Publications by authors named "Bugianesi E"

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe subtype, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are highly prevalent and strongly associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study sought to identify challenges to the diagnosis, treatment and management of people living with MASLD and MASH and understand the key barriers to adopting relevant clinical guidelines.

Methods: A real-world, cross-sectional study (BARRIERS-MASLD) consisting of a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews of physicians in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom was conducted from March to September 2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasingly linked to Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), with up to 38% of cases potentially related to this condition.
  • The rise of metabolic syndrome, viewed as a "silent pandemic," highlights the need to understand the connection between insulin resistance, inflammation, and complications like HCC.
  • The review will explore new findings in immunology, liver damage from gut issues, and the relationship with other cancers, while also discussing strategies for monitoring HCC risk and the impact of new treatments on liver disease.
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Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH) are associated with a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Individuals with MASLD exhibit insulin resistance (IR) and hyperglycemia, but it is unclear whether hepatic glucose production (HGP) is increased with MASLD severity. We evaluated HGP in a cohort of histologically characterized individuals with MASL/MASH using stable isotope infusion (6,6-H-glucose, U-H-glycerol) and liver-specific genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs).

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Background: Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has demonstrated potential beneficial effects in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

Aims: To describe the trial design and baseline characteristics of the 'Effect of Semaglutide in Subjects with Non-cirrhotic Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis' (ESSENCE) trial (NCT04822181).

Methods: ESSENCE is a two-part, phase 3, randomised, multicentre trial evaluating the effect of subcutaneous semaglutide 2.

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Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a heterogenous clinical and histopathological entity, where multiple metabolic co-factors are intertwined with high interindividual variability. The impact and severity of each factor (including obesity and type 2 diabetes) define a systemic dysmetabolism that can lead to either advanced liver disease and its complication (including hepatocellular carcinoma and clinical events related to portal hypertension) or extrahepatic events: incident cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and extrahepatic cancers. The balance between environmental factors and genetic susceptibility has unique implications in MASLD: the intermittent injury of metabolic co-factors, their fluctuation over time and their specific management, are counterbalanced by the presence of gene variants that can significantly impact the disease at multiple levels.

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Background: Although the estimated prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in Italy is 4-6%, little is known about patient characteristics and care pathways.

Aim: To describe patient characteristics and management approaches for patients with NASH or suspected NASH in Italy.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World NASH Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of endocrinologists and gastroenterologists in Italy from January to March 2018.

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Article Synopsis
  • Scientists studied a health problem called MASH, which affects people's livers, and worked on two tests to help doctors tell if someone has it.
  • They looked at data from over 3,000 people to make sure their first test, called acMASH, worked well, and then created a new test called acFibroMASH to find more severe cases.
  • The new acFibroMASH test was better at predicting who might have future liver problems compared to another test, showing it's a useful tool for doctors to keep patients healthy.
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  • Statins provide multiple benefits for patients with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), particularly in reducing long-term risks of all-cause mortality and liver-related clinical events (LREs).
  • A study followed 7988 patients for nearly 4.6 years, revealing that statin users had significantly lower risks of mortality (HR=0.233) and LREs (HR=0.380), as well as slower liver stiffness progression rates.
  • While statin usage is linked to a decrease in the progression of liver stiffness, it did not significantly correlate with liver stiffness regression, suggesting a complex relationship in liver health management.
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Plant-based diets (PBDs) are gaining attention as a sustainable and health-conscious alternative for managing various chronic conditions, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In the absence of pharmacological treatments, exploring the potential of lifestyle modifications to improve biochemical and pathological outcomes becomes crucial. The adoption of PBDs has demonstrated beneficial effects such as weight control, increased metabolic health and improved coexisting diseases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Chronic liver diseases, particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), are widespread but poorly understood by many, highlighting the need for better awareness and knowledge transfer.
  • An analysis of Google search trends from 2004 to 2021 indicated that interest in MASLD has increased, while interest in its severe form (MASH) and viral hepatitis C has decreased; queries for viral hepatitis B remained stable but focused mainly on vaccination.
  • The search habits show that most users favor simpler, native language terms over complex medical jargon, indicating that public interest is led by non-experts and not significantly influenced by new medical advancements.
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Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a progressive liver disease associated with liver-related complications and death. The efficacy and safety of tirzepatide, an agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors, in patients with MASH and moderate or severe fibrosis is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a phase 2, dose-finding, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving participants with biopsy-confirmed MASH and stage F2 or F3 (moderate or severe) fibrosis.

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Background: Dual agonism of glucagon receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor may be more effective than GLP-1 receptor agonism alone for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The efficacy and safety of survodutide (a dual agonist of glucagon receptor and GLP-1 receptor) in persons with MASH and liver fibrosis are unclear.

Methods: In this 48-week, phase 2 trial, we randomly assigned adults with biopsy-confirmed MASH and fibrosis stage F1 through F3 in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive once-weekly subcutaneous injections of survodutide at a dose of 2.

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Fibrosis is a common feature of more than 50 different diseases and the cause of more than 35% of deaths worldwide, of which liver, kidney, skin, heart and, recently, lungs are receiving the most attention. Tissue changes, resulting in loss of organ function, are both a cause and consequence of disease and outcome. Fibrosis is caused by an excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, which over time results in impaired organ function and organ failure, and the pathways leading to increased fibroblast activation are many.

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() infection is a prominent entity within human infectious diseases which cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric malignancies, and extragastric disorders. Its persistent colonization can lead to a systemic inflammatory cascade, potentially instigating autoimmune responses and contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. While the specific etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) is still unknown, it is widely recognized that immunological, genetic, and environmental factors are implicated.

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Importance: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is currently the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. It is important to develop noninvasive tests to assess the disease severity and prognosis.

Objective: To study the prognostic implications of baseline levels and dynamic changes of the vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE)-based scores developed for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis (Agile 3+) and cirrhosis (Agile 4) in patients with MASLD.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the relationship between clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
  • - A sample of 208 individuals with MASLD-HCC and controls was analyzed through whole exome sequencing, revealing that CHIP occurred in 13.1% of participants, with significant correlations to age and advanced liver fibrosis.
  • - Findings indicate that certain CHIP-related genetic mutations (particularly non-DNTM3A and TET2) are independently linked to HCC progression, suggesting that CHIP could be an important factor in identifying patients at risk for liver cancer.
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Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. In 20%-30% of MASLD patients, the disease progresses to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, previously NASH) which can lead to fibrosis/cirrhosis, liver failure as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we investigated the role of histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), a plasma protein produced by hepatocytes, in MASLD/MASH progression and HCC development.

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Background: The current management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) relies on lifestyle intervention. Prior studies have shown that nutritional wheat amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATI) activate toll-like receptor 4 on intestinal myeloid cells to enhance intestinal and extra-intestinal inflammation, including the promotion of murine MASLD, insulin resistance and liver fibrosis.

Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of ATI (gluten)-free diet in liver as well as metabolic parameters of biopsy-proven MASLD patients.

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Aims: Metabolic dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) outcomes such as MASH (metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis), fibrosis and cirrhosis are ordinarily determined by resource-intensive and invasive biopsies. We aim to show that routine clinical tests offer sufficient information to predict these endpoints.

Methods: Using the LITMUS Metacohort derived from the European NAFLD Registry, the largest MASLD dataset in Europe, we create three combinations of features which vary in degree of procurement including a 19-variable feature set that are attained through a routine clinical appointment or blood test.

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Background: Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) can assess both the extent and the features of coronary plaques. We aimed to gather evidence about the prevalence and features of coronary plaques among MASLD patients.

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Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is a disease spectrum encompassing liver injury with progressive severity, tightly connected to the metabolic syndrome. Management of MASLD mostly relies on lifestyle change aiming at improving metabolic homeostasis and insulin resistance. A Mediterranean-like dietary pattern and individualized lifestyle interventions are the cornerstone of MASLD treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and advanced fibrosis among relatives of patients with advanced MASLD, highlighting the condition's genetic aspects.
  • Results showed that 56.8% of relatives had MASLD, with 14.4% presenting advanced fibrosis, indicating a significant risk, especially linked to factors like body mass index and diabetes.
  • Despite some genetic risk variants being more common among affected individuals, they did not effectively enhance the screening process for advanced fibrosis in relatives, underscoring the need for family screening based on clinical guidelines.
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Objective: Hyperferritinaemia is associated with liver fibrosis severity in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but the longitudinal implications have not been thoroughly investigated. We assessed the role of serum ferritin in predicting long-term outcomes or death.

Design: We evaluated the relationship between baseline serum ferritin and longitudinal events in a multicentre cohort of 1342 patients.

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Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a multifactorial condition characterized by insulin resistance, oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, and sometimes fibrosis. To date, no effective pharmacological therapy has been approved for the treatment of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the progressive form of MASLD. Recently, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have described the efficacy of nutraceutical compounds in the diet has been tested.

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