Association of physical activity, including amount and maintenance, with the risk of HCC among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background & Aims: We investigated the association of physical activity (PA) levels and changes with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes who had undergone health examinations in 2009 and 2011 were enrolled. In total, 1,439,152 patients were included in the analysis.

Modulation of chicken gut microbiota for enhanced productivity and health: A review.

Microbiota in the digestive tract has become an interesting topic for researchers in recent years. The profile of chicken digestive tract microbiota and its relationship with health and production efficiency have become basic data for modulating the diversity and abundance of the digestive tract microbiota. This article reviews the techniques used to analyze the diversity, role, and function of the gastrointestinal microbiota and the mechanisms by which they are modulated.

Impact of anthropometric parameters on outcomes in Asians with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: We examined the incidence and predictors of clinical outcomes in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), focusing on anthropometric parameters.

Methods: Adult patients with MAFLD were identified in nationwide databases and a hospital cohort. Primary endpoints were atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and advanced fibrosis.

Five-year on-treatment variables-based PPACS model predicts subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma in entecavir/tenofovir-treated patients.

Considering the lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving long-term potent antiviral therapy, models predicting HCC after 5 years of therapy are needed. We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to construct and validate a model predicting HCC after 5 years of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TFV) therapy for CHB. The endpoint was HCC after 5 years of ETV/TFV therapy.

Diabetic MAFLD is associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality in chronic viral hepatitis patients.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) can coexist with chronic viral hepatitis. MAFLD is a heterogeneous disease because the diagnostic criteria include various metabolic traits. We aimed to identify patients at high risk of poor long-term outcomes based on MAFLD subgroups in chronic viral hepatitis patients.

Changes in liver stiffness values assessed using transient elastography in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: a prospective observational study.

Background/aims: Regression of liver fibrosis during antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients has been demonstrated, but data on the influence of long-term treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) on liver stiffness (LS) measured by transient elastography are scarce. We aimed to investigate the changes in LS values during the 144-week TDF therapy in treatment-naïve CHB patients.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from April 2015 to July 2020 at CHA Bundang Medical Center.

Low lysine stimulates adipogenesis through ZFP423 upregulation in bovine stromal vascular cells.

Adipogenesis is a complex process comprising commitment and a differentiation stages. Through research, many different transcriptional factors were found to mediate preadipocyte commitment and differentiation. Lysine has a potential of regulating the commitment and differentiation of preadipocytes.

Antimicrobial activities of nano-emulsion of virgin coconut oil.

This study aimed to determine the nano-emulsion of virgin coconut oil (n-VCO) formula that can produce the best size and zone inhibition of antimicrobial activity. The VCO was formulated with the different percentages of Tween 80 (P1: 24%, P2: 25%, P3: 26%) and sorbitol (P1: 36%, P2: 35%, P3: 34%). The particle size of the n-VCO emulsion was observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Predictive biomarkers of survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment.

Background: Since atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATE+BEV) regimen for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was released quite recently, real-world data are lacking. We evaluated efficacy, safety, and predictive biomarkers for survival in patients receiving ATE+BEV.

Methods: Between 2020 and 2021, HCC patients receiving ATE+BEV at academic teaching hospitals were recruited.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase dynamics as a biomarker for advanced fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aim: It is unclear whether changes in lipid profile and liver biochemistry are associated with advanced fibrosis.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) between 2009 and 2017 were included. The changes in blood tests were calculated as follows: [(value at 6 months - value at baseline)/value at baseline] × 100.

Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab vs. Lenvatinib as First-Line Therapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World, Multi-Center Study.

Lenvatinib (LENV) and atezolizumab/bevacizumab (ATE/BEV) have been approved as first-line regimens for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to compare their clinical efficacy and safety. Patients receiving ATE/BEV (n = 86) or LENV (n = 146) as first-line treatment were recruited from three academic hospitals in Korea.

Changes in general and central fatness are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma: A Korean nationwide longitudinal study.

We investigated the impact of short-term changes in general and central fatness on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a large, population-based cohort. We screened 7 221 479 subjects who underwent health examinations provided by the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea in 2009 and 2011. In total, 6 789 472 subjects were included in the final analysis.

Cirrhosis, Age, and Liver Stiffness-Based Models Predict Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

Objectives: Predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B who received long-term therapy with potent nucleos(t)ide analogs is of utmost importance to refine the strategy for HCC surveillance.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to validate the CAGE-B and SAGE-B scores, HCC prediction models developed for Caucasian patients receiving entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TFV) for >5 years. Consecutive patients who started ETV or TFV at two hospitals in Korea from January 2009 to December 2015 were identified.

Increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality in chronic viral hepatitis with concurrent fatty liver.

Background: Population-based data are lacking regarding whether fatty liver is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Aim: To investigate the association of fatty liver with HCC incidence and mortality in patients with chronic viral hepatitis using a nationwide cohort METHODS: We included 57,385 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who underwent health examinations. The patients were divided into three groups: no fatty liver, fatty liver index (FLI) <30, grade 1 (G1) fatty liver: 30≤ FLI <60, and grade 2 (G2) fatty liver: FLI >60.

Body weight variability and the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

We investigated the association between body weight variability and the risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using large-scale, nationwide cohort data. We included 726,736 individuals with NAFLD who underwent a health examination between 2009 and 2010. NAFLD was defined as a fatty liver index ≥ 60, after excluding significant alcohol intake, viral hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis.

Validation of risk prediction scores for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with entecavir or tenofovir.

Several prediction scores for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are available. We validated the predictive accuracy of age, albumin, sex, liver cirrhosis (AASL), RESCUE-B, PAGE-B and modified PAGE-B (mPAGE-B) scores in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Between 2007 and 2014, 3171 patients were recruited (1645, ETV; 1517, TDF).

Hepatocellular carcinoma and death and transplantation in chronic hepatitis B treated with entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Conflicting results have been reported regarding which of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is associated with better outcomes. Chronic hepatitis B patients who started ETV or TDF between 2010 and 2015 were analysed. The primary outcomes were hepatocellular carcinoma and death and transplantation.

Tenofovir-based combination therapy or monotherapy for multidrug-resistant chronic hepatitis B: Long-term data from a multicenter cohort study.

The treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is challenging. Herein, we report a multicenter prospective cohort study for the evaluation of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based therapy for MDR CHB in a real-life setting. The inclusion criteria comprised patients with resistance to more than two nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) classes and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level of ≥200 IU/mL.

High body mass index hinders fibrosis improvement in patients receiving long-term tenofovir therapy in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Long-term suppression of hepatitis B virus with tenofovir (TDF) induces fibrosis regression, and repeated liver stiffness (LS) measurement can indicate the improvement of fibrosis. We aimed to investigate predictors for LS improvement assessed by changes in patients receiving long-term TDF therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with liver cirrhosis. CHB patients with histologically proven liver cirrhosis who received TDF as the first-line therapy from 2012 to 2015 were recruited.

Dynamics of liver stiffness-based risk prediction model during antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective: The liver stiffness-based risk prediction models predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. We investigated the influence of antiviral therapy (AVT) on liver stiffness-based risk prediction model in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: Patients with CHB who initiated AVT were retrospectively recruited from 13 referral Korean institutes.

Decrease in waist-to-hip ratio reduced the development of chronic kidney disease in non-obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

To date, there are few studies that have evaluated the prognostic impact of changes in abdominal obesity or weight on long-term adverse kidney outcomes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the effect of changes in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body weight (BW) on chronic kidney disease (CKD) development, especially in non-obese NAFLD patients. We included 6,137 participants from a community-based prospective cohort with 12-year follow-up in Korea.

Fibrosis-4, aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio for risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients: comparison with liver biopsy.

Background And Aims: It is well known that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops as a consequence of hepatic fibrosis progression. Thus, early identification of advanced liver fibrosis is very important. This study evaluated the prognostic value of FIB-4, the aspartate transaminase to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-toplatelet ratio (GPR) for predicting HCC development using histological fibrosis stage as a reference in Asian chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Effect of testosterone on the differentiation control of stromal vascular cells isolated from longissimus muscle of Hanwoo beef cattle.

Testosterone, as an influential factor in marbling score, requires strict management for uniform development of adipocytes in-between muscle bundles. Present study investigated effect of castration timing and testosterone levels on adipocyte development using SVCs. Isolated SVCs exhibited classical MSC markers, CD31, CD34, CD45, CD90, and CD105.