Risk of extrahepatic malignancies in patients with autoimmune hepatitis: a nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: Nationwide, population-based data on the risk of extrahepatic malignancy in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in Asian countries are scarce. This study aimed to examine the risk of developing extrahepatic malignancies in a nationwide cohort of patients with AIH.

Methods: Using claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, patients diagnosed with AIH between 2007 and 2019 (n=7,382) were matched in a 1:8 ratio with an age- and sex-matched control population (n=58,320).

AI model using CT-based imaging biomarkers to predict hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Various hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prediction models have been proposed for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) using clinical variables. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based HCC prediction model by incorporating imaging biomarkers derived from abdominal computed tomography (CT) images along with clinical variables.

Methods: An AI prediction model employing a gradient-boosting machine algorithm was developed utilizing imaging biomarkers extracted by DeepFore, a deep learning-based CT auto-segmentation software.

The Predictive Value of Time-Varying Noninvasive Scores on Long-Term Prognosis of NAFLD in South Korea.

Background: This study aimed to examine whether repeated measurements on noninvasive fibrosis scores during follow-up improve long-term nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) outcome prediction.

Methods: A cohort study of 2,280 NAFLD patients diagnosed at the Seoul National University Hospital from 2001 to 2015 was conducted. Multivariable Cox regression models with baseline and designated time-point measurements of the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) were used to assess the association between these scores and overall mortality, liver-related outcomes, and cardiovascular events.

Tenofovir Is Associated With a Better Prognosis Than Entecavir for Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Whether tenofovir or entecavir has different effects on the prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in secondary and tertiary preventive settings is still a matter of debate. This study aimed to compare the long-term prognosis of HCC between tenofovir and entecavir in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Chronic hepatitis B patients diagnosed with HCC between November 2008 and December 2018 and treated with either entecavir or tenofovir at a tertiary center in Korea were included.

Limited Generalizability of Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study in Comparison to Multicenter Cohort Study on Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the generalizability of retrospective single-center cohort studies on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by comparing overall survival (OS) after various treatments between a nationwide multicenter cohort and a single-center cohort of HCC patients.

Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with HCC between January 2008 and December 2018 were analyzed using data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (multicenter cohort, n=16,443), and the Asan Medical Center HCC registry (single-center cohort, n=15,655). The primary outcome, OS after initial treatment, was compared between the two cohorts for both the entire population and for subcohorts with Child-Pugh A liver function (n=2797 and n=5151, respectively) treated according to the Barcelona-Clinic-Liver-Cancer (BCLC) strategy, using Log rank test and Cox proportional hazard models.

Adaptive beam forming across temperature variation in optical phased array enabled with deep neural network.

Integrated optical phased arrays (OPA) require calibration to account for mismatches amongst the channels. Furthermore, beams emitted from an OPA tend to distort when the chip's temperature changes. We propose to utilize a deep neural network (DNN) to adaptively control the phase modulator voltages of the OPA and create a desired beam pattern in the presence of process mismatches and temperature changes.

Clinical and Radiologic Predictors of Response to Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify clinical and radiologic characteristics that could predict response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 108 advanced HCC patients with intrahepatic lesions who were treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab. Two radiologists independently analyzed imaging characteristics of the index tumor on pretreatment computed tomography.

Extrahepatic malignancies and antiviral drugs for chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide cohort study.

Background/aims: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is related to an increased risk of extrahepatic malignancy (EHM), and antiviral treatment is associated with an incidence of EHM comparable to controls. We compared the risks of EHM and intrahepatic malignancy (IHM) between entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) treatment.

Methods: Using data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, this nationwide cohort study included treatment-naïve CHB patients who initiated ETV (n=24,287) or TDF (n=29,199) therapy between 2012 and 2014.

Inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 and liver-related complications in individuals with diabetes: a Mendelian randomization and population-based cohort study.

Background And Aims: No medication has been found to reduce liver-related events. We evaluated the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on liver-related outcomes.

Approach And Results: Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with SGLT2 inhibition were identified, and a genetic risk score (GRS) was computed using the UK Biobank data (n=337,138).

Extrahepatic malignancies in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: A nationwide cohort study.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) encompasses heterogeneous fatty liver diseases associated with metabolic disorders. We aimed to evaluate the association between MAFLD and extrahepatic malignancies based on MAFLD subtypes.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study included 9 298 497 patients who participated in a health-screening programme of the National Health Insurance Service of Korea in 2009.

COVID-19 Vaccination Alters NK Cell Dynamics and Transiently Reduces HBsAg Titers Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may non-specifically alter the host immune system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) titer and host immunity in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Consecutive 2,797 CHB patients who had serial HBsAg measurements during antiviral treatment were included in this study.

Association between statin use and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following hepatic resection experience tumor recurrence. Statin use is associated with a reduced risk of HCC development; however, the association between statin use and the prognosis of HCC after resection remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of statin use on the prognosis after hepatic resection among patients with HCC.

Transarterial chemoembolization as an alternative to radioembolization is associated with earlier tumor recurrence than in radioembolization-eligible patients.

Introduction: Although transarterial radioembolization (TARE) using yttrium-90 (Y) is a treatment option for large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a fraction of patients are ineligible for TARE due to high lung shunt fraction (LSF).

Methods: We evaluated if treatment with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), owing to TARE ineligibility was associated with early HCC progression. Consecutive patients with HCC who were initially TARE candidates were included.

Association of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection and Antiviral Treatment With the Development of the Extrahepatic Malignancies: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Purpose: Epidemiologic studies suggest that chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a risk factor for various primary extrahepatic malignancies. Our aim was to evaluate the associations of CHB and nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment with the risk of the development of extrahepatic malignancies.

Patients And Methods: We conducted an 18-month landmark analysis using nationwide claims data from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea.

Effectiveness of Transarterial Chemoembolization-First Treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: Still in real-world practice, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). This study compared the therapeutic effectiveness of initial TACE treatment and initial sorafenib treatment in advanced HCC patients.

Patient And Methods: Advanced HCC patients initially treated with sorafenib or TACE were included in this study.

Radiomics-based neural network predicts recurrence patterns in glioblastoma using dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI.

Glioblastoma remains the most devastating brain tumor despite optimal treatment, because of the high rate of recurrence. Distant recurrence has distinct genomic alterations compared to local recurrence, which requires different treatment planning both in clinical practice and trials. To date, perfusion-weighted MRI has revealed that perfusional characteristics of tumor are associated with prognosis.

Empirical Treatment With Carbapenem vs Third-generation Cephalosporin for Treatment of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Background & Aims: Third-generation cephalosporins (TGCs) are recommended as first-line antibiotics for treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). However, antibiotics against multidrug-resistant organisms (such as carbapenems) might be necessary. We aimed to evaluate whether carbapenems are superior to TGC for treatment of SBP.

Prognostic impact of concurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: As the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing globally, patients with both NAFLD and chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is also frequently found. This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of concurrent NAFLD on the prognosis of patients with CHB-related HCC.

Methods: Patients with CHB-related HCC who underwent surgical resection were consecutively selected from August 2009 to December 2013.

Incremental Peritoneal Dialysis May be Beneficial for Preserving Residual Renal Function Compared to Full-dose Peritoneal Dialysis.

Maintaining residual renal function (RRF) is a crucial issue in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Incremental dialysis is the practice of initiating PD exchanges less than four times a day in consideration of RRF, and increasing dialysis dose in a step-wise manner as the RRF decreases. We aimed to compare the outcomes of incremental PD and full-dose PD in terms of RRF preservation and other outcomes.

Additional fibrate treatment in UDCA-refractory PBC patients.

Background & Aims: There is no proven treatment for ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-refractory primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) other than obeticholic acid. Although fibrates have been reported to improve biochemical parameters, the long-term effects remain unclear. This study evaluated the effect of fibrate on clinical outcomes of UDCA-refractory PBC.

Low-power thermo-optic silicon modulator for large-scale photonic integrated systems.

Silicon platform enables the monolithic realization of large-scale photonic integrated systems. Many emerging applications facilitated by silicon photonics such as optical biosensing, optical neurostimulation, optical phased arrays, holographic displays, 3D cameras, optical machine learning, and optical quantum information processing systems require the integration of a large number of optical phase modulators with modest modulation speed. Classical optical modulators are not suitable for such large-scale integration because of their inability to provide low optical loss, compact size, high efficiency, and wide optical bandwidth, all at the same time.