M1-BMDMs with Wnt5a deletion attenuate liver fibrosis by suppression of Wnt5a/Frizzled 2 axis in hepatic progenitors.

Background: Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) regulate hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) differentiation, potentially via the Wnt signaling pathway. While M1-polarized BMDMs (M1-BMDMs) exert anti-fibrotic effects in the liver, Wnt5a is implicated in fibrosis progression. The specific influence of Wnt5a levels within M1-BMDMs on HPCs fate and cirrhosis development remains unclear.

Levistilide A attenuates carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting the NF-κB/iNOS/NO signalling pathway in M1 macrophages.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Danggui (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels), a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been extensively used for millennia due to its diverse pharmacological properties. It is commonly used to manage liver fibrosis (LF).

Visualizing global progress and challenges in esophagogastric variceal bleeding.

Background: Esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding is a catastrophic complication of portal hypertension, most commonly caused by cirrhosis of various etiologies. Although a considerable body of research has been conducted in this area, the complexity of the disease and the lack of standardized treatment strategies have led to fragmented findings, insufficient information, and a lack of systematic investigation. Bibliometric analysis can help clarify research trends, identify core topics, and reveal potential future directions.

β-Glucuronidase-Expressing Lactobacillus reuteri Triggers Irinotecan Enterotoxicity Through Depleting the Regenerative Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Pool.

Irinotecan (CPT11)-induced diarrhea affects 80-90% of cancer patients due to β-glucuronidase (GUS) converting 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin glucuronide (SN38G) to 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38). It remains unclear whether SN38 impacts the homeostasis between gut microbiota and mucosal stem cell niche. This study explores the crosstalk between gut microbiota and intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in intestinal mucositis triggered by CPT11 chemotherapy.

Fuzheng Huayu tablets for treating pulmonary fibrosis in post-COVID-19 patients: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Effective therapies for pulmonary fibrosis caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other etiologies are lacking. Our previous studies demonstrated that Fuzheng Huayu tablet (FZHY), a traditional Chinese medicine known for its anti-liver fibrotic properties, can improve lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and attenuate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FZHY in post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis.

Serum Golgi Protein 73 as a Predictor of Virologic Response to Entecavir Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and Liver Fibrosis: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Golgi protein 73 (GP73) facilitates hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, and it is associated with persistent infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the predictive value of serum GP73 (sGP73) for virologic response (VR) remains unexplored. This study evaluated the value of sGP73 in predicting VR in patients with CHB and liver fibrosis during initial antiviral therapy with entecavir (ETV).

A machine learning based algorithm accurately stages liver disease by quantification of arteries.

A major histologic feature of cirrhosis is the loss of liver architecture with collapse of tissue and vascular changes per unit. We developed qVessel to quantify the arterial density (AD) in liver biopsies with chronic disease of varied etiology and stage. 46 needle liver biopsy samples with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 48 with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and 43 with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) were collected at the Shuguang Hospital.

Evaluation of Microwave Heating Uniformity for Ready-to-Eat Rice in Metalized Packaging Structure.

Microwave energy utilization undergoes two stages via absorption and conversion inside ready-to-eat rice (RER) under microwave reheating. The reasonable utilization of microwave energy inside the processed material may enhance the uniformity of the temperature distribution. To analyze the uniformity changes inside RER, the effects of microwave reflection, refraction, and absorption by a metal aluminum film were studied through the thermodynamic properties.

Effects of microwave energy transfer on release and degradation of anthocyanins in berry puree.

To elucidate the distinctive effects of microwave energy on the anthocyanins content in berry puree, comparative experiments and simulation analysis of essentially heating modes are introduced via radiation (microwave), convective and conductive. Microwave energy has the strongest action on anthocyanins state due to uniform generation of in situ heating through entire volume of berry puree. Microwave heating may promote the release or hinder the degradation of anthocyanins as variable polar response and reaction barrier of anthocyanins depending on electric field direction with the unsymmetrical structure in polar molecules.

Effects of microwave vacuum drying on drying characteristics, quality attributes and starch structure of germinated brown rice.

Germinated brown rice (GBR) has high nutritional and health-promoting value, but the influence mechanism of microwave vacuum drying (MVD) on the quality properties of GBR is still unclear. This study investigated the effects of MVD parameters including microwave intensities (9, 12, and 15 W/g), drying temperatures (50, 60, and 70 °C), and vacuum pressures (0.03, 0.

Mitochondria at the Crossroads of Cholestatic Liver Injury: Targeting Novel Therapeutic Avenues.

Bile acids are byproducts of cholesterol metabolism in the liver and constitute the primary components of bile. Disruption of bile flow leads to cholestasis, characterized by the accumulation of hydrophobic bile acids in the liver and bloodstream. Such accumulation can exacerbate liver impairment.

Carvedilol to prevent hepatic decompensation of cirrhosis in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension stratified by new non-invasive model (CHESS2306).

Backgrounds/aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model.

Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG).

Beneficial Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Fuzheng Huayu on the Occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Compensated Chronic Hepatitis B Cirrhosis Receiving Entecavir: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: The application of antifibrotic drugs to treat patients with chronic liver diseases who are receiving antiviral therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been established. Here, we aimed to assess the impact of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) on the occurrence of HCC in patients with hepatitis B virus-related compensated cirrhosis receiving the antiviral drug entecavir (ETV).

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed.

Microwave heating concentration of raspberry pulp: Evaluation of processing variables on concentration characteristics and quality attributes.

Concentration of fruit pulp is an important unit operation in food processing and has a wide range of applications. In this study, the microwave heating concentration (MHC) of raspberry pulp at different microwave powers, heating times and sample masses were investigated considering concentration characteristics and quality attributes. The results showed that increasing microwave power/heating time or decreasing sample mass significantly decreased the moisture content but had no significant effect on the temperature of raspberry pulp, while these conditions resulted in loss of total anthocyanin content and deterioration of total color difference.

A new model of portal vein thrombosis in rats with cirrhosis induced by partial portal vein ligation plus carbon tetrachloride and intervened with rivaroxaban.

Background And Aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis that can aggravate portal hypertension. However, there are features of both PVT and cirrhosis that are not recapitulated in most current animal models. In this study, we aimed to establish a stable animal model of PVT and cirrhosis, intervene with anticoagulant, and explore the related mechanism.

Lower NKG2D expression in hepatic natural killer cells predicts poorer prognosis for chronic hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis.

Objective: Natural killer cells (NK) acts a central player of the immune system in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of activating intra-hepatic NK cell group 2D (NKG2D) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and analyzed the correlation between NKG2D expression and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in these patients.

Methods: This was a cross-section study.

Chinese guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-induced liver injury: an update.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important adverse drug reaction that can lead to acute liver failure or even death in severe cases. Currently, the diagnosis of DILI still follows the strategy of exclusion. Therefore, a detailed history taking and a thorough and careful exclusion of other potential causes of liver injury is the key to correct diagnosis.

Gancao decoction attenuates hepatic necroptosis via activating caspase 8 in cholestatic liver injury.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gancao Decoction (GCD) is widely used to treat cholestatic liver injury. However, it is unclear whether is related to prevent hepatocellular necroptosis.

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of this study is to clarify the therapeutic effects of GCD against hepatocellular necroptosis induced by cholestasis and its active components.

Comparative effectiveness of warfarin in cirrhotic patients with non-symptomatic portal vein thrombosis: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

The effectiveness and risks of anticoagulant therapy in cirrhotic patients with non-symptomatic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remain unclear. We conducted a multicenter, Zelen-designed randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of warfarin in cirrhotic patients with non-symptomatic PVT during a one-year follow-up. In brief, 64 patients were 1:1 randomly divided into the anticoagulation group or the untreated group.

Serum metabolomics characteristics and fatty-acid-related mechanism of cirrhosis with histological response in chronic hepatitis B.

The serum metabolites changes in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis as progression. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is closely related to lipid metabolism in cirrhotic liver. However, the relationship between fatty acids and the expression of hepatic PPARγ during cirrhosis regression remains unknown.

Macrophage cytotherapy on liver cirrhosis.

Macrophages, an essential cell population involved in mediating innate immunity in the host, play a crucial role on the development of hepatic cirrhosis. Extensive studies have highlighted the potential therapeutic benefits of macrophage therapy in treating hepatic cirrhosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various effects and underlying mechanisms associated with macrophage therapy in the context of hepatic cirrhosis.

Magnetic susceptibility and R2*-based texture analysis for evaluating liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease.

Purpose: To explore potential feasibility of texture features in magnetic susceptibility and R2* maps for evaluating liver fibrosis.

Methods: Thirty-one patients (median age 46 years; 22 male) with chronic liver disease were prospectively recruited and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood tests, and liver biopsy. Susceptibility and R2* maps were obtained using a 3-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequence with a 3T MRI scanner.