KRT17 Promotes the Activation of HSCs via EMT in Liver Fibrosis.

Background And Aims: Although activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a central role in the development of liver fibrosis, the mechanism underlying the activation of HSCs remains unclear. Keratin 17 (KRT17), a member of the intermediate filament family, can regulate tumor cell proliferation and migration. The current study aimed to elucidate the role of KRT17 in the activation of HSCs and the mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis.

Combined Scores from the EncephalApp Stroop Test, Number Connection Test B, and Serial Dotting Test Accurately Identify Patients With Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Background & Aims: The EncephalApp Stroop test is a high-sensitivity but low-specificity test that has been used to identify patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE). We aimed to develop a new strategy to detect CHE, combining EncephalApp Stroop test score with scores from subtests of the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy scoring system (PHES).

Methods: We performed a survey of 569 adult volunteers (229 men) in 9 communities in Shanghai, China, administering the EncephalApp Stroop test to determine the range of scores in the general population.

High expression of Anxa2 and Stat3 promote progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and predict poor prognosis.

Aim: To elucidate whether the interaction between Anxa2 and Stat3 could promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and that high co-expression of Anxa2 and Stat3 could predict poor prognosis in HCC patients.

Methods: We investigated Anxa2 and Stat3 expression using Western blot analysis in 4 HCC and adjacent nontumor tissues and using immunohistochemistry in 100 patients' paraffin sections. Then we assessed the expression of Stat3, Anxa2 and co-expression of Stat3 and Anxa2 with relevant clinical pathological parameters and their prognostic value in HCC patients.