Machine-learning model comprising five clinical indices and liver stiffness measurement can accurately identify MASLD-related liver fibrosis.

Background & Aims: aMAP score, as a hepatocellular carcinoma risk score, is proven to be associated with the degree of chronic hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis. We aimed to evaluate the ability of aMAP score for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD; formerly NAFLD)-related fibrosis diagnosis and establish a machine-learning (ML) model to improve the diagnostic performance.

Methods: A total of 946 biopsy-proved MASLD patients from China and the United States were included in the analysis.

MAFLD fibrosis score: Using routine measures to identify advanced fibrosis in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: Early screening may prevent fibrosis progression in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Aims: We developed and validated MAFLD fibrosis score (MFS) for identifying advanced fibrosis (≥F3) among MAFLD patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional, multicentre study consecutively recruited MAFLD patients receiving tertiary care (Malaysia as training cohort [n = 276] and Hong Kong and Wenzhou as validation cohort [n = 431]).

aMAP Score and Its Combination With Liver Stiffness Measurement Accurately Assess Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Background & Aims: The changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) are unreliable to estimate regression of fibrosis during antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The age-male-albumin-bilirubin-platelets score (aMAP), as an accurate hepatocellular carcinoma risk score, may reflect the liver fibrosis stage. Here, we aimed to evaluate the performance of aMAP for diagnosing liver fibrosis in CHB patients with or without treatment.

TP53 R249S mutation in hepatic organoids captures the predisposing cancer risk.

Background And Aims: Major genomic drivers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are nowadays well recognized, although models to establish their roles in human HCC initiation remain scarce. Here, we used human liver organoids in experimental systems to mimic the early stages of human liver carcinogenesis from the genetic lesions of TP53 loss and L3 loop R249S mutation. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) of HCC cell lines shed important functional insights into the initiation of HCC consequential to the loss of tumor-suppressive function from TP53 deficiency and gain-of-function activities from mutant p53.

N-terminal propeptide of type 3 collagen-based sequential algorithm can identify high-risk steatohepatitis and fibrosis in MAFLD.

Background And Aims: With metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) incidence and prevalence sharply increasing globally, there is an urgent need for non-invasive diagnostic tests to accurately screen high-risk MAFLD patients for liver inflammation and fibrosis. We aimed to develop a novel sequential algorithm based on N-terminal propeptide of type 3 collagen (PRO-C3) for disease risk stratification in patients with MAFLD.

Methods: A derivation and independent validation cohort of 327 and 142 patients with biopsy-confirmed MAFLD were studied.

Steatosis, HBV-related HCC, cirrhosis, and HBsAg seroclearance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: NAFLD and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection are common etiologies of HCC. The impact of hepatic steatosis on HCC in CHB, as well as its relationship with the development of cirrhosis, fibrosis, and HBsAg seroclearance, remains controversial.

Approach And Results: Data from observational studies were collected through PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to February 1, 2022.

Detecting Early-Stage Liver Fibrosis Using Macromolecular Proton Fraction Mapping Based on Spin-Lock MRI: Preliminary Observations.

Background: Liver fibrosis is characterized by macromolecule depositions. Recently, a novel technology termed macromolecular proton fraction quantification based on spin-lock magnetic resonance imaging (MPF-SL) is reported to measure macromolecule levels.

Hypothesis: MPF-SL can detect early-stage liver fibrosis by measuring macromolecule levels in the liver.

Validation model of fibrosis-8 index score to predict significant fibrosis among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Identifying hepatic fibrosis is crucial for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) management. The fibrosis-8 (FIB-8) score, recently developed by incorporating four additional variables into the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, showed better performance in predicting significant fibrosis in NAFLD.

Aim: To validate the FIB-8 score in a biopsy-proven NAFLD cohort and compare the diagnostic performance of the FIB-8 and FIB-4 scores and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) for predicting significant fibrosis.

Reliability of the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis clinical research network and steatosis activity fibrosis histological scoring systems.

Background And Aim: We aimed to determine whether lobular inflammation and ballooning grades in the Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) scoring system can be directly translated into the same for the Steatosis Activity Fibrosis scoring system (SAF) and to look at intra-observer and inter-observer agreement for each individual histological component and for diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using the two scoring systems.

Methods: Four pathologists from two Asian centers scored 20 digitalized slides, twice using the NASH CRN, twice using the SAF. Intra-observer and inter-observer agreement was analyzed using Fleiss' kappa, weighted kappa, or Cohen kappa, where appropriate.

Unique molecular characteristics of NAFLD-associated liver cancer accentuate β-catenin/TNFRSF19-mediated immune evasion.

Background & Aims: The hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), can lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite a strong causative link, NAFLD-HCC is often underrepresented in systematic genome explorations.

Methods: Herein, tumor-normal pairs from 100 patients diagnosed with NAFLD-HCC were subject to next-generation sequencing.

Ablative-Transarterial Radioembolization resulting in complete histopathological response of hepatocellular carcinoma in the resected liver specimen after salvage hepatectomy.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common disease. Many patients at the time of diagnosis of HCC are in advanced stages and cannot benefit from curative treatment. Palliative treatments remain the only treatment option.

Among simple non-invasive scores, Pro-C3 and ADAPT best exclude advanced fibrosis in Asian patients with MAFLD.

Background: With metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) incidence and prevalence increasing, it is necessary to identify patients with advanced fibrosis (F3-F4 stages). We evaluated the performance of new biomarkers and algorithms for diagnosing advanced fibrosis in an Asian population.

Methods: Data from two Asian cohorts (including 851 biopsy-proven MAFLD [578 from Wenzhou, 273 from Hong Kong]) were studied.

Artificial intelligence in prediction of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and fibrosis.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly widespread in our daily lives, including healthcare applications. AI has brought many new insights into better ways we care for our patients with chronic liver disease, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. There are multiple ways to apply the AI technology on top of the conventional invasive (liver biopsy) and noninvasive (transient elastography, serum biomarkers, or clinical prediction models) approaches.