FLAME: Training and Validating a Newly Conceived Model Incorporating Alpha-Glutathione-S-Transferase Serum Levels for Predicting Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis and Acute Cardiovascular Events in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).

Alpha-Glutathione-S-transferase (alphaGST) is a liver enzyme whose serum levels increase with the worsening of fibrosis in alcoholic and viral chronic hepatitis. Its usefulness in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) remains unexplored. From January 2016 to December 2017, 200 patients with MASLD and 30 controls were enrolled.

Dysgeusia in MASLD-related advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD): a silent driver towards the "Bermuda" triangle of malnutrition-sarcopenia-frailty severely affecting prognosis.

Background: Dysgeusia is a distortion of the sense of taste whose prevalence and relationship with nutritional status in Metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)-related advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) have never been systematically explored.

Methods: 200 MASLD patients [60 ≤ F3 fibrosis, 70 compensated ACLD (cACLD), and 70 decompensated (dACLD)] were enrolled. At baseline, the Child-Pugh (CP) score was determined.

Safety of Sofosbuvir-Based Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Direct Oral Anticoagulant Co-Administration.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended for the management of thrombosis prophylaxis, especially in patients with atrial fibrillation. As substrates of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and/or P-glycoprotein, they are implicated in potential drug-drug interactions. NS5A/NS5B inhibitors are direct-acting agents (DAAs) against the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection that exert a mild inhibition of P-glycoprotein without effects on CYP3A4.

Systemic Oxidative Balance Reflects the Liver Disease Progression Status for Primary Biliary Cholangitis (Pbc): The Narcissus Fountain.

Biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (dROMs) are two tests complementarily assessing systemic oxidative statuses (SOSs) that are never applied in chronic liver disorders (CLDs). We enrolled 41 ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-naïve Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) patients [age: 58.61 ± 11.

Red cell distribution width/platelet ratio estimates the 3-year risk of decompensation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-induced cirrhosis.

Background: For compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) patients, the first decompensation represents a dramatically worsening prognostic event. Based on the first decompensation event (DE), the transition to decompensated advanced chronic liver disease (dACLD) can occur through two modalities referred to as acute decompensation (AD) and non-AD (NAD), respectively. Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension (CSPH) is considered the strongest predictor of decompensation in these patients.

Environmental bisphenol A exposure triggers trained immunity-related pathways in monocytes.

Introduction: Trained Immunity represents a novel revolutionary concept of the immunological response involving innate immune cells. Bisphenol A is a well-known endocrine disrupter, widely disseminated worldwide and accumulated in the human body. Due to the increased interest regarding the effects of plastic-derived compounds on the immune system, our purpose was to explore whether BPA was able to induce trained immunity in human primary monocytes using low environmental concentrations.

Further decompensation in cirrhosis: Results of a large multicenter cohort study supporting Baveno VII statements.

Background And Aims: The prognostic weight of further decompensation in cirrhosis is still unclear. We investigated the incidence of further decompensation and its effect on mortality in patients with cirrhosis.

Approach And Results: Multicenter cohort study.

The Melanocortin System in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Insights into Its Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials.

The melanocortin system is a complex set of molecular mediators and receptors involved in many physiological and homeostatic processes. These include the regulation of melanogenesis, steroidogenesis, neuromodulation and the modulation of inflammatory processes. In the latter context, the system has assumed importance in conditions of chronic digestive inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), in which numerous experiences have been accumulated in mouse models of colitis.

Development of a risk score to predict portal vein tumor thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is a common complication of hepatocellular carcinoma and is one of the most negative prognostic factors. The management of patients with PVTT is challenging. The aim of the study was to develop a score predictive of tumor thrombosis.

The urotensin-II receptor: A marker for staging and steroid outcome prediction in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Urotensin-II receptor- (UTR) related pathway exerts a key-role in promoting inflammation. The aim was to assess the relationship between UTR expression and clinical, endoscopic and biochemical severity of ulcerative colitis (UC), exploring its predictivity of intravenous (iv) steroid administration therapeutic outcome.

Methods: One-hundred patients with first diagnosis of UC and 44 healthy subjects were enrolled.

Urinary volatile Organic compounds in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and NAFLD-T2DM coexistence.

Introduction: Accumulating evidence have shown a significant correlation between urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile and the manifestation of several physiological and pathological states, including liver diseases. Previous studies have investigated the urinary metabolic signature as a non-invasive tool for the early discrimination between non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which nowadays represents one of the most important challenges in this context, feasible only by carrying out liver biopsy.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in the urinary VOCs profiles of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects and NAFLD/T2DM patients.

A 60-Year-Old Woman with Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Crohn's Ileitis Following the Suspension of Ursodeoxycholic Acid.

BACKGROUND There is a recognized association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and hepatobiliary autoimmune disease, particularly primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). There have been fewer reported cases of IBD and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). This report presents the case of a 60-year-old woman with PBC who was diagnosed with Crohn's ileitis after suspension of UDCA treatment.

The Role of Insulin Resistance in Fueling NAFLD Pathogenesis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Implications.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a predominant hepatopathy that is rapidly becoming the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. The close association with metabolic syndrome's extrahepatic components has suggested the nature of the systemic metabolic-related disorder based on the interplay between genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors, creating a complex network of yet-unclarified pathogenetic mechanisms in which the role of insulin resistance (IR) could be crucial. This review detailed the clinical and pathogenetic evidence involved in the NAFLD-IR relationship, presenting both the classic and more innovative models.

Recovery of ameliorates hepatic steatosis in experimental alcohol-related liver disease.

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver disease and represents a global burden, as treatment options are scarce. Whereas 90% of ethanol abusers develop alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), only a minority evolves to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Alcohol increases lipogenesis and suppresses lipid-oxidation implying steatosis, although the key role of intestinal barrier integrity and microbiota in ALD has recently emerged.

Alcoholic Consumption of Young Italians During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Background: The international health emergency caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which, at the end of 2019, hit the world, forced the governments of all countries to adopt stringent restrictive measures to contain the spread of the virus. Several studies have revealed worsening levels of anxiety, depression and perceived stress related to these restrictions and the resulting lifestyle changes. Some studies have also confirmed the presence of a relationship between SARS-CoV-2-related emotional distress and drinking behavior.

Gut microbiota correlates with antitumor activity in patients with mCRC and NSCLC treated with cetuximab plus avelumab.

Gut microbiota is involved in immune modulation and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy. Single-arm phase II CAVE-mCRC and CAVE-LUNG clinical trials investigated cetuximab + avelumab combination in RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and chemo-refractory nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, respectively. A comprehensive gut microbiota genetic analysis was done in basal fecal samples of 14 patients from CAVE-mCRC trial with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) RAS/BRAF WT and microsatellite stable (MSS) disease.

The Lesson from the First Italian Lockdown: Impacts on Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Patients with Remission of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, decisions were taken to adopt restrictive legislative measures, such as the first half of the 2020 lockdown. In those months, patients with inflammatory bowel disease experienced social isolation and reduced access to health care.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate, in this condition, the presence of remission subgroups that were most impacted by the lockdown.

Beneficial Effects of Silybin Treatment After Viral Eradication in Patients With HCV-Related Advanced Chronic Liver Disease: A Pilot Study.

HCV eradication by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) improves liver outcomes and reduces overall liver mortality. However, patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) may experience a progression of liver disease despite viral clearance. Silybin has shown hepatoprotective effects in experimental models, but clinical data are limited.

PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and MBOAT7 Influence on Nutraceutical Therapy Response for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and MBOAT7 genes play a crucial role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development and worsening. However, few data are available on their treatment response influence. The aim of this trial is to explore the effect derived from silybin-phospholipids complex (303 mg of silybin-phospholipids complex, 10 μg of vitamin D, and 15 mg of vitamin E twice a day for 6 months) oral administration in NAFLD patients carrying PNPLA3-rs738409, TM6SF2-rs58542926, or MBOAT7-rs641738 genetic variants.