Hepatitis Liver Research Articles

Clinical Impact of Cellular Senescence and RNA Dysregulation in HCC Is Associated With MASLD and HCV-SVR.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hepatitis C virus sustained virologic response (HCV-SVR) are increasing. However, the mechanisms driving HCC development in these patients remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the role of cellular senescence and RNA editing in HCC by examining cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16) and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1) expression. HCC specimens from patients with MASLD or HCV-SVR were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to assess p16 and ADAR1 expression. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney U-test. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis. Among 122 patients, 59 (48.4%) had MASLD and 63 (51.6%) had HCV-SVR. p16 expression was observed in 69 cases (57.0%) in the noncancerous areas and 53 cases (44.5%) in the cancerous areas. ADAR1 expression was positive in 28 cases (23.5%) in the cancerous areas and significantly associated with p16 expression in the cancerous areas (p=0.039). Patients with p16 expression in the noncancerous areas were older (p=0.045) and had elevated serum ALT levels (p=0.024). p16 expression in the cancerous areas were correlated with a shorter recurrence-free survival (HR=1.65, 95%CI=1.00-2.73, p=0.046). Cellular senescence and RNA editing may play a key role in MASLD- and HCV-SVR-related HCC. p16 expression in the cancerous areas may serve as a prognostic biomarker for surgical outcomes.

447 Autoimmune hepatitis and acute liver injury secondary to drug induced liver injury in an adolescent with ADHD

447 Autoimmune hepatitis and acute liver injury secondary to drug induced liver injury in an adolescent with ADHD

P-32. Immunity to Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) among Healthcare Workers and Health Examinees: Effect of MMR Booster Vaccination Program

Abstract Background Healthcare personnel (HCP) are considered at higher risk for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) infections than the general population. A national policy of MMR booster vaccination, targeting HCP born in or after 1981, was introduced in 2013, with the primary aim to boost weaned herd immunity against measles. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of MMR booster vaccination program a decade after policy implementation. Tabel 1. Baseline characteristics and MMR serostatus among included participants Abbreviations: BMI, body-mass index; HCP, healthcare personnel; IQR, interquartile range; MMR, measles, mumps and rubella aCardiovascular diseases included coronary artery disease, hypertension, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmia. Chronic lung diseases included emphysema, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Liver diseases primarily comprised of fatty liver disease and hepatitis B. Autoimmune diseases denoted autoimmune thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and seronegative spondyloarthritis. B Rubella seroprevalence data was only available in 180 of the 204 health examinees. Methods From December 2021 to April 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted among HCP and individuals undergoing health examinations (health examinees) at a medical center to assess the seroprevalence of MMR. The MMR booster program was started in 2013, offering a free-of-charge single-dose MMR vaccine to at-risk HCP. Baseline information and previous vaccination history were obtained. MMR-specific IgG antibodies were determined using chemiluminescence immunoassays.Table 2.Factors associated with MMR seropositivityAbbreviations: BMI, body-mass index; Cl, confidence interval; HCP, healthcare personnel; MMR, measles, mumps and rubella; OR, odds ratioaThe ORs are the estimates of the effect of covariates on measles-specific antibody seropositivity, adjusted for age, types of participants, and previous MMR vaccination in childhood and adulthood in a logistic regression model. The ORs are the estimates of the effect of covariates on mumps-specific antibody seropositivity, adjusted for types of participants and previous MMR vaccination in adulthood in a logistic regression model. The ORs are the estimates of the effect of covariates on rubella-specific antibody seropositivity, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, types of participants, and previous MMR vaccination in adulthood in a logistic regression model.bcThose whose vaccination status was unknown were excluded from logistic regression, leaving 559 subjecs included in childhood MMR and 610 subjects in adulthood MMR.d There are 708 subjects with available rubella serostatus in total.ef There are 546 subjects with available childhood MMR vaccination history, 592 subjects with adulthood MMR immunization history with known rubella serostatus. Results During the study period, a total of 737 participants were included, comprising 533 (72.3%) HCP and 204 (27.7%) health examinees. The median age was 43 years, with 74.6% being female. The overall seropositivity rates for measles, mumps and rubella were 89.8%, 90.4%, and 88.1%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, older age was found to significantly increase measles seroprevalence (aOR, 1.08 per 1-year increase; 95% CI 1.05-1.12). MMR booster vaccination had a significant effect on the seroprevalence of measles (aOR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.83-7.04) and mumps (aOR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.60-6.59), but not rubella (AOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 0.85-3.45). In the target population of booster vaccination, the uptake rate was at least 64.4%. The corresponding booster uptake rate was 17.6% for HCP born before 1981 compared to 64.8% for those born in and after 1981, and 3.9% vs 2.3% among health examinees. The seroprevalence of measles among HCP born before and after 1981 was 94.9% vs 91.9%, while among health examinees, it was 96.1% and 100%.Figure 1.Seroprevalence of MMR among HCP and health examinees by ageAbbreviations: HCP, healthcare personnel; HE, health examinee; MMR, measles, mumps and rubella Conclusion The overall seroprevalence of MMR was high, exceeding 80% across all age groups. The introduction of MMR booster vaccination led to a rise in the seroprevalence of MMR. Our findings support the implementation of MMR booster programs among HCP and highlight the importance of enhancing the uptake rate of boosters among the targeted HCP.Table S1.Characteristics of 295 HCP born after 1981 who tested positive or negative for measles-specific antibody Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Hepatic Fibrosis for Pharmacodynamic Evaluation and Pathology Exploration.

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is an important pathological state in the progression of chronic liver disease to end-stage liver disease and is usually triggered by alcohol, nonalcoholic fatty liver, chronic hepatitis viruses, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), or cholestatic liver disease. Research on novel therapies has become a hot topic due to the reversibility of HF. Research into the molecular mechanisms of the pathology of HF and potential drug screening relies on reliable and rational biological models, mainly including animals and cells. Hence, a number of modeling approaches have been attempted based on human dietary, pathological, and physiological factors in the development of HF. In this review, classical and novel methods of modeling HF in the last 10 years were collected from electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, Baidu Scholar, and CNKI. Animal models of HF are usually induced by chemical toxicants, special diets, pathogenic microorganisms, surgical operations, and gene editing. The advantages and limitations of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), organoids, and 3D coculture-based HF modeling methods established in vitro were also proposed and summarized. This information provides a scientific basis for the discovery of the pathological mechanism and treatment of HF.

Current Treatment Regimens and Promising Molecular Therapies for Chronic Hepatobiliary Diseases.

Chronic hepatobiliary damage progressively leads to fibrosis, which may evolve into cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. The fight against the increasing incidence of liver-related morbidity and mortality is challenged by a lack of clinically validated early-stage biomarkers and the limited availability of effective anti-fibrotic therapies. Current research is focused on uncovering the pathogenetic mechanisms that drive liver fibrosis. Drugs targeting molecular pathways involved in chronic hepatobiliary diseases, such as inflammation, hepatic stellate cell activation and proliferation, and extracellular matrix production, are being developed. Etiology-specific treatments, such as those for hepatitis B and C viruses, are already in clinical use, and efforts to develop new, targeted therapies for other chronic hepatobiliary diseases are ongoing. In this review, we highlight the major molecular changes occurring in patients affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, viral hepatitis (Delta virus), and autoimmune chronic liver diseases (autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis). Further, we describe how this knowledge is linked to current molecular therapies as well as ongoing preclinical and clinical research on novel targeting strategies, including nucleic acid-, mesenchymal stromal/stem cell-, and extracellular vesicle-based options. Much clinical development is obviously still missing, but the plethora of promising potential treatment strategies in chronic hepatobiliary diseases holds promise for a future reversal of the current increase in morbidity and mortality in this group of patients.

Intra-Abdominal Hypertension and Its Prognostic Impact on Mortality in Cirrhotic Patients with Ascites: The Role of Paracentesis.

Elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) can lead to intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and, in severe cases, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Paracentesis reduces IAP and improves abdominal perfusion. Intra-abdominal hypertension can also trigger acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in decompensated cirrhosis. This study evaluates the association between IAH and short-term mortality in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. This prospective, single-center cohort study included 18 patients (7 females, 11 males; median age: 59) scheduled for therapeutic paracentesis. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured using the bladder technique. Patients were grouped based on initial Chronic Liver Failure Consortium Organ Failure (CLIF-C OF) scores as ACLF or non-ACLF and followed up for 3 months. The median model for end-stage liver disease score was 17 (IQR 11-19). The primary etiologies of cirrhosis were viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease. Independent risk factors for IAH included advanced liver disease and large-volume ascites. Pre-paracentesis IAP was higher in ACLF patients (22 vs. 18 mm Hg). Post-paracentesis IAP was also higher in ACLF patients (14 vs. 8 mm Hg, P = .007). The 3-month mortality rate was 50%, with worse survival in ACLF patients (24 vs. 76.9 days, P = .002). Pre-paracentesis IAP was significantly higher in patients who died (22 vs. 18 mm Hg, P = .034), and survival was worse in those with IAP ≥18.5 mm Hg (P = .026). Intra-abdominal pressure is elevated in cirrhosis patients with grade 3 ascites. Despite similar paracentesis volumes, IAP remained higher in the ACLF group. Intra-abdominal pressure ≥18.5 mm Hg is associated with significantly reduced survival, indicating that IAH accelerates short-term mortality in these patients.

MANAGEMENT OF HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY WITH AYURVEDA - A CASE REPORT

Ayurveda is an Indian system of medicine that has been practised for thousands of years—Ayurveda medicines have been found to be effective in most chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, and hepatic encephalopathy. A 58-year the male patient was admitted with complaints of irrelevant talk, abdominal distension, anorexia, drowsy, partially obeying verbal commands, yellowish discolouration of sclera, and bipedal oedema. The patient was managed with Ayurveda medicines. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), the neuropsychiatric presentation of liver disease, is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Hepatotoxicity of statins: a real-world study based on the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database.

Statins, as an important class of lipid-lowering drugs, play a key role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, with their widespread use in clinical practice, some adverse events have gradually emerged. In particular, the hepatotoxicity associated with statins use has become one of the clinical concerns that require sufficient attention. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the hepatotoxicity of statins based on the data of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database from the first quarter (Q1) of 2004 to the Q1 of 2024 and used Reporting Odds Ratios and Empirical Bayes Geometric Mean to mine the signal of adverse events. In this study, hepatic disorder related seven statins all exhibited positive signals. Through signal mining, we identified a total of 14,511 cases of adverse events associated with hepatic disorder caused by these statin drugs, with atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin occurring at a higher rate. A total of 148 positive signals related to adverse events of hepatic disorder were captured. Autoimmune hepatitis and drug-induced liver injury both presented positive signals across multiple statin drugs. Notably, atorvastatin had the most significant signal strength in cholestatic pruritus and bilirubin conjugation abnormal. Fluvastatin also showed notable signal strength in autoimmune hepatitis, while simvastatin had a relatively weaker signal strength for hepatic enzyme increased. This study discovered specific adverse event signal values, revealing potential hepatotoxic risks associated with the use of statin drugs. The results provide an important reference for the safe clinical use of drugs, help to improve the understanding of the safety of statins, and also provide a scientific basis for clinicians to make more accurate and safe decisions when making treatment plans.

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: Update on Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment: Scientific Impact Paper No. 56.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of viral infection in newborn babies, and affects 1 in 200 of all live born infants in high-income countries; and 1 in 71 in low- and middle-income countries. It is a major cause of hearing loss and brain damage. Women may get CMV infection for the first time during pregnancy (primary infection) or may experience 'non-primary' infection, either by reactivation of previous CMV infection or by a new infection with a different strain of the virus. The most common source of infection to pregnant women is the saliva and urine of young children. Therefore, all pregnant women, especially those in regular contact with young children, should be informed about hygiene-based measures to reduce the risks, e.g. handwashing. The UK National Screening Committee recommends against universal antenatal or newborn screening for CMV. Testing for CMV is usually offered only to women who develop symptoms of influenza, glandular fever or hepatitis (liver inflammation) during pregnancy, or for those whom a routine ultrasound scan detects fetal anomalies that suggests possible CMV infection. The risk of harm to the fetus is greatest following primary CMV infection of the woman in early pregnancy, and appears to be very low following infection after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Babies with CMV infection at birth may have jaundice, a rash, enlarged liver or spleen, a small brain, or be small for their gestational age. Around 1 in 8 babies born with CMV infection will have clinically detectable signs at birth. The rest will not have any features detectable by clinical examination alone. Therefore, all infants with CMV infection at birth should be followed up at a minimum of up to 2 years of age or later, depending upon the disease status, to check hearing and brain development. Following primary CMV infection in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, if the woman starts taking the antiviral medicine valaciclovir (valacyclovir) it reduces the risk of the baby becoming infected. Where CMV infection of the fetus in the womb has been confirmed (by amniocentesis, for example), regular ultrasound scans should be offered every 2-3 weeks until birth. Detailed assessment of the fetal brain is an essential part of these scans. Where maternal CMV infection occurs, but fetal infection is not confirmed, repeated ultrasound scans of the fetus should be offered every 2-3 weeks until birth. In infected fetuses, as well as ultrasound scans, an MRI scan of the brain should be offered at 28-32 weeks of gestation (and sometimes repeated 3-4 weeks later) to assess for any signs of harm to the fetal brain. All babies born to women with confirmed or suspected CMV infection should be tested for CMV with a urine or saliva sample within the first 21 days of life. In newborns with symptomatic CMV infection at birth, treatment with antiviral medicine (valganciclovir or ganciclovir) can reduce hearing loss in 5 out of 6 babies, and improve long-term brain development outcomes in some. There is no licensed vaccine for CMV.

Hepatoprotective Active Indian Medicinal Plants - A Comprehensive Review

With increasing prevalences connected to environmental pollutants, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and viral infections, liver diseases—including chronic illnesses like cirrhosis, hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—represent a significant worldwide health problem. Because of their hepatoprotective qualities, medicinal plants have long been used in traditional medical systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. This article examines many Indian medicinal herbs, including Phyllanthusniruri, Andrographispaniculata, Silybummarianum, and Curcuma longa, that are well-known for promoting liver health. Bioactive substances found in these plants, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and saponins, have hepatoprotective effects by means of anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant processes. Standardizing herbal formulations, guaranteeing uniform absorption, and carrying out extensive clinical studies continue to present difficulties despite encouraging outcomes. There are promising opportunities to increase the therapeutic potential of plant-based hepatoprotective medicines thanks to developments in pharmacogenomics, nanotechnology, and combination therapy. Validating the effectiveness, safety, and best usage of these herbs as well as combining them with contemporary medical techniques for all-encompassing liver health management require more investigation

Evaluating the Role of Aspirin in Liver Disease: Efficacy, Safety, Potential Benefits and Risks.

The rise in liver disease incidence and prevalence has led to increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Persistent hepatic inflammation drives disease progression by increasing fibrosis, advancing to cirrhosis, and potentially developing into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Addressing these complications is essential to reduce liver-related mortality. Recent studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly aspirin, may play a beneficial role in managing liver disease. Aspirin's anti-inflammatory and chemoprotective effects contribute to slowing disease progression and reducing the risks associated with chronic liver disease (CLD). This review highlights the current literature on the effects of aspirin in CLD, with a focus on patients with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hepatitis B and C. We will examine aspirin's potential ability to mitigate fibrosis, reduce the incidence of HCC, and lower liver-related mortality. Additionally, we will discuss its potential side effects and safety considerations, particularly in the context of liver disease, where there is an increased risk of bleeding.

Risk Stratification of Metabolic Risk Factors and Statin Use Associated With Liver and Nonliver Outcomes in Chronic Hepatitis B.

We investigated the association of metabolic risk factors (MRFs) and statin use with liver and nonliver outcomes in a nationwide cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the United States. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with CHB using the MarketScan Databases (January 2007-December 2021). Incidence of liver and nonliver outcomes (cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and extrahepatic cancer) was analyzed. MRFs included diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. The study included 52 277 patients with CHB, and 1:1 propensity score matching yielded 16 696 pairs of matched patients with and without MRFs for analysis. When compared with those without MRFs, patients with DM and all 3 other MRFs had the highest adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for any liver outcome at 2.08 (1.22-3.52), followed by 12.98 (7.73-21.80) for cardiovascular disease, 9.25 (5.46-15.66) for chronic kidney disease, and 2.01 (1.00-4.04) for extrahepatic cancer. Increased metabolic burden was associated with liver and nonliver outcomes except for comparison between patients without MRFs and those with MRFs but no DM (P > .2 for all liver outcomes). Among lower metabolic burden (≤2 MRFs), statin use was associated with a 15% lower risk of any liver outcomes, 35% reduced risk of HCC, and 15% lower risk of cirrhosis but not among those with higher metabolic burden (≥3 MRFs). Higher metabolic burden was associated with a greater risk for liver and nonliver complications in patients with CHB, with DM having the highest impact among other MRFs. Statin use was associated with a reduced risk of liver outcomes among lower metabolic burden.

Densities and Fertilizer Dosages based Study on the Development and Yield of Solanum procumbens Lour. in the Central Vietnam

Background: Solanum procumbens Lour. is a precious medicinal plant in Vietnam, effective in treating toothache, snakebites, bone pain, alcohol poisoning, especially liver detoxification and hepatitis diseases. The study was conducted in Central Vietnam with the aim of determining the appropriate density and fertilizer dosage for Solanum procumbens Lour. with the local climatic and soil conditions. Methods: The two-factors experiment was arranged in a split-plot design, with 3 replicates; fertilizer arranged in the large plot with three fertilizer dosages and density arranged in the small plot with three density levels. Result: Results showed that applied fertilizer dosage per hectare was 1.0 tons of NPK 20-15-5 + TE + 5.0 tons of manure + 1.5 tons of biofertilizer + 500 kg of lime powder comprised with the planted density of 50,000 plants per hectare, Solanum procumbens Lour. grew optimally and gave the highest yield, reached 6.03 net dried tons per hectare after five months of planting. Therefore, if we cultivate Solanum procumbens Lour. with this fertilizer dosage and density, it is considered to be suitable for the climatic and soil conditions in the Central of Vietnam.

Hepatic Events During Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment Between Liver and Non-Liver Malignancies in Hepatitis B Endemic Areas.

Notable advances have been made in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer treatment. However, the adverse effects of ICIs, especially hepatotoxicity, remain a challenging problem. Whether patients in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-endemic areas are prone to developing hepatic adverse events during ICI treatment warrants further exploration. From 2014 to 2020, the data of all patients with cancer who received ICI treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of and risk factors for hepatic adverse events, including hepatitis flare, immune-related hepatitis (irHepatitis) and HBV reactivation (HBVr), were analysed through a Cox proportional hazard regression model. A total of 1283 patients with cancer (190 hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] patients and 1093 patients with non-HCC malignancies) were eligible for analysis, of whom 283 (22.1%) were HBsAg-positive. The incidence of hepatitis flare events of any grade was significantly higher in HCC patients than in non-HCC patients (45.8% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.001). HCC and baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 40 U/L were independent risk factors for ≥ grade 3 hepatitis flare events. No difference was observed in irHepatitis risk between HCC patients and non-HCC patients. ALT > 40 U/L was an independent risk factor for irHepatitis. Among 283 HBsAg-positive patients, six patients (2.1%) experienced HBVr. HCC patients had a higher risk of HBVr than non-HCC patients (4.4% vs. 0.6%). No specific risk factor for HBVr could be identified. However, none of the patients under nucleos/tide analogue (NUC) prophylaxis experienced HBVr in this study. Under ICI treatment, HCC patients had a higher risk of hepatitis flare events than non-HCC patients. Abnormal baseline ALT levels are a risk factor for hepatic adverse events. NUC prophylaxis can minimise the risk of HBVr.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Strategies: Major Guidelines and Screening Advances.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with prognosis and treatment outcomes that are significantly influenced by the stage at diagnosis. Early detection through regular surveillance is crucial for improving patient outcomes, especially in high-risk groups such as those with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B. Geographic variations in HCC risk factors, including viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have led to the development of different international surveillance guidelines. This review aims to compare and evaluate the surveillance strategies proposed by the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), and the European Association for the Study of the Liver and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EASL-EORTC). The review examined and compared major international guidelines on HCC surveillance, focusing on patient selection, imaging modalities, and the integration of biomarkers. We also explored recent advancements in screening techniques, including artificial intelligence and emerging biomarkers, to identify future directions for improving surveillance strategies. Our analysis identified key differences in the guidelines, particularly in imaging modality preferences and the use of biomarkers for early detection. While all guidelines place emphasis on high-risk populations, the inclusion criteria and surveillance intervals vary. Additionally, novel technologies such as artificial intelligence show potential to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of HCC detection. This review highlights the need to harmonize the international guidelines, particularly in regard to patients with non-cirrhotic NAFLD who remain under-represented in current surveillance protocols. Future research should focus on integrating emerging technologies and biomarkers to improve early detection and overall patient outcomes.

Time-course RNA sequencing reveals high similarity in mRNAome between hepatic stellate cells activated by agalactosyl IgG and TGF-β1.

Previous studies have demonstrated the clinical relevance of aberrant serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycomic profiles in liver fibrosis and the pathogenic effects of agalactosyl IgG on activating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the dynamics of gene expression changes during HSC activation by agalactosyl IgG remain poorly understood. We performed RNA sequencing to analyze the mRNAome of human LX-2 HSCs at multiple time points after treatment with agalactosyl IgG and then compared these results with those obtained after normal IgG and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 treatments. Gene expression changes were significantly pronounced on day 5 and subsided by day 11 after HSC activation. A high degree of similarity in gene expression patterns between HSCs treated with agalactosyl IgG and TGF-β1 was observed, of which 1796 and 1785 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, respectively. Disease ontology analyses revealed that 114 and 105 DEGs in activated HSCs following agalactosyl IgG and TGF-β1 treatments, respectively, were linked to liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver disease, hepatitis B, and alcoholic hepatitis, with CCL5 and FAS being the most commonly affected genes. DEGs associated with liver fibrosis or aforementioned liver diseases involved in gene annotation, physiological functions, and signaling pathways regarding secretion of cytokines and chemokines, expression of fibrosis-related growth factors and their receptors, modification of extracellular matrices, and regulation of cell viability in activated HSCs. In conclusion, this study characterized the dynamics of mRNAome and gene networks and identified the liver fibrosis-related DEGs during HSC activation by agalactosyl IgG and TGF-β1.

Alteration of Gene Expression After Entecavir and Pegylated Interferon Therapy in HBV-Infected Chimeric Mouse Liver.

Cross-sectional analyses using liver tissue from chronic hepatitis B patients make it difficult to exclude the influence of host immune responses. In this study, we performed next-generation sequencing using the livers of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected uPA/SCID mice with humanized livers before and after antiviral therapy (AVT) with entecavir and pegylated interferon, and then performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of gene expression alteration. After HBV infection, the expression of genes involved in multiple pathways was significantly altered in the HBV-infected livers. After AVT, the levels of 37 out of 89 genes downregulated by HBV infection were restored, and 54 of 157 genes upregulated by HBV infection were suppressed. Interestingly, genes associated with hypoxia and KRAS signaling were included among the 54 genes upregulated by HBV infection and downregulated by AVT. Several genes associated with cell growth or carcinogenesis via hypoxia and KRAS signaling were significantly downregulated by AVT, with a potential application for the suppression of hepato-carcinogenesis.

Insights of gut-liver axis in hepatic diseases: Mechanisms, clinical implications, and therapeutic potentials.

With the rising prevalence of chronic liver diseases worldwide, there exists a need to diversify our artillery to incorporate a plethora of diagnostic and therapeutic methods to combat this disease. Currently, the most common causes of liver disease are non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and alcoholic liver disease. Some of these chronic diseases have the potential to transform into hepatocellular carcinoma with advancing fibrosis. In this review, we analyse the relationship between the gut and liver and their significance in liver disease. This two-way relationship has interesting effects on each other in liver diseases. The gut microbiota, through its metabolites, influences the metabolism in numerous ways. Careful manipulation of its composition can lead to the discovery of numerous therapeutic potentials that can be applied in the treatment of various liver diseases. Numerous cohort studies with a pan-omics approach are required to understand the association between the gut microbiome and hepatic disease progression through which we can identify effective ways to deal with this issue.

Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: Treatment algorithm proposed by Chinese College of Interventionalists (CCI)

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the most commonly used local treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Experts from the Chinese College of Interventionalists proposed a treatment algorithm regarding the use of TACE for the treatment of HCC in the context of the pathogenesis and biological behavior of HCC, incidence of concurrent hepatitis virus infection or liver cirrhosis, patient characteristics, and potential adverse reactions to treatment. The goal of this algorithm is to further standardize the practice of the TACE procedure based on the updated global evidence on HCC research and clinical experience from Chinese interventional radiologists.

Hematogenous Brain Abscess Resulting from Prostatic Abscess Caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae

Brain abscess, a life-threatening infection, can result from hematogenous spread. Although uncommon, Klebsiella pneumoniae can lead to brain abscess and systemic dissemination. In this case report, Klebsiella pneumoniae brain abscess, linked with prostate abscess, in a 57-year-old diabetic male with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis B, resulted in fatal sepsis despite antibiotic therapy. This case underscores Klebsiella's grave risk in immunocompromised patients, highlighting brain abscess and high mortality. Early diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation for multiple organ involvement are crucial.