MASLD is related to impaired alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and elevated blood ethanol levels: Role of TNFα and JNK.

Elevated fasting ethanol levels in peripheral blood frequently found in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASLD) patients even in the absence of alcohol consumption are discussed to contribute to disease development. To test the hypothesis that besides an enhanced gastrointestinal synthesis a diminished alcohol elimination through alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) may also be critical herein, we determined fasting ethanol levels and ADH activity in livers and blood of MASLD patients and in wild-type ± anti-TNFα antibody (infliximab) treated and TNFα mice fed a MASLD-inducing diet. Blood ethanol levels were significantly higher in patients and wild-type mice with MASLD while relative ADH activity in blood and liver tissue was significantly lower compared to controls.

Steatotic Liver Disease: Metabolic Dysfunction, Alcohol, or Both?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), both of them accounting for fatty liver disease (FLD), are among the most common chronic liver diseases globally, contributing to substantial public health burden. Both NAFLD and ALD share a similar picture of clinical presentation yet may have differences in prognosis and treatment, which renders early and accurate diagnosis difficult but necessary. While NAFLD is the fastest increasing chronic liver disease, the prevalence of ALD has seemingly remained stable in recent years.

Gas6 in chronic liver disease-a novel blood-based biomarker for liver fibrosis.

The expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl and its cleavage product soluble Axl (sAxl) is increased in liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this multicenter study, we evaluated the diagnostic value of Gas6, the high-affinity ligand of Axl, in patients with chronic liver disease. Levels of sAxl and Gas6, and their albumin (alb) ratios were analyzed in serum samples of patients with biopsy-proven liver fibrosis, end-stage liver disease, HCC, and healthy controls, and were compared to Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF™) test, Child-Pugh score (CPS), model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, hepatic venous pressure gradient, and α-fetoprotein, respectively.

Performance of non-invasive tests and histology for the prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Histologically assessed liver fibrosis stage has prognostic significance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is accepted as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials for non-cirrhotic NAFLD. Our aim was to compare the prognostic performance of non-invasive tests with liver histology in patients with NAFLD.

Methods: This was an individual participant data meta-analysis of the prognostic performance of histologically assessed fibrosis stage (F0-4), liver stiffness measured by vibration-controlled transient elastography (LSM-VCTE), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) in patients with NAFLD.

Regression of Graft Steatosis After Liver Transplantation.

Liver grafts with limited steatosis are currently used for liver transplantation, but the natural history of graft steatosis is not well known. This program evaluation aimed at assessing changes of steatosis after liver transplantation. A retrospective chart review was performed assessing presence and severity of steatosis in the liver explant and in time zero donor graft biopsies carried out at the time-point of liver transplantation on histopathology and on imaging one year thereafter in 30 well characterized patients.

Ethyl glucuronide in hair detects a high rate of harmful alcohol consumption in presumed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) cannot reliably be distinguished by routine diagnostics, and the role of alcohol consumption in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remains unclear. We investigated alcohol consumption in patients with presumed NAFLD and ALD using novel objective alcohol markers.

Methods: In total, 184 consecutive patients were included in this prospective observational study.

Alterations of nitric oxide homeostasis as trigger of intestinal barrier dysfunction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Changes in intestinal nitric oxide metabolism are discussed to contribute for the development of intestinal barrier dysfunction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To induce steatosis, female C57BL/6J mice were pair-fed with a liquid control diet (C) or a fat-, fructose- and cholesterol-rich diet (FFC) for 8 weeks. Mice received the diets ± 2.

Accuracy of non-invasive liver stiffness measurement and steatosis quantification in patients with severe and morbid obesity.

Background: Vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP™) have shown reliable performance predicting fibrosis and steatosis in normal- to overweight patients but have not been validated in severe to morbid obesity. This study aimed at determining the accuracy of VCTE, CAP™ and the composite score FibroScan-AST (FAST) in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥35 kg/m.

Methods: Patients scheduled for bariatric-metabolic surgery underwent preoperative VCTE/CAP™ measurement, and intraoperative liver biopsy.

Current Treatment Options for Cystic Fibrosis-Related Liver Disease.

Cystic Fibrosis-related liver disease (CFLD) has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), and affects children and adults. The understanding of the pathogenesis of CFLD is key in order to develop efficacious treatments. However, it remains complex, and has not been clarified to the last.

Evaluation and comparison of six noninvasive tests for prediction of significant or advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: In nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), advanced fibrosis has been identified as an important prognostic factor with increased liver-related mortality and treatment need. Due to the high prevalence of NAFLD, noninvasive risk stratification is needed to select patients for liver biopsy and treatment.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of several widely available noninvasive tests for assessment of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD with or without nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

MARKEDLY DELAYED INSULIN SECRETION AND A HIGH RATE OF UNDETECTED OVERT DIABETES CHARACTERIZE GLUCOSE METABOLISM IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS AFTER LUNG TRANSPLANTATION.

Objective: Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and should be screened for by an annual oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Since pathophysiologic studies have mainly been performed in a pediatric/adolescent, nontransplanted collective, we aimed to assess parameters of insulin secretion and sensitivity in adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients after lung transplantation (LT).

Methods: Twelve adult CF patients after LT without known diabetes (33.

Impact of nutritional status on pulmonary function after lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis.

Background: Nutritional status is an important prognostic factor in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) prior to lung transplantation.

Objective: To investigate the impact of nutritional status on pulmonary function in CF transplant recipients.

Methods: Adult double lung transplanted CF patients were consecutively included.

The Efficacy of MRI in the diagnostic workup of cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease: A clinical observational cohort study.

Purpose: To identify independent imaging features and establish a diagnostic algorithm for diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated liver disease (CFLD) in CF patients compared to controls using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

Methods: A total of 90 adult patients were enrolled: 50 with CF, 40 controls. The CF group was composed of two subgroups: a retrospective test subgroup (n = 33) and a prospective validation subgroup (n = 17).

Waitlist mortality and post-transplant survival in patients with cholestatic liver disease - Impact of changes in allocation policy.

Background: This study investigated the impact of Model of end-stage liver disease (MELD)-score introduction (MELDi) on waitlist mortality and post-liver transplant (LT) survival in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Methods: LT candidates with PSC or PBC listed between January 1983 and March 2016 were included and followed until December 2016. After MELDi in 2004, PBC patients were listed according to labMELD, PSC patients according to the highest MELD during active cholangitis (chMELD).

The role of TIPS in the management of liver transplant candidates.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation is used for treatment of several complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. Recent studies have identified a survival benefit for patients on the waiting list after TIPS implantation, but the optimal time point for TIPS implantation prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has not been established.

Study: This study retrospectively assessed patients undergoing TIPS implantation before or after listing for OLT at the Medical University of Vienna.

Significant Liver-Related Morbidity After Bariatric Surgery and Its Reversal-a Case Series.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs in up to 80% of patients with obesity. Current data suggest an improvement of NAFLD after established bariatric procedures.

Objectives: This study investigated liver function impairment after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).