Comparison of bone mineral density changes between denosumab and bisphosphonates in tenofovir-exposed chronic hepatitis B patients with osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: This study compared denosumab and bisphosphonates for osteoporosis in tenofovir-exposed chronic hepatitis B patients. Both denosumab and bisphosphonates increased bone mineral density (BMD) at year 1. However, denosumab resulted in a greater BMD improvement and a more pronounced reduction in procollagen type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP) compared to bisphosphonate.

Unraveling the immune-activated tumor microenvironment correlated with clinical response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in advanced HCC.

Background & Aims: Despite atezolizumab plus bevacizumab being a standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a significant proportion of patients do not achieve durable benefit. This study aimed to identify predictive biomarkers for this therapy by investigating the role of immune activation within the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Methods: We characterized the intratumoral TME of patients with advanced HCC treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab using single cell transcriptomics on pretreatment tumor biopsies from 12 patients.

Association Between Viral Replication Activity and Postoperative Recurrence of HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Baseline viral replication activity influences the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of baseline viral replication activity on recurrence in HBV-related HCC after curative resection.

Methods: A multinational retrospective cohort of 2384 patients with very early or early-stage HBV-related HCC who consecutively underwent curative resection and received antiviral therapy (AVT) between 2010 and 2018 was analysed.

Assessing the Validity of the AASLD Surgical Treatment Algorithm in Patients with Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a surgical treatment algorithm recently proposed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) on survival outcomes in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identify effective alternative treatment modalities when liver transplantation (LT) is not available.

Methods: We studied the clinical data of 1,442 patients who were diagnosed with early-stage HCC (a single lesion measuring 2-5 cm in size or 2 to 3 lesions measuring ≤3 cm in size) between 2013 and 2018 and classified as Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) A or B. Analyses were separately performed for individuals recommended for resection (single lesion, CTP A and no clinically significant portal hypertension) and those recommended for LT (single lesion with impaired liver function such as CTP B or clinically significant portal hypertension or multiple lesions).

A Risk Prediction Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the General Population Without Traditional Risk Factors for Liver Disease.

Background And Aim: Existing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prediction models for the general population without traditional risk factors for chronic liver disease are limited. This study aimed to develop an HCC prediction model for individuals lacking these traditional risk factors.

Methods: The total of 138 452 adult participants without chronic viral hepatitis or significant alcohol intake who underwent regular health checkup at a tertiary hospital in South Korea were followed up for the development of HCC.

Primary Cholangiocarcinoma of the Liver Presenting as a Complicated Hepatic Cyst: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Primary cholangiocarcinoma is a rare bile duct epithelial neoplasm that can present with atypical clinical manifestations, complicating its diagnosis. A 62-year-old male showed symptoms suggestive of a complicated hepatic cyst that was later identified as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The patient presented with abdominal discomfort without fever.

Miliary Tuberculosis Initially Presenting as an Isolated Hepatic Abscess.

Hepatic tuberculosis, typically associated with miliary tuberculosis, can occasionally present as localized liver lesions. This case report describes a 77-year-old male presenting with persistent abdominal pain and fever, following an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for bile duct sludge removal. Subsequent computed tomography revealed focal liver lesions.

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.

Serum Ferritin Levels and Liver-Related Events in Individuals With Steatotic Liver Disease: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: Serum ferritin has been suggested as a potential biomarker associated with disease progression in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Aims: We investigated the association between serum ferritin levels and liver-related events (LREs) in individuals with steatotic liver disease (SLD).

Methods: This cohort study included 17,560 adults with SLD (MASLD [n = 15,744], MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD) [n = 1103] and cryptogenic SLD [n = 713]) without LRE at baseline.

Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Steatotic Liver Disease and Its Newly Proposed Subclassification.

Introduction: Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a new overarching term proposed to replace nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. Subclassification includes metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD), MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD), and cryptogenic SLD. This study aimed to investigate whether SLD and its subclassification could stratify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk.

Glycemic Burden and Clinical Outcomes of Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Treatment.

Early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still difficult to cure for its high recurrence rate. This study aimed to examine whether glycemic burden management could be one way to improve outcomes of early-stage HCC. A total of 137 very early or early-stage HCC patients who underwent resection or ablation at Samsung Medical Center and had glycemic burden assessment were analyzed.

Hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes and potential implications for surveillance in elderly patients.

International liver societies recommend hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance for those at high-risk of developing HCC. While previous studies have shown the benefits of surveillance for middle-aged patients, but its necessity for elderly patients is unclear. This study aimed to assess the benefits of HCC surveillance in the elderly by comparing diagnosis mode of HCC.

Analysis of Factors Predicting the Real-World Efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aims: Atezolizumab and bevacizumab have shown promising results for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical trials. In this study, the real-world efficacy and safety of atezolizumab and bevacizumab in treating advanced HCC were evaluated.

Methods: In this retrospective study of patients at a Korean tertiary cancer center, 111 patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B or C HCC received atezolizumab and bevacizumab as first-line therapy from May 2022 to June 2023.

Role of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastases in the era of advancing systemic therapy.

Backgrounds/aims: Systemic therapy is the current standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with extrahepatic metastasis (EHM). However, some patients with HCC and EHM undergo transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to manage intrahepatic tumors. Herein, we aimed to explore the appropriateness of TACE in patients with HCC and EHM in an era of advanced systemic therapy.

Massive Transfusion Protocol and Outcome of Patients with Acute Variceal Bleeding.

The massive transfusion protocol (MTP) can improve the outcomes of trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock and some patients with non-traumatic hemorrhagic shock. However, no information is available regarding whether MTP can improve the outcomes of acute variceal bleeding (AVB). This study aimed to determine the effects of MTP on the outcomes of patients with AVB.

Prevalence and predictors of multidrug-resistant bacteremia in liver cirrhosis.

Background/aims: Improved knowledge of local epidemiology and predicting risk factors of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are required to optimize the management of infections. This study examined local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and evaluated the predictors of MDR bacteremia in Korea.

Methods: This was a retrospective study including 140 LC patients diagnosed with bacteremia between January 2017 and December 2022.

Ultrasonographic findings of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: A comparative study with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and clinical characteristics.

Purpose: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new term proposed to replace non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analyzed the ultrasonographic findings of MAFLD and NAFLD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of subjects aged ≥19 years who underwent a health screening examination, including ultrasonography, (n = 17,066).

Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment when switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or entecavir to tenofovir alafenamide: A real-world multicenter cohort study.

Aim: Antiviral treatment reduces the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, there is a lack of high-quality evidence regarding the preventive effects of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) on HCC. We evaluated the impact of TAF use after curative treatment on HCC recurrence.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new inclusive term proposed to replace non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analysed whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk differs by MAFLD or NAFLD status in a large sample of asymptomatic adults.

Methods: A cohort comprising 73,691 adults were followed up for the development of HCC.

Predictors of critical illness among young males with chest pain, abdominal pain, or headaches in the Republic of Korea Army.

Purpose: Chest pain, abdominal pain, and headache are common symptoms associated with critical illness. Here, we aimed to evaluate predictors associated with critical illness in young males of the Republic of Korea Army.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed previously healthy young males with chest pain, abdominal pain, or headaches who visited Armed Forces Seoul District Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020.

Validation of non-invasive diagnosis of CSPH in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease according to Baveno VII.

Background And Aims: Baveno VII consensus introduced the non-invasive criteria of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) using liver stiffness measurement (LSM). We evaluated the usefulness of the Baveno VII criteria to predict the risk of decompensation in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1966 patients with cACLD.