IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis associated with essential thrombocythemia: A case report.

Background: The complexity of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related diseases and their potential connection to hematologic malignancies remains unclear. This article provided a review of the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (SC) and essential thrombocythemia (ET), along with an analysis of relevant literature to enhance comprehension of this disease.

Case Summary: A 56-year-old male was admitted to two hospitals with deteriorating jaundice and pruritus prior to hospitalization.

Prognostic role of the stromal cell derived factor-1 in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) plays a pivotal role in the recruitment of stem cells to injured livers. However, the changes of SDF-l in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) have yet to be elucidated.

Aim: To study the SDF-1 changes in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

Metabolic Disorders Combined with Noninvasive Tests to Screen Advanced Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background And Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with metabolic disorders. This study aimed to explore the role of metabolic disorders in screening advanced fibrosis in NAFLD patients.

Methods: A total of 246 histologically-proven NAFLD patients were enrolled across 14 centers.

The pathologic relevance of metabolic criteria in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease: A multicenter cross-sectional study in China.

Background: This study aimed to assess the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to discuss the pathological relevance of the diagnostic criteria in metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Patients with NAFLD confirmed by liver biopsy were enrolled between July 2016 and December 2018 from 14 centers across the mainland of China.

Metformin alleviates inflammatory response in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by restraining signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated autophagy inhibition in vitro and in vivo.

Autophagy is an intracellular recycling and degradation process for regulating cell survival and drug resistance. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming a widespread disease in developing countries. However, the role of autophagy in NASH has not yet been fully elucidated.

A novel point-of-care oral anti-HCV assay: Is it reliable for screening hepatitis C virus infection in the era of direct-acting antivirals?

Recent advance in the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) offers the potentials to eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide and makes universal screening more urgent. A point-of-care (POC) oral anti-HCV assay, the Fortune assay, was developed and its performance was evaluated. Individuals with or without HCV infection were recruited in three Centers.

Involvement of insulin resistance in the protective effect of metformin against alcoholic liver injury.

Background: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) continues to be a major cause of morbidity worldwide. The exact mechanisms for ALD pathogenesis are not fully understood. There is currently no known available drug for ALD.

[Dynamic changes in programmed death-1 expression on the surface of T cells in chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing interferon therapy].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic changes that occur in T cell subsets, particularly involving the surface expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1), in response to pegylated (Peg)-interferon (IFN) a-2a therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with HCV genotype 1b chronic infection and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All the HCV patients received combination antiviral therapy of Peg-IFNa-2a (180 mug/week) plus ribavirin.

The relationship between hepatic resistin overexpression and inflammation in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: The relationship between resistin and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not clear, some studies claimed that serum resistin levels were associated with neither the presence of NASH nor its severity, others declared that serum resistin was related with inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. Our animal study verified that the distribution of resistin in the liver is correlated with inflammation in NASH. However, there is no pertinent study in humans.

Increased CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells correlate with poor short-term outcomes in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients.

Background: The roles of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in chronicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been confirmed. We aimed to explore alteration of Treg in patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Methods: Thirty-two HBV-related ACLF patients, 44 chronic hepatitis B patients, and 41 healthy controls were recruited.

[Entecavir treatment causes injury to the mitochondrial DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells].

Objective: Based on the potential for nucleotide analogues to affect DNA polymerase-gamma, which controls the proliferation of mitochondria, this study aimed to determine whether long-term treatment with entecavir can cause damage to mitochondrial (mt)DNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: Patients with CHB were divided into three groups according to their history of treatment type and duration: (1) entecavir monotherapy for 2 years, n = 17; (2) entecavir monotherapy for 3 years, n = 17; (3) non-antiviral treatment as control, n = 18. PBMCs were isolated and used to assess the mtDNA content by quantitative real-time PCR of mitochondria-specific genes.

Long-term binge and escalating ethanol exposure causes necroinflammation and fibrosis in rat liver.

Background: To investigate whether "binge" and escalating alcohol exposure in the rat influences the development of pathological liver injury.

Methods: Time courses for the formation of eicosanoids by cyclooxygenase (COX), oxidative stress and nitrosative stress production, expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), cytokines, hepatic tissue necroinflammation, and fibrosis were assessed in rats during 16 weeks of daily alcohol gavage.

Results: In this model of binge and escalating levels of alcohol, hepatic steatosis, necrosis, and inflammation as well as fibrosis were increased over the 16-week period.

[Simvastatin inhibits activation of hepatic stellate cells and promotes activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase].

Objective: To investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of the cholesterol-blocking drug, simvastatin, in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis.

Method: A rat model of nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis was established by feeding Wistar rats a fat-rich diet. After treatment with simvastatin (4 mg/kg/day), liver histological specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome for microscopic analysis.

Primary hepatic amyloidosis: a mini literature review and five cases report.

Primary hepatic amyloidosis (PHA) is characterized by abnormal deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (AL) in the liver. This rare condition is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and can be associated with poor prognosis. At present, the precise pathogenesis is not fully understood.

[Clinical research of xinganbao capsule on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis].

Objective: To explore the effects of Xinganbao Capsule (Cordyceps Sinensis) on the chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis.

Methods: Sixty patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to the trail group (40 cases) and the control group (20 cases). The trail group was treated with Xinganbao Capsule, 8 capsules each time, three times a day.

Obesity-related hepatocellular carcinoma: roles of risk factors altered in obesity.

Epidemiological data have demonstrated that the prevalence of either obesity or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide during past decades, and obesity has been unequivocally shown to be a risk factor for HCC. It has been reported that a significant proportion of HCC in obesity develops in cryptogenic cirrhosis, which is largely associated with the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Since the HCC is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms may help researchers to explore new approaches for preventing and treating the obesity-related HCC, and thereby facilitating a substantial reduction of morbidity and mortality.

[Adiponectin inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells induced by TGFb1 via up-regulating the expression of eNOS].

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of adiponectin inhibiting activation of hepatic stellate cells in non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis.

Methods: The rat models of non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis were successfully established by fat-rich diet administration. The expression of adiponectin mRNA and protein were respectively detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.

[Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in alcoholic liver disease-related hepatocyte apoptosis].

Objective: To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in alcoholic liver disease (ALD)-related hepatocyte apoptosis.

Methods: A rat model of ALD was established by continuous intragastric administration of ethanol. At 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks later, randomly selected rats were sacrificed for serum and liver sample collection.

Improved efficacy by individualized combination therapy with Peg IFN-a 2a and ADV in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background/aims: Monotherapy with pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFNa) or adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) to HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients has limited effects. This study aims to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and safety of individualized combination therapy with Peg-IFNa and ADV.

Methodology: HBeAg-positive CHB patients (n=160) were enrolled in this multi-center, prospective, randomized, 'real-life' cohort study, of which received Peg IFNa-2a monotherapy or combination therapy with ADV base on the baseline features and treatment response.