Multiparametric MRI in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease in the world, affecting more than 25% of the adult population. NAFLD covers a spectrum including simple steatosis, in which lipid accumulation in hepatocytes is the predominant histological characteristic, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characterized by additional hepatic inflammation with or without fibrosis. Liver biopsy is currently the reference standard to discriminate between hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Genetic variants of innate immunity receptors are associated with mortality in cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection.

Background & Aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by acute decompensation of cirrhosis (AD), organ failure(s) and high risk of short-term mortality with bacterial infection frequently as precipitating event. Innate immune pattern recognition receptors and members of the lectin pathway of complement activation are crucial to the innate immune response to pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of innate immune components are associated with the occurrence of bacterial infections or mortality in patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for AD or ACLF.

Short article: Impact of genetic variation in the vasopressin 1a receptor on the development of organ failure in patients admitted for acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis.

Background: Vasopressin receptor-mediated vasoconstriction is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of organ failure in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Patients And Methods: We studied the association between six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vasopressin 1a receptor gene and the development of organ failure in 826 patients admitted for acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis (n=641) or ACLF (n=185).

Results: No associations were found for SNPs with the presence of circulatory or renal failure.

Differences in Patient Characteristics and Midterm Outcome Between Asian and European Patients Treated with Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare patient characteristics and midterm outcomes after RFA for unresectable Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Asian and European cohorts.

Materials And Methods: The study was based on retrospective analysis of 279 patients (mean 64.8 ± 12.