Cost-effectiveness of monitoring and liver cancer surveillance among patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) have an increased risk for death from liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the United States, only an estimated 37% of adults with chronic hepatitis B diagnosis without cirrhosis receive monitoring with at least an annual alanine transaminase (ALT) and hepatitis B deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and an estimated 59% receive antiviral treatment when they develop active hepatitis or cirrhosis. A Markov model was used to calculate the costs, health impact and cost-effectiveness of increased monitoring of adults with HBeAg negative inactive or HBeAg positive immune tolerant CHB who have no cirrhosis or significant fibrosis and are not recommended by the current American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) clinical practice guidelines to receive antiviral treatment, and to assess whether the addition of HCC surveillance would be cost-effective.

Usefulness of serum HBV RNA levels for predicting antiviral response to entecavir treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA is an important serum biomarker of hepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) transcriptional activity; however, its clinical characteristics remain unclear. This study evaluated the clinical utility of HBV RNA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We studied 87 CHB patients with serum HBV DNA levels ≥ 5.

Update on the treatment navigation for functional cure of chronic hepatitis B: expert consensus 2.0.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Young Biliary Atresia Recipients Is Associated With Improved Outcomes in the Modern Era.

Introduction: Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in children. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with survival in young patients with BA in the modern era.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of BA patients aged < 2 years who received their first isolated LT with available data from the United Network for Organ Sharing database (01/2013-12/2022).

Modulation of DAPK1 expression by its alternative splice variant DAPK1-215 in cancer.

Background: Death-Associated Protein Kinase 1 (DAPK1) family members are calcium/calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine kinases implicated in cell death, normal development, and human diseases. However, the regulation of DAPK1 expression in cancer remains unclear.

Methods: We examined the expression and functional impact of a DAPK1 splice variant, DAPK1-215, in multiple cancer cell lines.

Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Asian patients with primary biliary cholangitis: A nationwide and hospital cohort study.

Background & Aims: Large-scale studies on the association between primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Asians are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of HCC and its risk factors in a nationwide cohort.

Methods: The data of 4,882 patients with PBC and 38,603 matched controls were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (2007-2020) and analyzed.

Real-world efficacy and safety of universal 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C with early chronic kidney disease or pre-end-stage renal disease: Insights from a nationwide hepatisis C virus registry in Taiwan.

An 8-week regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is recommended for treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In alignment with the Taiwanese government's objective to eliminate hepatitis C by 2025, this study aimed to provide real-world evidence on the use of this regimen in treatment-naïve patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using data from the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver HCV Registry (TACR). CKD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.

Association between Everolimus Combination Therapy and Cancer Risk after Liver Transplantation: A Nationwide Population-based Quasi-Cohort Study.

The potential of everolimus in reducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among recipients following liver transplantation has been reported. This nationwide population-based quasi-cohort study investigated whether combining everolimus with calcineurin inhibitor therapy affects the risk of HCC and extrahepatic cancers compared to a time-duration-matched cohort of recipients not receiving everolimus. Using data covering the entire population from Korea, liver transplant recipients who had initiated immunosuppressants between June 2015 and February 2020 were collected and divided into two groups: the everolimus combination and non-combination groups.

Outcomes in Patients With Henoch-Schönlein Purpura After Kidney Transplantation: A Propensity Score Matched Study.

Aim: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) nephritis leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in upto 3% of cases, necessitating kidney transplantation (KT). This study compared graft and patient survival outcomes between HSP and non-HSP KT recipients and identified factors associated with HSP recurrence.

Methods: Data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) were analysed for adult and paediatric KT patients listed between January 2005 and April 2021.

Predictors of Mortality among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients with COVID-19 Admitted in a Philippine Tertiary Government Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Objective: Several studies have examined the predictors of mortality among COVID-19-infected patients; however, to date, few published studies focused on end-stage renal disease patients. The present study, therefore, aims to determine the predictors of in-hospital mortality among end-stage renal disease patients with COVID-19 admitted to a Philippine tertiary hospital.

Methods: The researcher utilized a retrospective cohort design.

Post-transplant liver biopsies: a concise and practical approach for beginners.

Exposure to post-transplant liver biopsies varies among pathology residencies and largely depends on the institution's training program, particularly if the hospital has a liver transplant program. The interpretation of biopsies from transplanted livers presents its own set of challenges, even for those with a solid understanding of non-transplant medical liver biopsies. In this review, we aim to provide a succinct, step-by-step approach to help you interpret liver transplant biopsies.

N-Acetylcysteine and Liver Transplant. Advantages of its Administration in Multi-Organ Donors Especially During World-Economical-Crisis. Long-Term Sub-Group Analysis in a Randomized Study.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is the main indication for the treatment of end-stage liver disease but have to face organ shortages. Using marginal donors is an option to increase the donor pool. Previous studies showed that the graft procured using N-acetylcysteine (NAC) provides a longer survival compared to perfusion with standard solutions, especially in marginal liver donors.

Prevention of liver cancer in the era of next-generation antivirals and obesity epidemic.

Preventive interventions are expected to substantially improve the prognosis of patients with primary liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma. HCC prevention is challenging in the face of the evolving etiological landscape, particularly the sharp increase in obesity-associated metabolic disorders, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Next-generation anti-HCV and HBV drugs have substantially reduced, but not eliminated, the risk of HCC and have given way to new challenges in identifying at-risk patients.

Synergistic effects of L-arginine and argininosuccinate synthetase 1 in inducing apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide. Although numerous efforts have been made to identify effective therapies for HCC, current strategies have limitations. We present a new approach for targeting L-arginine and argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1).

Non-Invasive Biomarkers and Breath Tests for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Chronic Liver Diseases.

Chronic liver disease (CLD) presents a significant global health burden, demanding effective tools for diagnosis and monitoring. Traditionally, liver biopsy has been the gold standard for evaluating liver fibrosis and other chronic liver conditions. However, biopsy's invasiveness, associated risks, and sampling variability indicate the need for reliable, noninvasive alternatives.

Adverse impact of metabolic dysfunction on fibrosis regression following direct-acting antiviral therapy: A multicenter study for chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) effectively eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study investigated whether metabolic dysfunction influences the likelihood of fibrosis regression after DAA treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 8,819 patients diagnosed with CHC who were treated with DAAs and achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) between January 2014 and December 2022.

Cardiovascular Risk from Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Count, and Their Longitudinal Changes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, CVD risk could vary across and within individuals with MASLD. We investigated the cardiovascular implications of MASLD, cardiometabolic risk factor count, and their longitudinal changes.

Repurposing of Antiplatelet Agent: Cilostazol for the Treatment of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a serious global health concern, characterized by liver inflammation and progressive fibrosis. There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, thus effective treatments are needed. Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is the most severe manifestation of ALD, with a 28-day mortality rate ranging from 20% to 50%.

From Omics to Multi-Omics: A Review of Advantages and Tradeoffs.

Bioinformatics is a rapidly evolving field charged with cataloging, disseminating, and analyzing biological data. Bioinformatics started with genomics, but while genomics focuses more narrowly on the genes comprising a genome, bioinformatics now encompasses a much broader range of omics technologies. Overcoming barriers of scale and effort that plagued earlier sequencing methods, bioinformatics adopted an ambitious strategy involving high-throughput and highly automated assays.

Glycerol-3-phosphate activates ChREBP, FGF21 transcription and lipogenesis in Citrin Deficiency.

Citrin Deficiency (CD) is caused by inactivation of SLC25A13, a mitochondrial membrane protein required to move electrons from cytosolic NADH to the mitochondrial matrix in hepatocytes. People with CD do not like sweets. We discovered that SLC25A13 loss causes accumulation of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), which activates carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) to transcribe FGF21, which acts in the brain to restrain intake of sweets and alcohol, and to transcribe key genes of lipogenesis.

Impact of thrombocytopenia on failure of endoscopic variceal treatment in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding.

Background: Acute variceal bleeding (AVB), a life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis, can be effectively treated by endoscopy, but there is a risk of early rebleeding after endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT). Thrombocytopenia is the most common hemostatic abnormality in liver cirrhosis. However, it is still unclear about whether thrombocytopenia increases the failure of EVT in cirrhotic patients with AVB.

A Multidrug Donor Preconditioning Improves Steatotic Rat Liver Allograft Function and Recipient Survival After Transplantation.

The scarcity of donors has prompted the growing utilization of steatotic livers, which are susceptible to injuries following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). This study aims to assess the efficacy of multidrug donor preconditioning (MDDP) in alleviating injuries of steatotic grafts following rat OLT. Lean rats were subjected to a Western-style diet with high-fat (HF) and high-fructose (HFr) for 30 days to induce steatosis.