Impact of HIV Infection on Liver and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Veterans With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Introduction: Hepatic steatosis is highly prevalent in people living with HIV. It remains unclear whether HIV in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with greater risks of liver disease progression and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aim to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on risks of liver and CVD outcomes among US Veterans with MASLD.

Impact of Longitudinal Alcohol Use Patterns on Long-Term Risk of Cirrhosis Among US Veterans With Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background & Aims: Conflicting data exist on the impact of alcohol use on risk of liver disease progression in patients with steatotic liver disease. We aimed to evaluate the effect of longitudinal alcohol use on risk of cirrhosis among veterans with steatotic liver disease.

Methods: US veterans with steatotic liver disease were identified from January 2010 through December 2022.

Incidence of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Veterans With Noncirrhotic Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Background And Aims: Despite the high prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), the long-term incidence of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among adults with MAFLD is not well described. Using a national cohort of United States Veterans, we evaluated the overall incidence and predictors of cirrhosis and HCC among adults with noncirrhotic MAFLD.

Methods: Data from the 2010 to 2022 Veterans Affairs database were used to identify adults with noncirrhotic MAFLD using established definitions.

The Role Bariatric Surgery and Endobariatric Therapies in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Disease spectrum varies from steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there are no approved medical therapies, and weight loss through lifestyle modifications remains a mainstay of therapy.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Statin Use Among Adults with Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: A leading cause of mortality in fatty liver disease is cardiovascular disease. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is new terminology that classifies fatty liver due to metabolic dysfunction attributable to obesity and associated complications. We evaluated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and statin use in adults with MAFLD.

Cost-Effectiveness of Earlier or More Intensive Colorectal Cancer Screening in Overweight and Obese Patients.

Background & Aims: Overweight and obese persons have not only elevated rates of colorectal cancer (CRC), but also higher competing mortality and healthcare spending. We examined the cost-effectiveness of intensified CRC screening in overweight and obese persons.

Methods: We adapted our validated decision analytic model of CRC screening to compare screening starting at 45 or 40 years of age instead of at 50 years of age, or shortening screening intervals, in women and men with body mass index (BMI) ranging from normal to grade III obesity.

Reproducibility of a novel computed-tomography based measurement of renal papillary density in the Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Renal papillary calcification is a compelling candidate risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and nephrolithiasis. Renal papillary density (RPD), as assessed by computed tomography (CT), is a potential marker for calcification that has not been well studied. We developed a protocol to measure RPD using CT scans and assessed its reproducibility in participants from the Framingham Heart Study.

The Association Between Subcutaneous Fat Density and the Propensity to Store Fat Viscerally.

Background: Alterations in the cellular characteristics of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) may reduce its ability to expand in times of caloric excess, increasing the propensity to store excess calories viscerally (visceral adipose tissue [VAT]). We hypothesized (1) that increased SAT density, an indirect marker of fat quality, would be associated with an increased VAT/SAT ratio and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and (2) that these associations would be independent of the absolute volume of SAT.

Methods: We investigated the association of SAT density with the VAT/SAT ratio and CVD risk in 3212 participants (48% women, mean age, 50.

H2A.Z-dependent regulation of cohesin dynamics on chromosome arms.

Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes and DNA topoisomerases are major determinants of chromosome structure and dynamics. The cohesin complex embraces sister chromatids throughout interphase, but during mitosis most cohesin is stripped from chromosome arms by early prophase, while the remaining cohesin at kinetochores is cleaved at anaphase. This two-step removal of cohesin is required for sister chromatids to separate.

Effect of body size on expression of Manduca sexta midgut genes.

Isometric growth of larval insect midgut predicts that the ratio of midgut surface area to body mass decreases as larvae grow. Gut tissue and gut content masses were measured in first through fifth instar Manduca sexta larvae. Wet mass of gut tissue increased in relationship to body mass with a scaling exponent of 0.