Chinese Guidelines on the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis (2024).

With progress in basic and clinical research on hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis worldwide, the Chinese Society of Hepatology of the Chinese Medical Association has invited experts in relevant fields to revise the 2018 "Chinese Guidelines on the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis." The updated guidelines provide recommendations for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and both primary and secondary prevention of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis.

Bifidobacterium bifidum 1007478 derived indole-3-lactic acid alleviates NASH via an aromatic hydrocarbon receptor-dependent pathway in zebrafish.

Aims: This study investigates the potential of Bifidobacterium bifidum 1007478 (BB478) and its metabolite indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) in alleviating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and fructose exposure.

Materials And Methods: A zebrafish model of NASH was established by exposure to HFD and fructose. BB478 was administered, and the effects on liver lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation were assessed.

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) Are Not Increased in Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Healthy Older Adult Patients.

Background/objective: Antimicrobial peptides have demonstrated promise as biomarkers for urinary tract infection (UTI) in older adults (age ≥ 65 years). However, it is unknown if urinary AMP levels also increase in asymptomatic bacteriuria. Our objective was to determine if AMP levels vary between older adult patients with and without asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Sour neuronal signalling attenuates macrophage mediated liver injury.

Background: Liver injury, a common pathophysiological basis of various liver diseases, is associated with inflammation. Hepatic nerves regulate inflammation. However, the specific signals that trigger inflammation and methods to treat inflammation by targeting nerves remain unknown.

Cross-modal correspondence between visual information and taste: Deciphering the relationship between color and umami using hydrolysates of salmon head as a case study.

In this study, the preliminary exploration of cross-modal correspondence between visual information and umami taste was performed. To investigate the relationship between color and perception of umami, the hydrolysates of salmon head was identified as a case study. Nine novel umami peptides were identified and screened from 833 peptides by using UPLC-MS/MS combined with iUmami-SCM and UMPred-FRL protocols.

Determining safe washout period for immune checkpoint inhibitors prior to liver transplantation: An international retrospective cohort study.

Background Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are increasingly used in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT). However, concerns about the risk of post-transplant rejection persist.

Methods: We conducted an international retrospective cohort study including 119 HCC patients who received ICIs prior to LT.

Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review.

As an emerging technology, organoids are promising new tools for basic and translational research in disease. Currently, the culture of organoids relies mainly on a type of unknown composition scaffold, namely Matrigel, which may pose problems in studying the effect of mechanical properties on organoids. Hydrogels, a new material with adjustable mechanical properties, can adapt to current studies.

The Asian Pacific association for the study of the liver clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects over one-fourth of the global adult population and is the leading cause of liver disease worldwide. To address this, the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) has created clinical practice guidelines focused on MAFLD. The guidelines cover various aspects of the disease, such as its epidemiology, diagnosis, screening, assessment, and treatment.

Mangosteen Seed Fat: A Typical 1,3-Distearoyl-Sn-2-Linoleoyl-Glycerol-Rich Fat and Its Effects on Delaying Chocolate Fat Bloom.

Mangosteen seed fat (MSF), a novel tropical seed fat, predominantly comprises 1,3-distearoyl-2-linoleoyl-glycerol (StLSt) and 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (StOSt). The fat was blended with cocoa butter (CB) in proportions of 5%, 25% and 60% in the present study, and the binary blends achieved acceptable miscibility. It was indicated that StLSt could be mixed well with the symmetrical monounsaturated triacylglycerols in CB, especially StOSt, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-3-stearoyl-glycerol (POSt) and 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (POP).

Incremental prognostic value of computed tomography-determined mitral annular dilatation in patients with severe aortic regurgitation undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: There is little data about the prognostic value of mitral annular dilatation (MAD) in patients with symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation (AR) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aimed to assess the prognosis value of computed tomography (CT)-determined MAD in such patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients with symptomatic severe AR who underwent pre-TAVR CT between May 2014 and May 2023 were included in this study.

Evaluating the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in lung cancer patients.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are first line treatment for advanced lung cancer. Tobacco use is a shared risk factor for lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although many patients with COPD and lung cancer receive ICIs, the impact of ICIs on COPD is unknown.

A co-designed conceptual model for implementing falls prevention programmes for community-dwelling older adults in Singapore: a systems thinking approach.

Introduction: Implementing falls prevention programmes in the community presents numerous challenges. We sought to understand the dynamics between the determinants influencing implementation to develop a common conceptual model describing the complexities of implementing falls prevention programmes in Singapore.

Methods: A full-day group model building workshop with a series of structured activities was organised with 31 multidisciplinary stakeholders.

Investigating the role of inflammatory cytokines in mediating the effect of gut microbiota on gastrointestinal cancers: a mendelian randomization study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the causal relationship between gut microbiota and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and to investigate the potential mediating factors influencing the development of GI cancers.

Methods: Using data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) to explore the relationship among gut microbiota, inflammatory cytokines and GI cancers. Subsequently, a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis was meticulously conducted to perform a mediation analysis, thereby estimating the proportion of mediation effects conferred by inflammatory cytokines.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF): the 'Kyoto Consensus'-steps from Asia.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a condition associated with high mortality in the absence of liver transplantation. There have been various definitions proposed worldwide. The first consensus report of the working party of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) set in 2004 on ACLF was published in 2009, and the "APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC)" was formed in 2012.

Highly specific immunoassays for hazardous phenacetin in herbal teas enabled by low electronegativity-induced coating antigen.

Phenacetin is often illegally adulterated into herbal teas for enhanced analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, posing great threats to consumers' health. However, few rapid tests are available to monitor the banned phenacetin. Though one phenacetin immunoassay has been reported already, its unmet selectivity limits the wider application in rapid screening.

Mass cytometric analysis of circulating monocyte subsets in a murine model of diabetic gastroparesis.

Circulating monocytes (Mo) are precursors to a subset of gastric resident muscularis macrophages. Changes in muscularis macrophages (MMs) result in delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in diabetic gastroparesis. However, the dynamics of Mo in the development of DGE in an animal model are unknown.

Quality of life and overall well-being between healthy individuals and patients with varied clinical diagnoses.

Background: Chronic diseases are known to detrimentally impact an individual's quality of life (QOL) and well-being. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the QOL and overall well-being among both healthy individuals and those with diverse primary diagnoses.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and data collection took place from May 2022 to May 2023.

Differential Risk Factors for Hematoma Expansion in Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: Understanding the risk factors for hematoma expansion (HE) in different regions of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) can help in the development of more accurate HE prediction tools and in implementing more effective clinical treatment interventions. This study aims to investigate the risk factors for HE in patients with lobar and deep ICH.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 558 cases of primary supratentorial ICH from Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University.

Cytosolic mtDNA-cGAS-STING axis mediates melanocytes pyroptosis to promote CD8 T-cell activation in vitiligo.

Background: The cGAS-STING axis, a DNA sensor pathway, has recently emerged as a key hub in sensing stress signals and initiating the immune cascade in several diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains unclear.

Objective: To explore the pathogenic role of the cGAS-STING axis in linking oxidative stress and CD8 T-cell-mediated anti-melanocytic immunity in vitiligo.

A biomarker framework for liver aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement.

In human aging, liver aging per se not only increases susceptibility to liver diseases but also increases vulnerability of other organs given its central role in regulating metabolism. Total liver function tends to be well maintained in the healthy elderly, so liver aging is generally difficult to identify early. In response to this critical challenge, the Aging Biomarker Consortium of China has formulated an expert consensus on biomarkers of liver aging by synthesizing the latest scientific literature, comprising insights from both scientists and clinicians.

MiR-4298 and lncKRTAP5-6-3 regulated Cathepsin D expression through ERK-MAPK signaling pathway in chronic UVB-damaged HaCaT cells.

Objective: MiRNAs and lncRNAs are important regulators in the process of skin photoaging. In this study, we investigated the expression changes and interactions between miR4298 and lncKRTAP5-6-3 in chronically UVB-damaged human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) cells and explored miR4298-MAPK/ERK signaling pathway-Cathepsin D-lncKRTAP5-6-3 mechanisms in photoaging cells.

Methods: HaCaT cells were irradiated with 12 mJ/cm UVB once a day for 7 days.

Clinical value of aortic arch morphology in transfemoral TAVR: artificial intelligence evaluation.

Background: The impact of aortic arch (AA) morphology on the management of the procedural details and the clinical outcomes of the transfemoral artery (TF)-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has not been evaluated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the AA morphology of patients who had TF-TAVR using an artificial intelligence algorithm and then to evaluate its predictive value for clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1480 consecutive patients undergoing TF-TAVR using a new-generation transcatheter heart valve at 12 institutes were included in this retrospective study.

Transesophageal-echocardiography-guided one-stage TAVR + M-TEER credibly treated patients with severe double valve regurgitation: a case report.

Background: There are few reports about the one-stage surgery of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) + mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) around the world. TAVR + M-TEER surgery is usually performed under the simultaneous guidance of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and echocardiography. There is no report of TAVR surgery assisted only by echocardiography all over the world.

Methylene blue at recommended concentrations alters metabolism in early zebrafish development.

Methylene blue (MB) is an antifungal agent widely used during critical stages of zebrafish development. Most guidelines recommend 0.00005% or 0.