Betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase protects against acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure via BACH1-SCD1-oleic acid axis.

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury (AILI) is a leading cause of acute liver failure, with limited preventive or therapeutic options. The role of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), a key enzyme in the methionine cycle, remains unclear. We found that BHMT, primarily expressed in hepatocytes, showed reduced expression in the liver but elevated serum levels in the APAP-induced liver injury (AILI) mouse model.

L-Shaped Association of 24-Hour Urine Output with 3-Month and 1-Year All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Aim: To explore the prognostic value of the first 24-h urine output (UO) after admission in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) in the intensive-care unit (ICU) for short- and long-term all-cause mortality risk.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the MIMIC-IV database. Patients with APE were divided into 4 teams (T1-T4) by their first 24-h UO after admission: T1 (UO ≤ 400 ml), T2 (400＜UO ≤ 800 ml ), T3 (800＜UO ≤ 2500 ml), and T4 (UO＞2500 ml).

Chinese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Primary Care (2024).

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a drug-induced disease that not only complicates the treatment of the primary disease but may also lead to acute liver failure or even death in severe cases. Drugs commonly used in primary care, such as anti-infective agents and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are major causes of DILI. In addition, a large elderly population, comorbidities, and combination therapy with multiple drugs increase the risk of DILI in primary care.

Lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio and prognosis in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global public health challenge and a major cause of death. The lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR) is a simple and practical indicator of disease prognosis, but its prognostic value in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the prognostic value of LAR for the short-term all-cause mortality risk in patients with AECOPD.

Evaluation of Safety and Pharmacokinetics of DDCI-01, a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor, in Healthy Participants.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single escalating oral doses of DDCI-01 (a novel, highly selective, long-acting phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor) administered via capsules to healthy volunteers.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dosing, Phase Ia clinical study involved 52 healthy volunteers who were randomized (3:1 ratio) to receive a single oral dose of DDCI-01 (1.25, 2.

Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of a patient with diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis: a case report and literature review.

Background: Diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (DPL) is a rare pulmonary disorder, which affects the lymphatic channels from the mediastinum to the pleura. DPL is often misdiagnosed or missed due to the lack of clear specificity and definitive medical therapies. In most cases, the disease progresses to chronic morbidity or even death.

Genetic evidence for the causal effect of clonal hematopoiesis on pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive cardiovascular disease. While potential links between clonal hematopoiesis (CH) and cardiovascular diseases have been identified, the causal relationship between CH and PAH remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the causal effect of CH on the risk of PAH using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Microbial signatures predictive of short-term prognosis in severe pneumonia.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the composition and diversity of lung microbiota in patients with severe pneumonia and explore its association with short-term prognosis.

Methods: A total of 301 patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia underwent bronchoalveolar lavage fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) testing from February 2022 to January 2024. After applying exclusion criteria, 236 patients were included in the study.

A global survey on the use of the international classification of diseases codes for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: With the implementation of the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the publication of the metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) nomenclature in 2020, it is important to establish consensus for the coding of MAFLD in ICD-11. This will inform subsequent revisions of ICD-11.

Methods: Using the Qualtrics XM and WJX platforms, questionnaires were sent online to MAFLD-ICD-11 coding collaborators, authors of papers, and relevant association members.

Stages of psychological change among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in China: a national cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. However, treatment of NAFLD is potentially influenced by psychological conditions. Using the simplified version of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA-SV) scale, this study aimed to evaluate the stage of psychological change as a prerequisite to refining implementation strategies for psychological change.

Analysis of pathogenesis and drug treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with cardiovascular disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, and is associated with abnormal inflammatory responses in the lungs to cigarette smoke and toxic and harmful gases. Due to the existence of common risk factors, COPD is prone to multiple complications, among which cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common. It is currently established that cardiovascular comorbidities increase the risk of exacerbations and mortality from COPD.

Case Report: Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of two patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

To analyze the clinical features and genetic characteristics of two patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and to review the relevant literature. The clinical data of two HHT patients admitted to the author's hospital between April 2019 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Meanwhile, the genetic analysis was performed with their consent.

Silymarin for Treating Toxic Liver Disease: International Consensus Recommendations.

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a leading health problem impacting the quality of life globally. China shares a major global burden of CLD-including alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, and drug-induced liver injury, except for chronic viral hepatitis. Several exogenous toxins or endogenous metabolic insults trigger hepatic pathology toward steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, which, if left untreated, may culminate in liver cirrhosis.

Corticosteroid plus glycyrrhizin therapy for chronic drug- or herb-induced liver injury achieves biochemical and histological improvements: a randomised open-label trial.

Background: Treatment of chronic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) or herb-induced liver injury(HILI) is an important and unresolved challenge. There is no consensus regarding the indications for corticosteroids for chronic DILI/HILI.

Aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid plus glycyrrhizin for patients with chronic DILI/HILI.

Health-related quality of life in Chinese population with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a national multicenter survey.

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is a multi-dimensional construct that can comprehensively evaluate the patient's health status, including physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on HRQL in a Chinese population.

Methods: In this national multicenter cross-sectional survey, patients with NAFLD were enrolled.

Spermine promotes pulmonary vascular remodelling and its synthase is a therapeutic target for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pathological mechanisms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remain largely unexplored. Effective treatment of PAH remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to discover the underlying mechanism of PAH through functional metabolomics and to help develop new strategies for prevention and treatment of PAH.

Beta-blockers in COPD: A systematic review based on recent research.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with cardiovascular complications is very common. Due to fear of exacerbating airway spasm, β-blockers are rarely used in such patients. Many observational studies suggest that β-blockers can reduce the disease progression and the risk of mortality in patients with COPD, but lack of confirmation from randomized controlled trials.

Development of new drugs for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

The development of new drugs for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a current focus of research in the management of liver disease. Here we provided an overview of NASH drug pipelines and the challenges faced in conducting phases II and III clinical trials. These challenges include the selection and definition of research populations, rational selection of study end-points, choice of noninvasive diagnostic indicators, accounting for confounding factors and safety assessments.

Germline mutation causes idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a rare disease with high heritability. Although several predisposing genes have been linked to IPAH, the genetic aetiology remains unknown for a large number of IPAH cases.

Methods: We conducted an exome-wide gene-based burden analysis on two independent case-control studies, including a total of 331 IPAH cases and 10 508 controls.

Tolvaptan in Chinese cirrhotic patients with ascites: A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial.

Objective: To evaluate tolvaptan as a novel therapeutic option for Chinese patients with liver cirrhosis-associated ascites in a phase 2 clinical trial.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial was conducted in patients with insufficient responses to combination therapies of an oral loop diuretic and an aldosterone antagonist. Reduction in body weight and abdominal circumference, increase in 24-h cumulative urine volume and improvement in serum sodium level from baseline to the end of treatment in the tolvaptan groups (15 mg/day or 30 mg/day orally) were compared with those in the placebo group.

Pharmacotherapy of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Reflections on the existing evidence.

Pharmacotherapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Over the past decade, a large number of clinical studies have explored the safety and efficacy of different drugs in treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), including diet pills, antioxidants, insulin sensitizers, lipid-lowering agents, anti-inflammatory cytokines, cytoprotective agents and intestinal probiotics. Based on the evidence from randomized controlled trials a number of academic groups have developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD and NASH.

Catheter-directed therapy as a treatment for submassive pulmonary embolism: A meta-analysis.

Aims: Catheter-directed therapy (CDT) is included in the guidelines for diagnosing and treating massive pulmonary embolism. However, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of CDT as a treatment for submassive pulmonary embolism (SPE). Therefore, we used evidence-based medicine to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CDT in treating SPE.

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based profiling of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in the plasma and liver of acetaminophen-induced liver injured mice.

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure in many countries. The aim of the study was to describe the profiling of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the plasma and liver of Acetaminophen -induced liver injured mice.

Methods: A time course study was carried out using C57BL/6 mice after intraperitoneal administration of 300 mg/kg Acetaminophen 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h.