Weight Gain and Liver Steatosis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Protocol of quantitative ultrasound techniques for noninvasive assessing of hepatic steatosis after bariatric surgery

Introduction

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery can effectively improve steatosis, necroinflammatory activity, and hepatic fibrosis in individuals diagnosed with morbid obesity or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Common methods such as body mass index (BMI) to evaluate the postoperative effect of clinical bariatric surgery cannot differentiate subcutaneous fats from visceral fats and muscles. Several Quantitative ultrasound (QUS)-based approaches have been developed to quantify hepatic steatosis. QUS techniques (tissue attenuation imaging (TAI), tissue scatter distribution imaging (TSI)) from radio frequency (RF) data analysis as a means for the detection and grading of hepatic steatosis has been posited as an objective and noninvasive approach. The implementation and standardization of QUS techniques (TAI, TSI) in assessing hepatic steatosis quantitatively after bariatric surgery is of high-priority. Our study is aimed to assess hepatic steatosis with QUS techniques (TAI, TSI) in morbidly obese individuals before and after bariatric surgery, and to compare with anthropometric measurements, laboratory assessments and other imaging methods.

Methods and analysis

The present investigation, a self-discipline examination of navigational capacity devoid of visual cues, is designed as a single-site, forward-looking evaluation of efficacy with the imprimatur of the institutional review board. The duration of the study has been provisionally determined to span from 1 January 2023 through 31 December 2025. Our cohort shall encompass one hundred participants, who was scheduled to undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. All patients will undergo anthropometric measurements, blood-based biochemical analyses, ultrasonic examination and magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). The primary endpoint is the analysis of evaluating the efficacy of QUS techniques assessing hepatic steatosis compared to other methods before and after bariatric surgery.

Results

Prior to the fomal study, we recruited 21 obese Chinese participants who received ultrasonic examination (TAI, TSI) and MRI-PDFF. AC-TAI showed moderate correlations with MRI-PDFF (adjusted r = 0.632; P < 0.05). For MRI-PDFF ≥10%, SC-TSI showed moderate correlations with MRI-PDFF (adjusted r = 0.677; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our pre-experiment results signified that using QUS techniques for postoperative evaluation of bariatric surgery is promising. QUS techniques will be signed a widespread availability, real-time functionality, and low-cost approach for assessing hepatic steatosis before and after bariatric surgery in obese individuals, thus is capable for subsequent scale-up liver fat quantification.

Ethics and dissemination

The present research endeavor has been bestowed with the imprimatur of the Ethics Committee of the Hospital, as indicated by its Approval Number: 2023-KY-015. In due course, upon completion of the study, we intend to disseminate our findings by publishing them in a suitable academic journal, thereby facilitating their widespread utilization.

Registration

The trial is duly registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, and with a unique Trial Registration Number, ChiCTR2300069892, approved on March 28, 2023.

Ultrasound Prevalence and Clinical Features of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Real-Life Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. We can identify two major forms: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). One of the extraintestinal manifestations of IBD is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). IBD and NAFLD share common pathogenetic mechanisms. Ultrasound (US) examination is the most commonly used imaging method for the diagnosis of NAFLD. This cross-sectional observational retrospective study aimed to evaluate the US prevalence of NAFLD in IBD patients and their clinical features. Materials and Methods: A total of 143 patients with IBD underwent hepatic US and were divided into two different groups according to the presence or absence of NAFLD. Subsequently, new exclusion criteria for dysmetabolic comorbidities (defined as plus) were applied. Results: The US prevalence of NAFLD was 23% (21% in CD and 24% in UC, respectively). Most IBD-NAFLD patients were male and older and showed significantly higher values for body mass index, waist circumference, disease duration, and age at onset than those without NAFLD. IBD-NAFLD patients showed a significantly higher percentage of stenosing phenotype and left-side colitis. Regarding metabolic features, IBD-NAFLD patients showed a significantly higher percentage of hypertension and IBD plus dysmetabolic criteria. Also, higher values of alanine aminotransferase and triglycerides and lower levels of high-density lipoproteins are reported in these patients. Conclusions: We suggest performing liver US screening in subjects affected by IBD to detect NAFLD earlier. Also, patients with NAFLD present several metabolic comorbidities that would fall within the new definition of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. Finally, we encourage larger longitudinal studies, including healthy controls, to provide further confirmation of our preliminary data.

Effects of 12 Weeks of Family and Individual Multi-Disciplinary Intervention in Overweight and Obese Adolescents under Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters: A Clinical Trial

Adolescence is a complex period of human development in which young people are susceptible to unhealthy behaviors, such as physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet. This study aimed to analyze the effects of 12 weeks of multi-disciplinary family and individual intervention on cardiometabolic risk parameters in overweight and obese adolescents and compare sub-groups, considering possible differences between sexes (males vs. females vs. intervention approach). Forty-three adolescents (13.73 ± 2.46 years old) of both sexes were divided into two groups: family group (FG) (n = 21; 14.24 ± 2.61 years old) and individual group (IG) (n = 22; 13.23 ± 2.27 years old). The following parameters were evaluated: anthropometry (body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), calculation of body mass index (BMI), and waist-hip ratio (WHR)), body composition (fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat percentage (BF), and visceral fat), biochemical measures (fasting glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-c), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL-c)), and the measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) before and after the interventions. The multi-disciplinary interventions occurred for 12 weeks (three days a week lasting 1 h and 30 min, in which 30 min were dedicated to theoretical interventions (nutrition: nutritional education and psychology: psychoeducation) and 1 h to physical exercises. A time effect was observed for LM, FFM, SMM, FM, and HDL-c, with higher values after intervention and a significant decrease for FM, BF, visceral fat, fasting glucose, TG, TC, LDL-c, and DBP (p < 0.05). However, no group, sub-group, or interaction effects were observed when comparing FG, IG, or sexes (p > 0.05). The responses of the present study show that both multi-disciplinary approaches (family and individual) promoted improvement in the body composition indicators, biochemical markers, and DBP of overweight and obese adolescents independently of the intervention group. Given this finding, health professionals, families, and adolescents could choose the type of intervention based on their preferences.

Liver Fibrosis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Progression to Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review

The aim of the systematic review is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of liver fibrosis in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and to discuss the role of liver fibrosis in the progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed a structured search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus up to 3 March 2023 to identify observational studies reporting liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD and IBD. Quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score. A total of 23 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 629,781 patients. A total of 10 cross-sectional, 3 case-control, and 10 cohort studies were included. Fourteen studies had a NOS score ≥ 7 points. NAFLD was diagnosed in 2162/6332 (34.1%) IBD participants. However, NAFLD diagnosis was established in 924/2962 (31.2%) healthy individuals without IBD. Advanced liver fibrosis was found in 116 (11.6%) of 992 IBD patients with NAFLD. Most studies found an association between NAFLD and classic cardiovascular risk factors such as older age, male sex, higher BMI, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. In addition, metabolic syndrome features were also associated with an increased risk of significant and advanced liver fibrosis. Although no strong association between NAFLD and IBD therapy was reported, some studies associated NAFLD with IBD diagnosis, Crohn's Disease, a complicated course of IBD, disease activity, and IBD duration. Advanced liver fibrosis was also associated with Crohn's disease in several studies. In conclusion, NAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis are prevalent and clinically relevant extraintestinal manifestations, so its diagnosis and potential progression to HCC should be carefully considered in daily clinical practice.

Obesity-Induced Hepatic Steatosis Is Partly Mediated by Visceral Fat Accumulation in Subjects with Overweight/Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

We explored whether visceral fat accumulation mediates the development of hepatic steatosis in individuals living with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 769 outpatients with overweight and obesity aged 18-65 years. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) was used to quantify the degree of hepatic steatosis. Visceral fat accumulation, represented by the visceral fat area (VFA), was measured using magnetic resonance imaging. The associations of body mass index (BMI), VFA, and CAP with each other were assessed by univariate analysis, multivariate linear regression, and mediation analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with women, male subjects had higher BMI, VFA, and CAP levels. In both sex, CAP was positively correlated with BMI and VFA by the univariate analysis. After adjusting for demographic and serum characteristics, the linear correlation coefficients between BMI and CAP were 1.738 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.100, 2.377), 1.524 (95% CI: 0.798, 2.249), and 2.650 (95% CI: 1.292, 4.009) in all subjects, females, and males, respectively, while those between VFA and CAP were 0.190 (95% CI: 0.133, 0.247), 0.184 (95% CI: 0.117, 0.252), and 0.194 (95% CI: 0.086, 0.301). Mediation analysis showed that visceral fat accumulation contributed to 51.37%, 53.85%, and 26.51% of obesity-induced hepatic steatosis in the total, female, and male subjects, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Visceral fat accumulation partially mediates obesity-induced hepatic steatosis in individuals with overweight and obesity, especially in women. More focus on visceral fat reduction is needed in individuals with obesity.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with intestinal, pulmonary or skin diseases: Inflammatory cross-talk that needs a multidisciplinary approach

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently considered the most common cause of liver disease. Its prevalence is increasing in parallel with the obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) epidemics in developed countries. Several recent studies have suggested that NAFLD may be the hepatic manifestation of a systemic inflammatory metabolic disease that also affects other organs, such as intestine, lungs, skin and vascular endothelium. It appears that local and systemic proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokine imbalance, together with insulin resistance and changes in the intestinal microbiota, are pathogenic mechanisms shared by NAFLD and other comorbidities. NAFLD is more common in patients with extrahepatic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obstructive syndrome apnea (OSA) and psoriasis than in the general population. Furthermore, there is evidence that this association has a negative impact on the severity of liver lesions. Specific risk characteristics for NAFLD have been identified in populations with IBD (i.e. age, obesity, DM2, previous bowel surgery, IBD evolution time, methotrexate treatment), OSA (i.e. obesity, DM2, OSA severity, increased transaminases) and psoriasis (i.e. age, metabolic factors, severe psoriasis, arthropathy, elevated transaminases, methotrexate treatment). These specific phenotypes might be used by gastroenterologists, pneumologists and dermatologists to create screening algorithms for NAFLD. Such algorithms should include non-invasive markers of fibrosis used in NAFLD to select subjects for referral to the hepatologist. Prospective, controlled studies in NAFLD patients with extrahepatic comorbidities are required to demonstrate a causal relationship and also that appropriate multidisciplinary management improves these patients’ prognosis and survival.

The Other Side of Malnutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Steatohepatitis and hepatobiliary manifestations constitute some of the most common extra-intestinal manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). On the other hand, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects around 25% of the world’s population and is attracting ever more attention in liver transplant programs. To outline the specific pathways linking these two conditions is a pressing task for 21st-century researchers. We are accustomed to expecting the occurrence of fatty liver disease in obese people, but current evidence suggests that there are several different pathways also occurring in underweight patients. Genetic factors, inflammatory signals and microbiota are key players that could help in understanding the entire pathogenesis of NAFLD, with the aim of defining the multiple expressions of malnutrition. In the current review, we summarize the most recent literature regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis and future directions for the management of NAFLD in patients affected by IBD.

Future outcomes and health needs of chronic hepatitis C patients after receiving antiviral therapy

AIMS

To study the future outcomes and health needs of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients after receiving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy based on the health promotion perspectives and cardiometabolic risks in a rural setting.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to December 2019 in coastal western and southern Taiwan.

METHODS

We included CHC patients who were diagnosed and transferred by the gastroenterologist and hepatologist in outpatient clinics and completed DAA treatments. Data on demographic characteristics, health-related behaviours and physiological biomarkers were collected through one-on-one interview using a questionnaire and from medical records obtained from a teaching hospital.

RESULTS

In total, 124 participants were enrolled. Most participants (87.1%) had no side effects and 79.8% felt satisfied after treatment. However, 62.1% had metabolic syndrome, 48.4% had hypertension and 37.9% had diabetes. Furthermore, 71.8% patients were considered to have medium-to-high risk based on Framingham risk scores. In the multiple regression model, after adjusting for education level, other chronic diseases were negatively associated with health-promoting behaviours in participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there were few side effects and most patients were satisfied after treatment, there was a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiometabolic diseases and less adoption of healthy behaviours in CHC patients. Despite the small sample size, the study suggests that clinicians can reduce the burden of the aforementioned comorbidities by providing adequate treatment and individualized lifestyle modification.

IMPACT

This study highlights that primary healthcare providers should consider the health needs of CHC patients after DAA treatment since many patients have high cardiometabolic risks, but only a few adopt a healthy lifestyle. Further studies are needed to initiate health-promoting programs for these patients to reduce further injury to vital organs.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a highly prevalent medical condition, characterized by intrahepatic fat accumulation which may eventually lead to hepatic inflammation, cell death and reactive fibrosis. Obesity and metabolic disturbances constitute significant contributors to liver steatosis pathogenesis, however, there is a growing awareness that fatty liver may emerge even in normal weight or metabolically healthy individuals. In recent years, advanced imaging techniques have revealed that liver steatosis is quite common in inflammatory bowel disease patients, suggesting that intestinal inflammation and disturbances of the liver-gut axis may also play a key role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathophysiology. The current review focuses on the co-occurrence of the two disorders, integrating research findings on epidemiology, clinical characteristics and common pathophysiological processes. The study of liver steatosis in inflammatory bowel disease patients may provide useful insights on the complex links between dietary fat intake, metabolic dysregulation, gut physiology and intrahepatic cellular mechanisms underlying liver inflammation and damage.