolic risk factors.

CONCLUSION

In patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis, concomitant MAFLD can predict a higher risk of further decompensation and death among decompensated individuals. According to patients among MAFLD, diabetes may be a major factor in the occurrence of adverse clinical events.

Multiomics analyses reveal pathological mechanisms of HBV infection and integration in liver cancer

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and integration are important for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression, while disease mechanisms are still largely elusive. Here, we combined bulk and single-cell sequencing technologies to tackle the disease mechanisms of HBV-related HCC. We observed high HBV mutation rate and diversity only in tumors without HBV integration. We identified human somatic risk loci for HBV integration (VIMs). Transcription factors (TFs) enriched in VIMs were involved in DNA repair and androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Aberration of AR signaling was further observed by single-cell regulon analysis in HBV-infected hepatocytes, which showed remarkable interactions between AR and the complement system that, together with the X-linked ZXDB regulon that contains albumin (ALB), probably contribute to HCC male predominance. Complement system dysregulation caused by HBV infection was further confirmed by analyses of single-cell copy numbers and cell-cell communications. Finally, HBV infection-associated immune cells presented critical defects, including TXNIP in T cells, TYROBP in NK cells, and the X-linked TIMP1 in monocytes. We further experimentally validated our findings in multiple independent patient cohorts. Collectively, our work shed light on the pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC and other liver diseases that affect billions of people worldwide.

Research Progress on the Role and Mechanism of IL-37 in Liver Diseases

Cytokines are important components of the immune system that can predict or influence the development of liver diseases. IL-37, a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family, exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects inside and outside cells. IL-37 expression differs before and after liver lesions, suggesting that it is associated with liver disease; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This article mainly reviews the biological characteristics of IL-37, which inhibits hepatitis, liver injury, and liver fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation, and inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating the immune microenvironment. Based on additional evidence, combining IL-37 with liver disease markers for diagnosis and treatment can achieve more significant effects, suggesting that IL-37 can be developed into a powerful tool for the clinical adjuvant treatment of liver diseases, especially HCC.

Infectious complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: the results of a multinational web-based survey in the 8th Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis meeting

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Infectious complications are major concerns when treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study evaluated clinical differences across countries/regions in the management of infectious diseases in patients with IBD.

METHODS

A multinational online questionnaire survey was administered to participants at the 8th meeting of the Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis. The questionnaire included questions regarding surveillance, diagnosis, management, and prevention of infection in patients with IBD.

RESULTS

A total of 384 physicians responded to the questionnaire. The majority of Korean (n=70, 63.6%) and Chinese (n=51, 51.5%) physicians preferred vancomycin to metronidazole in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, whereas more than half of the Japanese physicians (n=62, 66.7%) preferred metronidazole. Physicians in Korea (n=88, 80.0%) and China (n=46, 46.5%) preferred a 3-month course of isoniazid and rifampin to treat latent tuberculosis infection, whereas most physicians in Japan (n=71, 76.3%) favored a 9-month course of isoniazid. Most Korean physicians (n=89, 80.9%) recommended hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in patients lacking HBV surface antigen, whereas more than half of Japanese physicians (n=53, 57.0%) did not consider vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of infections in patients with IBD across countries/regions reflect different prevalence rates of infectious diseases. This survey may broaden understanding of the real-world clinical settings across Asian countries/regions and provide information for establishing practical guidelines to manage patients with IBD.

Integrated analysis of intratumoral biomarker and tumor-associated macrophage to improve the prognosis prediction in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The lack of effective and accurate predictive indicators remains a major bottleneck for the improvement of the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) has been widely suggested as a critical pathogenic protein for HBV-driven liver carcinogenesis, while tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration is also closely related to the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. However, few studies have determined whether combining HBx expression with TAM populations could increase the accuracy of prognostic prediction for HBV-related HCC.

METHODS

The study cohort enrolling 251 patients with HBV-related HCC was randomly split into a training and a validation group (ratio 1:1). The expression levels of HBx and TAM marker CD68 in HCC samples were detected by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression and Harrell's concordance index (C-index) analysis were conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of these indicators alone or in combination.

RESULTS

The expression level of HBx was strongly correlated with CD68⁺ TAM infiltration in HCC tissues. Elevated HBx or CD68 expression indicated poorer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after hepatectomy, and both of them were independent risk factors for postoperative survival. Meanwhile, patients with both high HBx and CD68 levels had worst clinical outcomes. Moreover, integrating HBx and CD68 expression with clinical indicators (tumor size and micro-vascular invasion) showed the best prognostic potential with highest C-index value for survival predictivity, and this proposed model also performed better than several conventional classifications of HCC.

CONCLUSION

Combining the expression of intratumoral HBx, CD68⁺ TAM population and clinical variables could enable better prognostication for HBV-related HCC after hepatectomy, thus providing novel insights into developing more effective clinical prediction model based on both molecular phenotypes and tumor-immune microenvironment.

Global trajectories of liver cancer burden from 1990 to 2019 and projection to 2035

BACKGROUND

Large disparities exist in liver cancer burden trends across countries but are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the global trajectories of liver cancer burden, explore the driving forces, and predict future trends.

METHODS

Data on the liver cancer burden in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) trajectories were defined using growth mixture models. Five major risk factors contributing to changes in the ASIR or ASMR and socioeconomic determinants were explored using the identified trajectories. A Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict future trends through 2035.

RESULTS

Three trajectories of liver cancer burden were identified: increasing, stable, and decreasing groups. Almost half of the American countries were classified in the decreasing group (48.6% for ASIR and ASMR), and the increasing group was the most common in the European region (ASIR, 49.1%; ASMR, 37.7%). In the decreasing group, the decrease of liver cancer due to hepatitis B contributed 63.4% and 60.4% of the total decreases in ASIR and ASMR, respectively. The increase of liver cancer due to alcohol use, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B contributed the most to the increase in the increasing group (30.8%, 31.1%, and 24.2% for ASIR; 33.7%, 30.2%, and 22.2% for ASMR, respectively). The increasing group was associated with a higher sociodemographic index, gross domestic product per capita, health expenditure per capita, and universal health coverage (all P <0.05). Significant variations in disease burden are predicted to continue through 2035, with a disproportionate burden in the decreasing group.

CONCLUSION

Global disparities were observed in liver cancer burden trajectories. Hepatitis B, alcohol use, and hepatitis C were identified as driving forces in different regions.

HepaClear, a blood-based panel combining novel methylated CpG sites and protein markers, for the detection of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Early screening and detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can efficiently improve patient prognosis. We aimed to identify a series of hypermethylated DNA markers and develop a blood-based HCC diagnosis panel containing DNA methylation sites and protein markers with improved sensitivity for early-stage HCC detection.

RESULTS

Overall, 850K methylation arrays were performed using paired tissue DNA samples from 60 HCC patients. Ten candidate hypermethylated CpG sites were selected for further evaluation by quantitative methylation-specific PCR with 60 pairs of tissue samples. Six methylated CpG sites, along with α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), were assayed in 150 plasma samples. Finally, an HCC diagnosis panel, named HepaClear, was developed in a cohort consisting of 296 plasma samples and validated in an independent cohort consisting of 198 plasma samples. The HepaClear panel, containing 3 hypermethylated CpG sites (cg14263942, cg12701184, and cg14570307) and 2 protein markers (AFP and DCP), yielded a sensitivity of 82.6% and a specificity of 96.2% in the training set and a sensitivity of 84.7% and a specificity of 92.0% in the validation set. The HepaClear panel had higher sensitivity (72.0%) for early-stage HCC than AFP (≥ 20 ng/mL, 48.0%) and DCP (≥ 40 mAU/mL, 62.0%) and detected 67.5% of AFP-negative HCC patients (AFP ≤ 20 ng/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a multimarker HCC detection panel (HepaClear) that shows high sensitivity for early-stage HCC. The HepaClear panel exhibits high potential for HCC screening and diagnosis from an at-risk population.

High red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio indicates adverse outcomes for hepatitis B virus-associated decompensated cirrhosis

Background: This work was designed to determine the association between red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) and 30-day prognosis in hepatitis B virus-associated decompensated cirrhosis (HBV-DC) patients. Methods: A total of 168 HBV-DC patients were included. Independent risk factors for poor prognosis were determined by logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 21 (12.5%) patients died within 30 days. RPR was higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors. Multivariate analysis identified RPR and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score as independent prognostic predictors, and the predictive value of RPR was similar to that of the MELD score. Moreover, combining RPR with the MELD score further improved the predictive value for mortality. Conclusion: RPR has potential as a reliable tool for the prediction of poor prognosis in HBV-DC patients.

TET3 as a non-invasive screening tool for the detection of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease

Ten-eleven translocation protein 3 (TET3) is one of the key enzymes in DNA demethylation which can be expressed in liver tissues. However, the clinical value of TET3 for diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver disease have not been reported previously. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of serum TET3 as a non-invasive screening tool for liver fibrosis. 212 patients with chronic liver disease from were enrolled in this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum levels of TET3. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were determined to examine the diagnostic accuracy of TET3 and combination model for diagnosis fibrosis. Serum TET3 level in fibrosis cases was significantly higher than that in non-fibrosis and controls, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve of the TET3 and fibrosis-4 index for liver fibrosis were 0.863 and 0.813, and 0.916 and 0.957 for liver cirrhosis. The combination of TET3 and fibrosis-4 index had a highly promising positive predictive value for detecting liver fibrosis and cirrhosis different stages of (93.5% and 100%) as compared with each diagnostic tool alone. TET3 is related to the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The TET3-fibrosis-4 model enhances discriminatory power and represents a promising non-invasive tool for the diagnosis and screening of liver fibrosis.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Nomograms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on PIVKA-II and Serum Biomarkers

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to develop an improved diagnostic and prognostic model for HBV-associated HCC by combining AFP with PIVKA-II and other potential serum/plasma protein biomarkers.

METHODS

A total of 578 patients, including 352 patients with HBV-related HCC, 102 patients with HBV-associated liver cirrhosis (LC), 124 patients with chronic HBV, and 127 healthy subjects (HS), were enrolled in the study. The serum levels of AFP, PIVKA-II, and other laboratory parameters were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent diagnostic and prognostic factors, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of the nomogram was evaluated using receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis and the prognostic performance was measured by Harrell's concordance index (C-index).

RESULTS

AFP and PIVKA-II levels were significantly increased in HBV-related HCC, compared with those in HBV-associated LC and chronic HBV participants (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The diagnostic nomogram, which included age, gender, AFP, PIVKA-II, prothrombin time (PT), and total protein (TP), discriminated patients with HBV-HCC from those with HBV-LC or chronic HBV with an AUC of 0.970. In addition, based on the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, PIVKA-II, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and albumin were found to be significantly associated with the prognosis of HBV-related HCC and were incorporated into a nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram for predicting 3-year survival in the training and validation groups was 0.75 and 0.78, respectively. The calibration curves for the probability of 3-year OS showed good agreement between the nomogram prediction and the actual observation in the training and the validation groups. Furthermore, the nomogram had a higher C-index (0.74) than that of the Child-Pugh grade (0.62), the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score (0.64), and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (0.56) in all follow-up cases.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that the nomograms based on AFP, PIVKA-II, and potential serum protein biomarkers showed a better performance in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, which may help to guide therapeutic strategies and assess the prognosis of HCC.

Pharmacological activities of Artemisia absinthium and control of hepatic cancer by expression regulation of TGFβ1 and MYC genes

Plant derived compounds have always been an important source of medicines and have received significant attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties. Millions of plant-based herbal or traditional medicines are used to cure various types of cancers especially due to activation of proliferative genes. The aim of the present study was to characterize the altered and attenuated gene expression of the selected growth factor namely Transforming growth factor Beta -1 (TGFβ1) and MYC in human hepatoma-derived (Huh7) liver cancer cell lines in response to extracts of Artemisia absinthium dissolved in selected organic solvents. Ethanolic, methanolic and acetone extract of different plant parts (leaf, stem and flowers) was used to access the antiproliferative activity by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay. Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR revealed that the transcript levels of TGFβ1 are induced in the samples treated with methanolic extract of Artemisia absinthium. Furthermore, reduced expression levels of MYC gene was noticed in cancerous cells suggesting antiproliferative properties of the plant. This study further highlights the resistance profile of various microbes by antimicrobial susceptibility test with plant extracts. In addition, antidiabetic effect of Artemisia absinthium have also shown positive results. Our study elucidates the potentials of Artemisia absinthium as a medicinal plant, and highlights the differential expression of genes involved in its mitogenic and anti-proliferative activity with a brief account of its pharmacological action.

Global burden of hepatitis B virus: current status, missed opportunities and a call for action

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects about 296 million people worldwide and is the leading aetiology of cirrhosis and liver cancer globally. Major medical complications also include acute flares and extrahepatic manifestations. In addition, people living with HBV infection also experience stigma. HBV-related cirrhosis resulted in an estimated 331,000 deaths in 2019, and it is estimated that the number of deaths from HBV-related liver cancer in 2019 was 192,000, an increase from 156,000 in 2010. Meanwhile, HBV remains severely underdiagnosed and effective measures that can prevent infection and disease progression are underutilized. Birth dose coverage for HBV vaccines remains low, particularly in low-income countries or regions where HBV burden is high. Patients with HBV infection are inadequately evaluated and linked to care and are undertreated worldwide, even in high-income countries or regions. Despite the goal of the World Health Organization to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030, the annual global deaths from HBV are projected to increase by 39% from 2015 to 2030 if the status quo remains. In this Review, we discuss the current status and future projections of the global burden of HBV infection. We also discuss gaps in the current care cascade and propose future directions.

Three-dimensional and single-cell sequencing of liver cancer reveals comprehensive host-virus interactions in HBV infection

Backgrounds

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for chronic liver diseases and liver cancer (mainly hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC), while the underlying mechanisms and host-virus interactions are still largely elusive.

Methods

We applied HiC sequencing to HepG2 (HBV-) and HepG2-2.2.15 (HBV+) cell lines and combined them with public HCC single-cell RNA-seq data, HCC bulk RNA-seq data, and both genomic and epigenomic ChIP-seq data to reveal potential disease mechanisms of HBV infection and host-virus interactions reflected by 3D genome organization.

Results

We found that HBV enhanced overall proximal chromatin interactions (CIs) of liver cells and primarily affected regional CIs on chromosomes 13, 14, 17, and 22. Interestingly, HBV altered the boundaries of many topologically associating domains (TADs), and genes nearby these boundaries showed functional enrichment in cell adhesion which may promote cancer metastasis. Moreover, A/B compartment analysis revealed dramatic changes on chromosomes 9, 13 and 21, with more B compartments (inactive or closed) shifting to A compartments (active or open). The A-to-B regions (closing) harbored enhancers enriched in the regulation of inflammatory responses, whereas B-to-A regions (opening) were enriched for transposable elements (TE). Furthermore, we identified large HBV-induced structural variations (SVs) that disrupted tumor suppressors, NLGN4Y and PROS1. Finally, we examined differentially expressed genes and TEs in single hepatocytes with or without HBV infection, by using single-cell RNA-seq data. Consistent with our HiC sequencing findings, two upregulated genes that promote HBV replication, HNF4A and NR5A2, were located in regions with HBV-enhanced CIs, and five TEs were located in HBV-activated regions. Therefore, HBV may promote liver diseases by affecting the human 3D genome structure.

Conclusion

Our work promotes mechanistic understanding of HBV infection and host-virus interactions related to liver diseases that affect billions of people worldwide. Our findings may also have implications for novel immunotherapeutic strategies targeting HBV infection.

The 20 years transition of clinical characteristics and metabolic risk factors in primary liver cancer patients from China

Background

The clinical characteristics of primary liver cancer (PLC) patients are changing, maybe due to hepatitis viral vaccination and lifestyle changes, etc. The linkage between these changes and outcomes among these PLCs has not yet been fully elucidated.

Methods

It was identified total of 1691 PLC cases diagnosed between 2000 ~ 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to determine the connections between the clinical presentations and their close risk factor(s) from PLC patients.

Results

The average age of PLC patients increased gradually from 52.74 ± 0.5 years in 2000 ~ 2004 to 58.63 ± 0.44 years in 2017 ~ 2020, accompanied by an increased proportion of females from 11.11% to 22.46%, and non-viral hepatitis-related PLC was raised from 1.5% to 22.35%. 840 (49.67%) PLC patients with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) &lt; 20ng/mL (AFP-negative). The mortality was 285 (16.85%) or 532 (31.46%) PLC patients with alanine transaminase (ALT) between 40 ~ 60 IU/L or ALT &gt; 60 IU/L. The PLC patients with pre-diabetes/diabetes or dyslipidemia also increased from 4.29% or 11.1% in 2000 ~ 2004 to 22.34% or 46.83% in 2017 ~ 2020. The survival period of the PLC patients with normoglycemia or normolipidemic was 2.18 or 3.14 folds longer than those patients with pre-diabetes/diabetes or hyperlipidemia (P&lt;0.05).

Conclusions

It was gradually increased that age, the proportion of females, non-viral hepatitis-related causes, AFP-negative, and abnormal glucose/lipids among PLC patients. Proper control of glucose/lipids or ALT may improve the prognosis of PLCs.