Relationships Between Alcohol Intake and Mitochondrial DNA Methylation in the Human Prefrontal Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens.

Aims: Despite the critical role of mitochondria in confronting alcohol challenges and providing energy, to date, there are no studies describing the effect of alcohol on mitochondrial epigenetics in energy-craving brain tissues. Focusing on the human nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), we aimed to examine the effect of alcohol on mitochondrial DNA methylation.

Methods: We collected 105 brain tissue samples from 53 deceased individuals, classified into no antemortem alcohol use (n = 34), alcohol-ingested (n = 9) and alcohol-fermented (n = 10).

Switching to tenofovir alafenamide in virally-suppressed chronic hepatitis B patients with renal/hepatic impairment: Phase 2 study sub-analysis from Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) has demonstrated non-inferior efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with improved bone and renal safety across diverse populations, including those with mild renal or hepatic impairment. We evaluated TAF efficacy and safety in a subset of Taiwanese chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients enrolled in a phase 2, multicentre study (NCT03180619) of patients with more advanced renal or hepatic impairment.

Methods: In a sub-analysis of virally-suppressed (hepatitis B virus DNA <20 IU/mL) adult Taiwanese CHB patients with renal (chronic kidney disease stage ≥1) or hepatic (Child-Turcotte-Pugh Class B or C) impairment, all participants received open-label TAF 25 mg once daily for 96 weeks.

Efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for unresectable HCC: Systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world evidence.

Background & Aims: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (A+B) is a standard-of-care treatment in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Verification of its effectiveness outside clinical trials is an area of unmet need, especially in estimating long-term survival outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane libraries to evaluate therapy outcomes in patients treated with frontline A+B for uHCC outside trials.

Baseline serum EV-miR-1-3p as a protective factor and biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma development after HCV eradication.

Background: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) achieves high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates; however, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can still develop after viral eradication. Reliable biomarkers for predicting the post-SVR HCC risk are lacking. This study aimed to identify baseline serum extracellular vesicle microRNAs (EV-miRNAs) associated with HCC development following SVR.

Tumor-migrating peripheral Foxp3-high regulatory T cells drive poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aims: CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are pivotal in HCC progression. However, systemic depletion of all Tregs risks autoimmunity. Existing subgroup classifications highlight Tregs' phenotypic and functional heterogeneity but lack coherent consensus.

Long-term risk of depression and the impact of risk factors among chronic hepatitis C patients after successful antiviral therapy: A nationwide real-world Taiwanese cohort (T-COACH).

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. However, the impact of interferon (IFN)-based therapy, after achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), on the long-term risk of depressive disorders remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the incidence of new-onset depression and the impact of risk factors on patients with chronic hepatitis C following antiviral therapy.

Combination of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Provides Better Survival in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Introduction: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are widely used to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the benefits of combining TKI and HAIC in these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with unresectable HCC treated at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between March 2009 and February 2022.

Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Clearance on Cardiovascular Risk: A Real-World Experience From the Nationwide Taiwan Hepatitis C Virus Registry.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the impact of interferon (IFN)-based therapy on cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. This nationwide cohort study included 7411 patients with HCV from The Taiwanese Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort registry who received IFN-based therapy between 2003 and 2014. Patients were categorized into sustained virological response (SVR) (n = 5785) and non-SVR (n = 1676) groups.

Prognostic potential of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for appendicular skeletal muscle mass reduction in males aged 70 and older.

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the age-related decline of skeletal muscle mass, leading to sarcopenia in the elderly. The prevalence of sarcopenia notably increases among males aged ≥ 70. However, it remains unclear whether inflammatory indexes are associated with the reduction in skeletal muscle mass in the elderly population.

Posttreatment FIB-4 score change predicts hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients: Findings from the Taiwan hepatitis C registry program.

Purpose: This study investigated whether Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and its change can serve as predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: This study identified 9679 patients who completed DAA treatment and achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) from the Taiwan Nationwide Real-World HCV Registry Program, and their risk of HCC was analyzed.

Results: Multivariable Cox regression analyses identified diabetes mellitus (DM), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, and FIB-4 score as independent predictors of HCC in both Model 1 (baseline) and Model 2 (SVR).

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF): the 'Kyoto Consensus'-steps from Asia.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a condition associated with high mortality in the absence of liver transplantation. There have been various definitions proposed worldwide. The first consensus report of the working party of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) set in 2004 on ACLF was published in 2009, and the "APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC)" was formed in 2012.

High-normal and abnormal alanine transaminase levels linked to increased risk of hepatoma following treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Background/purpose: The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. The association between HCC and ALT levels after interferon (IFN) or direct-acting antivirals (DAA) therapy is unclear.

Methods: Patients with CHC receiving antiviral therapy were included in two large-scale cohorts in Taiwan (T-COACH and TACR).

Direct-acting antiviral therapy for patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A nationwide cohort study.

Background/aims: The survival benefit of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages B/C, remains largely uncertain. We aimed to explore the impact of DAA therapy on overall survival (OS) in HCC patients using a nationwide cohort study.

Methods: We utilized the nationwide Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL) HCV Registry (TACR) database to include all adults receiving a DAA therapy for HCV, excluding those with other viral infections, liver transplantation, non-HCC malignancies, and terminal-staged HCC.

Addition of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to Pre-DAA FIB-4 does not increase prediction value for de novo liver complications in hepatitis C.

Background And Aims: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) achieve high sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C patients; yet a proportion of patients still experience de novo liver complications after SVR. Identification of risk factors is clinically important. FIB-4 index is a useful noninvasive tool to assess fibrosis, while neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker for systemic inflammation.

Comparing Lenvatinib/Pembrolizumab with Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World Experience with Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: The combination of anti-angiogenic therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the management of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). While an early-phase study demonstrated promising outcomes for lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (L+P) in treating uHCC, the LEAP-002 trial did not meet its primary endpoint. However, the comparative efficacy between L+P and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (A+B) as first-line treatment remains a topic of uncertainty.

Benefits of Hepatitis C Viral Eradication: A Real-World Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) increases the risk of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This nationwide cohort study assessed the effectiveness of viral eradication of CHC.

Methods: The Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort and Taiwan hepatitis C virus (HCV) registry are nationwide HCV registry cohorts incorporating data from 23 and 53 hospitals in Taiwan, respectively.

A tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) based light-cured biomaterial for vital pulp therapy.

Objectives: Evaluate a new light-cured material with better properties for vital pulp therapy.

Methods: Light-cured resin materials consisted of polyethylene glycol (600) diacrylate mixed with different ratios of TCP to HA. In addition to the temperature change (n = 5 for each subgroup) were tested, cell viability and Alizarin Red Staining (ARS) assay were also tested in vitro on human dental pulp cells (n = 6 for each subgroup).

Caries preventing efficacy of new Isomalt-containing mouthrinse formulations: a microbial study.

Objectives: The effectiveness of an Isomalt-containing mouthrinse to prevent caries development was investigated.

Methods: Human enamel blocks were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 30/group): De-ionized distilled water (DDW), and mouthrinse containing either (IFC) 1% Isomalt, 225 ppm fluoride, and 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), (IF) 1% Isomalt and 225ppm fluoride, (FC) 225 ppm fluoride and 0.

Molecular Probing of the Microscopic Pressure at Contact Interfaces.

Obtaining insights into friction at the nanoscopic level and being able to translate these into macroscopic friction behavior in real-world systems is of paramount importance in many contexts, ranging from transportation to high-precision technology and seismology. Since friction is controlled by the local pressure at the contact it is important to be able to detect both the real contact area and the nanoscopic local pressure distribution simultaneously. In this paper, we present a method that uses planarizable molecular probes in combination with fluorescence microscopy to achieve this goal.