The causal effect of gut microbiota on hepatic encephalopathy: a mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: There is growing evidence for a relationship between gut microbiota and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, the causal nature of the relationship between gut microbiota and HE has not been thoroughly investigated.

Method: This study utilized the large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics to evaluate the causal association between gut microbiota and HE risk.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal hypertension with chronic portal vein occlusion.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the long-term patency of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and determine the predictors of shunt dysfunction in patients with chronic portal vein occlusion (CPVO).

Method: This retrospective study was conducted from December 2010 to December 2020 in patients with portal hypertension and CPVO. Patients were followed up from initial TIPS insertion to December 2022 or death.

A modified model for predicting mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: A multicentre study.

Background And Aims: The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt has controversial survival benefits; thus, patient screening should be performed preoperatively. In this study, we aimed to develop a model to predict post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt mortality to aid clinical decision making.

Methods: A total of 811 patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt from five hospitals were divided into the training and external validation data sets.

3D automatic liver and spleen assessment in predicting overt hepatic encephalopathy before TIPS: a multi-center study.

Background: Overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) should be predicted preoperatively to identify suitable candidates for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) instead of first-line treatment. This study aimed to construct a 3D assessment-based model to predict post-TIPS overt HE.

Methods: In this multi-center cohort study, 487 patients who underwent TIPS were subdivided into a training dataset (390 cases from three hospitals) and an external validation dataset (97 cases from another two hospitals).

Safety, efficacy, and survival of drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization vs. conventional-transarterial chemoembolization in advanced HCC patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy, overall survival (OS) and safety of drug-eluting beads-TACE (DEB-TACE) and C-TACE as initial treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (mPVTT).

Methods: The medical records of consecutive advanced HCC patients with mPVTT who underwent initial DEB-TACE or C-TACE from September 2015 to October 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Treatment crossover was allowed in this retrospective research.

Inflammation-related nomogram for predicting survival of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma received conversion therapy.

Background: The efficacy of conversion therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common clinical concern.

Aim: To analyse the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable HCC who received conversion therapy.

Methods: One hundred and fifty patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled and divided into a training cohort ( = 120) and a validation cohort ( = 30).

DEM-TACE as the initial treatment could improve the clinical efficacy of the hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a retrospective controlled study.

Background: Conventional-transarterial chemoembolization (C-TACE) was proven to improve overall survival (OS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), drug-eluting microsphere-TACE (DEM-TACE) was supposed to provide more benefit than C-TACE in this respect.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy between DEM-TACE and C-TACE as the initial treatment in HCC patients with PVTT and to identify prognostic factors of OS.

Methods: The medical records of advanced HCC patients with PVTT who underwent DEM-TACE or C-TACE as the initial thearpy from September 2015 with mean follow-up time 14.

Preoperative prediction of overt hepatic encephalopathy caused by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Purpose: Preoperative prediction of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) should be performed in patients with variceal bleeding treated using the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. A reliable prediction tool is therefore required.

Method: Patients with cirrhosis-related variceal bleeding treated using the TIPS procedure were screened at two hospitals.

Identification of circRNAs involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma after insufficient radiofrequency ablation.

Previous studies have reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases. In the present study, we aimed to identify potential circRNAs associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after insufficient radiofrequency ablation (IRFA). A xenograft mouse IRFA model was initially established, and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to confirm the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1).

Application of percutaneous transluminal sharp recanalization in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for patients with chronic portal vein occlusion.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a modified technique for portal vein recanalization, percutaneous transluminal sharp recanalization (PTSR), when performing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for the treatment of chronic portal vein occlusion (CPVO) and portal hypertension.

Methods: Nine consecutive patients with CPVO and portal hypertension had undergone TIPS and PTSR procedure after failing in conventional percutaneous catheterization from March 2017 to July 2019. Technical success rates, effectiveness, and complications were evaluated.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt versus endoscopic therapy for prevention of variceal rebleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma meeting the Milan criteria.

Objective: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and endoscopic therapy (ET) have been recommended to prevent variceal rebleeding due to cirrhotic portal hypertension. However, which one is better for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. Hence, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of these two treatments for these subpopulation.

Identifying optimal candidates for early TIPS among patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding: a multicentre observational study.

Objectives: Early placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been shown to improve survival in high-risk patients (Child-Pugh B plus active bleeding at endoscopy or Child-Pugh C 10-13) with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding (AVB). However, early TIPS criteria may overestimate the mortality risk in a significant proportion of patients, and the survival benefit conferred by early TIPS in such patients has been questioned. Alternative criteria have been proposed to refine the criteria used to identify candidates for early TIPS.

Percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for variceal bleeding with chronic portal vein occlusion after splenectomy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to introduce a modified transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), a percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PTIPS), and to evaluate its feasibility and efficacy in patients with variceal bleeding with chronic portal vein occlusion (CPVO) after splenectomy.

Methods: Twenty-four cirrhotic patients with CPVO after splenectomy who received PTIPS between 2010 and 2015 were included in this retrospective study. The indication was elective control of variceal bleeding.