Effect of Hypertension on Long-term Adverse Clinical Outcomes and Liver Fibrosis Progression in MASLD.

Background & Aims: Hypertension is common in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but its impact on long-term clinical outcomes and disease progression remains unclear. This study investigated the association of hypertension and risk of adverse clinical outcomes and progression of liver stiffness/fibrosis in MASLD.

Methods: Three multicenter prospective cohorts were analyzed: the UK BioBank (UKBB) cohort to assess the risk of adverse clinical outcomes, the VCTE-Prognosis cohort to assess liver stiffness/fibrosis progression, and the Paired Liver Biopsy cohort to assess histologic liver fibrosis progression.

Longitudinal Changes in Fibrosis Markers: Monitoring Stiffness/Fibrosis Progression and Prognostic Outcomes in MASLD.

Background & Aims: Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) is a noninvasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, its role of dynamic FIB-4 for assessing fibrosis progression and predicting clinical outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between changes in FIB-4 and changes in liver stiffness, fibrosis progression, and outcomes in MASLD.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Radiomics in the Management of Lymphomas by PET/CT: The Clairvoyance in Clinic.

Lymphomas are a hematopoietic malignancies that encompass over 90 subtypes. Traditionally, they have been categorized into two main groups, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Based on morphology and immunohistochemistry, HL can be classified into nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) and classical HL (cHL).

Clinical, genetic and functional perspectives on ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 4 variants in five cholestasis adults.

Background: ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 4 () deficiency is associated with cholestatic liver disease primarily because of missense mutations, and many variants remain unidentified. Here, we validate the pathogenicity and mechanism of ABCB4 variants in clinical and trials, hypothesizing that these variants are responsible for impaired biliary function and contribute to the development of cholestatic liver diseases.

Aim: To clarify the functional features and pathogenicity of variants.

Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Effects and Risk Factors of Liver Cirrhosis in Patients with Wilson's Disease Hepatic Type.

Background And Aims: Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that can be treated with medications. The lack of a single, specific diagnostic indicator leads to diagnostic difficulties, which may result in disease progression to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the clinical data, imaging, histopathological manifestations, genetic testing results, and treatment effects of patients with WD hepatic type, and to explore the factors related to WD cirrhosis.

Association between Chronic Hepatitis B and Osteoporosis: a two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: Evidence suggests that metabolic abnormalities caused by chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are associated with osteoporosis (OP). However, whether there are causal relationships between CHB and OP remains undetermined. The present study assessed the causal effect of CHB on OP via two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Fibrosis-Related Gene and Protein Expression in Normal and Glaucomatous Trabecular Meshwork Cells.

Purpose: Glaucomatous trabecular meshwork (GTM) tissue is characterized by excess fibrotic-like extracellular matrices, which negatively impacts aqueous humor outflow. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is the process by which tissues develop fibrosis. In this study, we investigated fibrotic-related gene and protein profiles of non-glaucomatous trabecular meshwork (NTM) and GTM cells.

Vitamin E (300 mg) in the treatment of MASH: A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The efficacy and safety of a lower dose of vitamin E for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) treatment are unclear. This multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study includes 124 non-diabetic participants with biopsy-proven MASH. Participants are randomly assigned to receive oral vitamin E 300 mg or the placebo in a 1:1 ratio.

Liver biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease predicts no impact on antiviral response in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective: The role of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) on antiviral response in Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) remains unclear. Previous studies mainly focus on the impact of the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL) on antiviral efficacy, whereas the role of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) has not been highlighted. The authors aimed to investigate the association of NAFLD (NAFL and NASH), viral and histological characteristics with antiviral response.

To nap or not? Evidence from a meta-analysis of cohort studies of habitual daytime napping and health outcomes.

Habitual daytime napping is a common behavioral and lifestyle practice in particular countries and is often considered part of a normal daily routine. However, recent evidence suggests that the health effects of habitual daytime napping are controversial. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to March 9, 2024, to synthesize cohort studies of napping and health outcome risk.

Etiologies of Persistent Aminotransferase Elevations in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Nucleos(t)ide Analogs.

Background/Aims: Recent studies revealed that patients with persistent aminotransferase elevations after antiviral treatment had higher risk of hepatic events; yet its underlying causes remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the etiologies of persistent aminotransferase elevations in patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs). Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had been receiving NA treatment for over a year and had an aminotransferase level greater than 40 IU/mL (more than twice, with a 3-month interval) and subsequently underwent a liver biopsy.

Phage therapy combats pan drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection safely and efficiently.

Phage therapy offers a promising approach to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Yet, key questions remain regarding dosage, administration routes, combination therapy, and the causes of therapeutic failure. In this study, we focused on a novel lytic phage, ФAb4B, which specifically targeted the Acinetobacter baumannii strains with KL160 capsular polysaccharide, including the pan-drug resistant A.

Profiling IOP-Responsive Genes in the Trabecular Meshwork and Optic Nerve Head in a Rat Model of Controlled Elevation of Intraocular Pressure.

Purpose: The rat controlled elevation of intraocular pressure (CEI) model allows study of in vivo responses to short-term exposure to defined intraocular pressures (IOP). In this study, we used NanoString technology to investigate in vivo IOP-related gene responses in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and optic nerve head (ONH) simultaneously from the same animals.

Methods: Male and female rats (N = 35) were subjected to CEI for 8 hours at pressures simulating mean, daytime normotensive rat IOP (CEI-20), or 2.

IAIH-PG consensus for histological criteria of AIH: Multicentre validation with focus on chronic liver diseases in China.

Background And Aims: The International AIH Pathology Group (IAIH-PG) put forward the new histological criteria of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in 2022, which have not undergone adequate verification. In this study, we verified the applicability of the new histological criteria in the population of Chinese patients with chronic liver disease, comparing it with the simplified criteria.

Methods: The gold standard for diagnosis in all patients was based on histological findings, combined with clinical manifestations and laboratory tests and determined after a follow-up period of at least 3 years.

The potential association between metabolic disorders and pulmonary tuberculosis: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Metabolic disorders (MetDs) have been demonstrated to be closely linked to numerous diseases. However, the precise association between MetDs and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains poorly understood.

Method: Summary statistics for exposure and outcomes from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for exposures and outcomes were obtained from the BioBank Japan Project (BBJ) Gene-exposure dataset.

Precirrhotic Primary Biliary Cholangitis with Portal Hypertension: Bile Duct Injury Correlate.

Background/aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH.

Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients.

ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification of IL-11 drives macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition and pathological cardiac fibrosis in mice.

Cardiac macrophage contributes to the development of cardiac fibrosis, but factors that regulate cardiac macrophages transition and activation during this process remains elusive. Here we show, by single-cell transcriptomics, lineage tracing and parabiosis, that cardiac macrophages from circulating monocytes preferentially commit to macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT) under angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension, with accompanying increased expression of the RNA N6-methyladenosine demethylases, ALKBH5. Meanwhile, macrophage-specific knockout of ALKBH5 inhibits Ang II-induced MMT, and subsequently ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.

Digital spatial profiling of segmental outflow regions in trabecular meshwork reveals a role for ADAM15.

In this study we used a spatial transcriptomics approach to identify genes specifically associated with either high or low outflow regions in the trabecular meshwork (TM) that could potentially affect aqueous humor outflow in vivo. High and low outflow regions were identified and isolated from organ cultured human anterior segments perfused with fluorescently-labeled 200 nm FluoSpheres. The NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) platform was then used to identified genes in the paraffin embedded tissue sections from within those regions.

Profiling IOP-responsive genes in anterior and posterior ocular tissues in the rat CEI glaucoma model.

Purpose: The rat Controlled Elevation of Intraocular pressure (CEI) model allows study of responses to defined intraocular pressures (IOP). In this study, we use Nanostring technology to investigate IOP-related gene responses in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and optic nerve head (ONH) simultaneously from the same animals.

Methods: Male and female rats (N=35) were subject to CEI for 8-hours at pressures simulating mean, daytime normotensive rat IOP (CEI-20), or 2.

Transjugular liver biopsy: enlarge the indications for liver biopsy with reliable diagnostic quality.

Background: Complications and diagnostic efficiency for liver biopsy are main concerns for clinicians. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) compared with percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) when patients had equal level of liver function and number of passes, using propensity score matching (PSM).

Methods: The clinical and pathological data of patients who received TJLB or PLB between January 2012 and October 2022 were collected.

AutoFibroNet: A deep learning and multi-photon microscopy-derived automated network for liver fibrosis quantification in MAFLD.

Background: Liver fibrosis is the strongest histological risk factor for liver-related complications and mortality in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Second harmonic generation/two-photon excitation fluorescence (SHG/TPEF) is a powerful tool for label-free two-dimensional and three-dimensional tissue visualisation that shows promise in liver fibrosis assessment.

Aim: To investigate combining multi-photon microscopy (MPM) and deep learning techniques to develop and validate a new automated quantitative histological classification tool, named AutoFibroNet (Automated Liver Fibrosis Grading Network), for accurately staging liver fibrosis in MAFLD.