Pazopanib-induced severe acute liver injury: A case report

RATIONALE

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Painkillers and fever antipyretics are the most common cause of DILI. Hepatic injury can be provoked by DILI as hepatocellular or cholestatic type.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 48-year-old woman presented jaundice accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The patient was an inactive hepatitis B carrier with low viral titer and was diagnosed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with hepatic metastasis requiring pazopanib treatment. Prior to administration of pazopanib, tenofovir administration was started to prevent exacerbation of hepatitis B. The patient was referred to clinic of gastroenterology department due to sudden elevation of bilirubin after 5 weeks of pazopanib treatment.

DIAGNOSES

Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography showed non-specific finding other than metastatic nodule in the liver and liver cirrhosis. After then, the patient was performed liver biopsy, and the biopsy result was acute cholestatic hepatitis with centrilobular area necrosis and portal inflammation. Therefore, considering the clinical history and biopsy results, the patient was diagnosed as DILI due to pazopanib.

INTERVENTIONS

After the biopsy, empirical steroid therapy was initiated and after 7 weeks of pazopanib discontinuation.

OUTCOMES

The total bilirubin level returned to normal from peak level of 24.61 to 1.52 mg/dL.

LESSONS

In patients with renal cell carcinoma, pazopanib treatment requires clinical caution as it causes rare complications such as severe jaundice and acute cholestatic hepatitis.

Quality of life in patients with diabetic nephropathy: findings from the KNOW-CKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease) cohort

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) can affect quality of life (QoL) because it requires arduous lifelong management. This study analyzed QoL differences between DN patients and patients with other chronic kidney diseases (CKDs).

Methods

The analysis included subjects (n = 1,766) from the KNOW-CKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease) cohort who completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form questionnaire. After implementing propensity score matching (PSM) using factors that affect the QoL of DN patients, QoL differences between DN and non-DN participants were examined.

Results

Among all DN patients (n = 390), higher QoL scores were found for taller subjects, and lower scores were found for those who were unemployed or unmarried, received Medical Aid, had lower economic status, had higher platelet counts or alkaline phosphatase levels, or used clopidogrel or insulin. After PSM, the 239 matched DN subjects reported significantly lower patient satisfaction (59.9 vs. 64.5, p = 0.02) and general health (35.3 vs. 39.1, p = 0.04) than the 239 non-DN subjects. Scores decreased in both groups during the 5-year follow-up, and the scores in the work status, sexual function, and role-physical domains were lower among DN patients than non-DN patients, though those differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Socioeconomic factors of DN were strong risk factors for impaired QoL, as were high platelet, alkaline phosphatase, and clopidogrel and insulin use. Clinicians should keep in mind that the QoL of DN patients might decrease in some domains compared with non-DN CKDs.

A population-based study of pyogenic liver abscess in Korea: Incidence, mortality and temporal trends during 2007-2017

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Although the epidemiology of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) continues to change, only a few population-based studies have been conducted in Korea. This study investigated the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of PLA patients during a period of 10 years.

METHODS

We analysed the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data between 2007 and 2017. The data included annual incidence rates, demographic data, underlying diseases, complications and mortality of PLA patients.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of PLA for all age groups was 10.9 per 100 000 population. The incidence was gradually increased from 5.7 per 100 000 in 2007 to 14.4 per 100 000 in 2017. In patients with liver abscess, the prevalence of diabetes and malignancy were 37.24% and 26.5% respectively. Metastatic infection was reported in 1.74% of the patients, and endophthalmitis was most common. The mean in-hospital mortality was 9.6%, and there was no significant difference in mortality by year during the observation period. Mortality increased with age and was greatly affected by the underlying diseases, especially cancer. Based on the multivariate analysis results, the mortality of PLA patients was associated with older age, female sex, diabetes, malignancy and chronic kidney disease.

CONCLUSION

The PLA incidence is rapidly increasing in Korea, especially in people with comorbidities. In addition, the causes and risk factors of PLA infections are changing and thus further research on epidemiology, different diagnosis and management approaches is required.

Biopsy-confirmed fenofibrate-induced severe jaundice: A case report

BACKGROUND

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. DILI is mainly caused by painkillers and fever reducers, and it is often characterized by the type of hepatic injury (hepatocellular or cholestatic). This report presents a case of fenofibrate-induced severe jaundice in a 65-year-old Korean male with no prior history of liver disease. We offer a strategy for patients who present signs of severe liver injury with jaundice and high elevations in serum transaminases.

CASE SUMMARY

A 65-year-old male visited the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital due to increased levels of liver enzyme and total bilirubin which were incidentally detected through a preoperative screening test. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography showed no biliary obstruction or non-specific findings in the liver. Liver biopsy was performed and the patient was finally diagnosed with acute cholestatic hepatitis. Following the biopsy, steroid therapy was initiated and after 3 wk of treatment, the total bilirubin level was reduced to 7.22 mg/dL.

CONCLUSION

In patients with hyperlipidemia, treatment including fenofibric acid induces rare complications such as severe jaundice and acute cholestatic hepatitis, warranting clinical attention.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of LOGIQ S8 and E9 Shear Wave Elastography for Staging Hepatic Fibrosis, in Comparison with Transient Elastography

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two different types of 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) for predicting liver fibrosis stages in comparison to transient elastography (TE), using a histologic METAVIR scoring system as the reference method.

METHODS

A total of 203 patients with chronic liver disease were prospectively enrolled in the study. Two different 2D-SWEs (LOGIQ S8 and E9 systems, GE Healthcare, Chalfont St Giles, UK) were assessed for liver stiffness in patients with chronic liver diseases. Patients received 2D-SWE examinations with the S8 and E9 systems, and also underwent TE (FibroScan^®, Echosens, France) tests and liver biopsies on the same day.

RESULTS

The most common etiology of chronic liver disease was non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (28.7%), followed by chronic hepatitis B (25.1%). Liver fibrosis stages consisted of F0 (22.6%), F1 (29.7%), F2 (16.9%), F3 (12.8%) and F4 (17.9%). Overall, S8 and E9 were well correlated with the histologic fibrosis stages. The optimal cut-off values for S8 and E9 to differentiate significant fibrosis (≥F2) were 6.70 kPa and 6.42 kPa, respectively, while the cut-off values for S8 and E9 in distinguishing liver cirrhosis were 9.15 kPa and 8.88 kPa, respectively. Among the 195 patients who had successful measurements in both S8 and E9, liver stiffness showed good inter-equipment correlation (ICC: 0.900, p < 0.001). Regarding diagnostic ability, upon comparison (FibroScan^®), there were no significant differences between 2D-SWEs and TE for detecting every stage of liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

In comparison to TE, 2D-SWE with LOGIQ S8 and E9 (GE Healthcare) are useful non-invasive tools for predicting significant fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increases the risk of diabetes in young adults: A nationwide population-based study in Korea

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of diabetes but has been rarely investigated in young adults. In this study, we investigated the relationship between NAFLD and incident diabetes risk in young adults using nationwide Korean population data.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study from the Korean National Health Insurance Service included adults aged 20 through 39 years who underwent a health examination from 2009 to 2012. NAFLD was defined as a fatty liver index (FLI) ≥60 in the absence of alcohol consumption of ≥30 g/day. Newly diagnosed diabetes during follow-up was identified using claims data. Cox regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio for incident diabetes after adjusting for classical confounders.

FINDINGS

Among the 5,254,786 participants, 9.3% had an FLI ≥60. During the median follow-up of 8.6 years, 91,885 cases of incident diabetes occurred. In multivariable analysis, the risk of incident diabetes was significantly higher in the NAFLD group than the control group (adjusted hazard ratio = 4.97, 95% confidence interval, 4.90-5.05). Stratified analyses showed higher associations in those who were ≥30 years, male, obese, smokers, alcohol consumers, and did not regularly exercise (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD is associated with a five-fold increased risk of incident diabetes in young adults. These results suggest an independent high risk for incident diabetes in young adults and underscore the importance of paying early attention to patients who develop NAFLD before middle age.

Clinical impact of serum exosomal microRNA in liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND/AIM

We investigated alterations in the expression of serum exosomal miRNAs with the progression of liver fibrosis and evaluated their clinical applicability as biomarkers.

METHODS

This study prospectively enrolled 71 patients who underwent liver biopsy at an academic hospital in Korea. Exosomes were extracted from serum samples, followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of miRNAs and targeted real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A model was derived to discriminate advanced fibrosis based on miRNA levels and the performance of this model was evaluated. Validation of the effect of miRNA on liver fibrosis in vitro was followed.

RESULTS

NGS data revealed that exosomal miR-660-5p, miR-125a-5p, and miR-122 expression were changed significantly with the progression of liver fibrosis, of which miR-122 exhibited high read counts enough to be used as a biomarker. The level of exosomal miR-122 decreased as the pathologic fibrosis grade progressed and patients with biopsy-proven advanced fibrosis had significantly lower levels of exosomal miR-122 (P < 0.001) than those without advanced fibrosis. Exosomal miR-122 exhibited a fair performance in discriminating advanced fibrosis especially in combination with fibrosis-4 score and transient elastography. In a subgroup of patients with a non-viral etiology of liver disease, the performance of exosomal miR-122 as a biomarker was greatly improved. Inhibition of miR-122 expression increased the proliferation of the human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2, and upregulated the expression of various fibrosis related proteins.

CONCLUSION

Exosomal miR-122 may serve as a useful non-invasive biomarker for liver fibrosis, especially in patients with non-viral etiologies of chronic liver disease.

Low Muscle Mass in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: Correlations with Vascular Calcification and Vascular Access Failure

Background: Sarcopenia involves an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass with functional disability or low muscle strength. Vascular calcification (VC) occurs commonly in patients with chronic kidney disease, in whom it is associated with cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the correlations of low muscle mass with the quantified vascular calcification score (VCS) of the arm of vascular access, as well as whether low muscle mass is associated with the incidence of vascular access failure. Methods: The VCS was measured on non-contrast, arm computed tomography using the Agatston method. The lower muscle mass (LMM) group comprised subjects whose skeletal muscle mass of the lower extremities, as measured using bioelectrical impedance, was lower than the median. Higher VC was defined as a score of 500 or above, corresponding to the highest 40% of VCS. The relationship between LMM and VC was explored using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Seventy-five patients were included, of whom forty-two (56.0%) were men. The median age was 64 years (interquartile range 58-72 years). Of the 75 patients, 73 satisfied the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. The median hemodialysis vintage was 49.4 months (range 32.1-99.2 months). No significant differences were found between the non-LMM and LMM groups in sex, end-stage renal disease etiology, and type of vascular access, although the LMM group showed significantly older age and hemodialysis vintage. LMM presented a significant association with VC (hazard ratio (HR) 3.562; 95% CI, 1.341-9.463; p = 0.011). Upon adjustment for hemodialysis vintage, diabetes, and systolic blood pressure, LMM demonstrated an independent association with VC (HR, 10.415; 95% CI, 2.357-46.024; p = 0.002). The risk of vascular access failure was higher in the LMM group (HR, 3.652; 95%, CI 1.135-11.749; p = 0.03). VC was a full mediator in the relationship of LMM with recurrent vascular access failure. Conclusions: We quantified LMM via bioimpedance analysis and found a heretofore-unreported association between LMM and vascular access failure. LMM increases the risk of VC and has the potential to predict vascular access failure.

Effect of antiviral therapy in patients with low HBV DNA level on transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Antiviral therapy improves survival in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effect of antiviral therapy in patients with low-level viremia HBV-HCC receiving non-curative therapy remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the role of antiviral therapy in patients with low-level viremia and treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). This retrospective study evaluated 206 patients with HBV-HCC who underwent TACE as an initial treatment. Of those, 135 patients received antiviral therapy (antiviral group), and 71 did not (non-antiviral group). The definition of low-level viremia was an HBV DNA level <2000 IU/ml. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests and Cox regression analysis were used for statistical analyses. The median follow-up duration was 39 months (1-174 months). Overall survival (OS) did not differ between groups (P = .227). Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (BCLC), Child-Pugh (CP) class and α-fetoprotein level were independent prognostic factors for OS. Antiviral therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.503, P = .022) was a prognostic factor for 2-year survival. On subgroup analysis, antiviral therapy improved short-term survival in patients with BCLC stage 0 and A (P = .037) and CP class A (P = .04). In patients with low-level viremia, antiviral therapy yielded short-term survival benefits, particularly in patients with early-stage HCC.

Adverse outcomes after surgeries in patients with liver cirrhosis among Korean population: A population-based study

Background

Patients with liver cirrhosis have an increased risk of in-hospital mortality or postoperative complication after surgery. However, large-scale studies on the prognosis of these patients after surgery are lacking. The aim of the study was to investigate the adverse outcomes of patients with liver cirrhosis after surgery over five years.

Methods and findings

We used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Inpatient Samples (HIRA-NIS) between 2012 and 2016. In-hospital mortality and hospital stay were analyzed using the data. Mortality rates according to the surgical department were also analyzed. Of the 1,662,887 patients who underwent surgery, 16,174 (1.0%) patients had cirrhosis. The in-hospital mortality (8.0% vs. 1.0%) and postoperative complications such as respiratory (6.0% vs. 5.3%) or infections (2.8% vs. 2.4%) was significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in those without cirrhosis. In addition, the total hospitalization period and use of the intensive care unit were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis. In propensity score matching analysis, liver cirrhosis increased the risk of adverse outcome significantly [adjusted OR (aOR) 1.67, 95% CI 1.56–1.79, P<0.001], especially in-hospital mortality. In liver cirrhosis group, presence of decompensation or varices showed significantly increased postoperative complication or mortality. Adverse outcomes in patients with cirrhosis was the highest in patients who underwent otorhinolaryngology surgery (aOR 1.86), followed by neurosurgery (aOR 1.72), thoracic and cardiovascular surgery (aOR 1.56), and plastic surgery (aOR 1.36).

Conclusion

The adverse outcomes of patients with cirrhosis is significantly high after surgery, despite advances in cirrhosis treatment.

Extremely rare case of necrotizing gastritis in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune hepatitis can cause liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its treatment option include the use of steroids and/or immune-suppressive agents such as azathioprine. However, these drugs have some side effects. Thus, close follow-up is needed during treatment. Here, we present an extremely rare case of a patient with an autoimmune hepatitis who died from necrotizing gastritis during immunosuppressive treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

A 52-year-old female patient was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. We treated this patient with immunosuppressive agents. High-dose steroid treatment was initially started. Then azathioprine treatment was added while steroid was tapering. Five weeks after the start of treatment, she visited the emergency room due to generalized abdominal pain and vomiting. After computed tomography scan, the patient was diagnosed with necrotizing gastritis and the patient progressed to septic shock. Treatment for sepsis was continued in the intensive care unit. However, the patient died at 6 h after admission to the emergency room.

CONCLUSION

In patients with autoimmune infections undergoing immunosuppressant therapy, rare complications such as necrotizing gastritis may occur, thus requiring clinical attention.

Association between alcohol consumption status and obesity-related comorbidities in men: data from the 2016 Korean community health survey

Background

This study was performed to investigate the association between the amount of alcohol consumption or binge drinking and obesity-related comorbidities in Korean men.

Methods

A total of 103,048 men aged 19 years or older were investigated in the 2016 Korean Community Health Survey. The participants were divided into five groups according to the standard number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week.

Results

Of the total participants, 20.7% were in the high alcohol consumption group, consuming more than 28 drinks per week. After adjustment for clinical factors, high alcohol consumption was significantly associated with higher odds ratios (ORs) of obesity (OR, 1.449; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.412 to 1.591; P < 0.0001), hypertension (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.636 to 1.894; P < 0.0001), and dyslipidemia (OR, 1.356; 95% CI, 1.247 to 1.474; P < 0.0001). In contrast, mild to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of diabetes (OR, 0.799; 95% CI, 0.726 to 0.88; P = 0.0015) and high alcohol consumption was not associated with a higher risk of diabetes (OR, 0.945; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.039; P = 0.0662). Among drinkers, except for social drinkers, binge drinking was significantly associated with higher risks of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

Conclusions

High alcohol consumption was associated with higher risks of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in Korean men. In contrast, high consumption was not associated with a higher risk of diabetes. In particular, binge drinkers were associated with higher risks of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia compared to non-binge drinkers.

Urinary Microbiome Characteristics in Female Patients with Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis and Recurrent Cystitis

Traditionally, the diagnostic mainstay of recurrent urinary tract infection has been urinary culture. However, the causative uropathogen of recurrent cystitis has not been well established. Urine DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) can provide additional information on these infections. Herein, we compared urine NGS results and urine cultures in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) and recurrent cystitis (RC), and evaluated the difference in microbiome patterns in the NGS results. Patients who underwent urine culture and NGS due to AUC or RC were retrospectively reviewed. All urine samples were collected via a transurethral catheter and studied utilizing a type of NGS called 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification and sequencing. The sensitivity of urine NGS was significantly higher than that of conventional urine culture (69.0% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05). The detection rate of urine NGS was slightly lower in the RC group than in the AUC group (67.7% vs. 72.7%). Microbiome diversity was significantly higher in the RC group compared to the AUC group (p = 0.007), and the microbiome composition was significantly different between the AUC and RC groups. In the urine NGS results, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacteriaceae were found in the AUC group, and Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Rothia spp. were detected in the RC group. Urine NGS can significantly increase the diagnostic sensitivity compared to traditional urine culture methods, especially in RC patients. AUC and RC patients had significant differences in bacterial diversity and patterns. Therefore, recurrent cystitis might be approached from a different perspective.

Glucose Variability and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Diabetes: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Although diabetes is a well-known risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, exactly which metabolic parameters of diabetes are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the relationship between glucose variability (GV) and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with diabetes through a nationwide population-based study.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study including 674,178 diabetic subjects participating in more than three health examinations within 5 years from the index year (2009 and 2010) were followed until the end of 2017. The coefficient of variation, SD, variability independent of the mean, and average real variability were calculated as GV indices.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 6.7 years, there were 5,494 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. When groups were classified according to glucose level, the highest risk for hepatocellular carcinoma was observed when the basal blood glucose level was 180 mg/dL or greater [adjusted HR (aHR), 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08-1.31]. We observed increasing trends for the relationship between GV and hepatocellular carcinoma in multivariable Cox proportional analyses. The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma increased by 27% (aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.17-1.38) for the highest quartile of GV relative to the lowest quartile. These findings were consistent regardless of the presence of chronic viral hepatitis or cirrhosis, alcohol consumption, or body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

GV was an independent predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma, even after adjusting for confounding factors. There was a linear relationship between increase in GV and prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

IMPACT

Visit-to-visit GV might be helpful for identifying patients with diabetes at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Rare Case of Pyogenic Brain Abscess after Transarterial Chemoembolization in a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Case Report and Literature Review

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a useful treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE can particularly be used as a treatment for localized HCC, where surgical resection is impossible due to decreased liver function. However, TACE is associated with several complications, including vascular complications, liver failure, non-target embolization, infection, and death. The main risk factor for complications after TACE is decreased liver function. There have been only few reports of brain abscesses after TACE that are difficult to be distinguished from hepatic encephalopathy. Here, we report a rare case of brain abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae that occurred after TACE.

The cut-off value of transient elastography to the value of hepatic venous pressure gradient in alcoholic cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) reflects portal hypertension, but its measurement is invasive. Transient elastography (TE) is a noninvasive method for evaluating liver stiffness (LS). We investigated the correlation between the value of LS, LS to platelet ratio (LPR), LS-spleen diameter-to-platelet ratio score (LSPS) and HVPG according to the etiology of cirrhosis, especially focused on alcoholic cirrhosis.

METHODS

Between January 2008 and March 2017, 556 patients who underwent HVPG and TE were consecutively enrolled. We evaluated LS, LPR, and LSPS according to the etiology of cirrhosis and analyzed their correlations with HVPG.

RESULTS

The LS value was higher in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis than viral cirrhosis based on the HVPG (43.5 vs. 32.0 kPa, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in the LPR or LSPS between alcoholic and viral cirrhosis groups, and the areas under the curves for the LPR and LSPS in subgroups according to HVPG levels were not superior to that for LS. In alcoholic cirrhosis, the LS cutoff value for predicting an HVPG ≥10 mmHg was 32.2 kPa with positive predictive value (PPV) of 94.5% and 36.6 kPa for HVPG ≥12 mmHg with PPV of 91.0%.

CONCLUSION

The LS cutoff value should be determined separately for patients with alcoholic and viral cirrhosis. In alcoholic cirrhosis, the LS cutoff values were 32.2 and 36.6 kPa for predicting an HVPG ≥10 and ≥12 mmHg, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in the LPR or LSPS between alcoholic and viral cirrhosis groups.

Change in Portal Pressure and Clinical Outcome in Cirrhotic Patients with Gastric Varices after Plug-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration

Background/Aims

Plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (PARTO) is widely used to manage gastric varices with a portosystemic shunt. It is not clear whether portal pressure and the incidence of complications increase after PARTO. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in portal pressure and the associated changes in liver function, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and especially esophageal varix (EV) after PARTO.

Methods

From March 2012 to February 2018, 54 patients who underwent PARTO were analyzed retrospectively. The parameters collected included liver function and episodes of cirrhotic complications before and at 1 and 6 months after PARTO.

Results

The analysis of 54 patients showed improvement in liver function during the 6-month follow-up period (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score: change from 11.46±4.35 to 10.33±2.96, p=0.021). Among these 54 patients, 25 patients were evaluated for their hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) before and after PARTO (change from 12.52±3.83 to 14.68±5.03 mm Hg; p<0.001). Twenty-five patients with portal pressure measured before and after PARTO were evaluated for risk factors affecting liver function improvement and EV deterioration. No factor associated with portal pressure was affected by liver function improvement. Post-PARTO portal pressure was a risk factor affecting EV deterioration (HVPG-post: odds ratio, 1.341; 95% confidence interval, 1.017 to 1.767; p=0.037).

Conclusions

The artificial blockade of the portosystemic shunt evidently leads to an increase in HVPG. Liver function was improved over the 6-month follow-up period. Portal pressure after PARTO was a significant risk factor for EV deterioration. Portal pressure measurement is helpful for predicting the patient's clinical outcome.

Correlation of the grade of hepatic steatosis between controlled attenuation parameter and ultrasound in patients with fatty liver: a multi-center retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), based on transient elastography, is widely used for noninvasive assessment of the degree of hepatic steatosis (HS). We investigated the correlation of the degree HS between CAP and ultrasound (US) in patients with HS.

METHODS

In total, 986 patients with US-based HS who underwent transient elastography within 1 month were evaluated. The US-based grade of HS was categorized as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3).

RESULTS

The CAP was significantly correlated with the US-based grade of HS (r = 0.458, p < 0.001). The median CAP value of each US-based HS grade showed a positive correlation with grade (271.1, 303.7, and 326.7 dB/m for grades 1, 2, and 3). In a multivariate analysis, the US-based HS grade, body mass index, serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and total cholesterol, and liver stiffness were all significantly correlated with the CAP value (all p < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for grade 2 to 3 and grade 3 HS were 0.749 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.714 to 0.784) and 0.738 (95% CI, 0.704 to 0.772). The optimal cut-off CAP values to maximize the sum of the sensitivity and specificity for grade 2 to 3 and grade 3 HS were 284.5 dB/m (sensitivity 78.6%, specificity 61.7%) and 298.5 dB/m (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 55.6%).

CONCLUSION

The correlation of the degree of HS between CAP and US was significantly high in patients with HS, and the optimal cut-off CAP values for grade 2 to 3 and grade 3 HS were 284.5 and 298.5 dB/m.

Early Experience of Oncolytic Virus Injection Combined with Sorafenib in a Patient with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Portal Vein Thrombosis

JX-594 is a modified oncolytic poxvirus designed to selectively replicate in and destroy cancer cells. In a pilot study, JX-594 injection followed by sorafenib was well-tolerated in three patients and associated with objective tumor responses. In this study, we report a case in which a patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis was treated with a combination of JX-594 and sorafenib.

Risk of fatty liver after long-term use of tamoxifen in patients with breast cancer

Background

Few studies report the effects of tamoxifen intake and the occurrence of de novo fatty liver and the deterioration of existing fatty liver. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tamoxifen on fatty change of liver over time and also the impact of fatty liver on the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective study of patients who were diagnosed with primary breast cancer from January 2007 to July 2017. 911 consecutive patients were classified into three groups according to treatment method: tamoxifen group, aromatase inhibitor (AI) group, and control group.

Results

Median treatment duration was 49 months (interquartile range, IQR; 32–58) and median observational period was 85 months (IQR; 50–118). Long-term use of tamoxifen significantly aggravated fatty liver status compared to AI or control groups [hazard ratio (HR): 1.598, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.173–2.177, P = 0.003] after adjusting other factors. When analyzed separately depending on pre-existing fatty liver at baseline, tamoxifen was involved in the development of de novo fatty liver [HR: 1.519, 95% CI: 1.100–2.098, P = 0.011) and had greater effect on fatty liver worsening (HR: 2.103, 95% CI: 1.156–3.826, P = 0.015). However, the progression of fatty liver did not significantly affect the mortality of breast cancer patients.

Conclusions

Tamoxifen had a significant effect on the fatty liver status compared to other treatment modalities in breast cancer patients. Although fatty liver did not affect the prognosis of breast cancer, meticulous attention to cardiovascular disease or other metabolic disease should be paid when used for a long time.

Association between Inflammatory Biomarkers and Nutritional Status in Fatty Liver

The prevalence and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is mediated via several factors correlating with hepatic necroinflammation (adipokines/cytokines). This study was performed to analyze the level of inflammatory markers according to the presence of NAFLD and to identify related nutritional factors. A total of 80 adults were classified into 2 groups (healthy and NAFLD), and their body composition, blood tests, and eating habits were evaluated. In addition, inflammatory markers (adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [CRP], and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]), nutrient intake status, and dietary quality were compared. The quality of diet was assessed according to the nutrient adequacy ratio and the mean adequacy ratio (MAR). The NAFLD group had a higher body mass index (p < 0.001) than the healthy group and also carried significantly higher CRP levels (p < 0.001) but lower adiponectin (p = 0.001). TNF-α levels increased significantly with fatty liver grade (p = 0.023). The NAFLD group showed significantly higher intake of energy, carbohydrates, iron, sodium, vitamin A and saturated fatty acids, but significantly lower intake of zinc and vitamin E than the healthy group. The MAR values were slightly higher in the NAFLD group but without any significant difference. The levels of adiponectin and vitamin E showed a significant inverse correlation (p < 0.05). Nutritional management of NAFLD patients is important, and the intake of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients such as zinc and vitamin E should be emphasized.

Prevalence, incidence and risk factors of tamoxifen-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Tamoxifen is associated with an increased risk of developing fatty liver. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of fatty liver developed after tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, OVID Medline, the Cochrane Library and other databases was performed for this review. The abstracts obtained from the search were reviewed by two investigators who chose manuscripts for full-text review. The event rates were calculated with a random-effects model and quality-effects model.

RESULTS

The search yielded 165 references. Of these, 24 were included in the quantitative summary. We analysed the data of a total of 6,962 patients treated with tamoxifen and 975 patients not treated with tamoxifen. The prevalence of fatty liver among patients with breast cancer taking tamoxifen was 40.25 per 100 patients and the incidence rate was 12.37 per 100 person-years. The incidence of fatty liver was much higher in the tamoxifen group than in the control group [incidence rate ratio: 3.12, 95% CI (confidence interval): 2.05-4.75, I²  = 61%], regardless of region. The main risk factors were body mass index (BMI) [hazard ratio (HR): 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09-1.22] and hypercholesterolaemia (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02).

CONCLUSION

The use of tamoxifen was associated with increased risks in the incidence and prevalence of fatty liver, especially in patients with high BMI and hypercholesterolaemia.

Clinical application of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous liver biopsy and its safety over 18 years

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard for the evaluation of liver disease. However, over the past two decades, many noninvasive tests have been developed and utilized in clinical practice as alternatives to LB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical use and safety of LB in the era of noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 1,944 consecutive cases of LB performed between 2001 and 2018 in a tertiary hospital. All of the LBs were conducted under ultrasonography guidance with 18-gauge cutting needles.

RESULTS

LBs were performed an average of approximately 108 times per year during the study period. Chronic hepatitis B (25.3%) and suspected malignancy (20.5%) were the two most common indications for LB. The use of LB for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.1% to 17.2% in the past 5 years compared to the last 10 years, while that for viral hepatitis decreased from 40.3% to 18.9%. Discordance rate between the suspected diagnosis and the final diagnosis was 2.6% (51 cases). The overall rate of major adverse events was 0.05% (one case), which involved delayed bleeding at the biopsy site. Liver cirrhosis was observed in 563 cases (28.9%), and the presence of cirrhosis did not affect the frequency of complications (P=0.289).

CONCLUSION

LB is widely used in clinical practice as an irreplaceable diagnostic tool, even in the era of noninvasiveness. Ultrasonography-guided LB can be performed safely in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Appraisal of a Model to Estimate Survival in Ambulatory Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Classified as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage B

Background/Aims

Patients with an intermediate stage of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represent a highly heterogeneous population; therefore, many models have been proposed to predict the survival of these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic performance of a novel subclassification for tumors classified as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B using the Model to Estimate Survival in Ambulatory HCC patients (MESIAH).

Methods

This analysis was based on 377 patients with HCC treated at Seoul National University Hospital (training cohort) and 189 patients at the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital (validation cohort). Four subclassification systems were tested: MESIAH; original BCLC B subclassification (B1, B2, B3, and B4); modified model A (B1, B2, and B3+B4); and modified model B (B1, B2+B3, and B4).

Results

Median survival progressively decreased from stage B1 through stages B2 to B3 according to the new MESIAH subclassification (p<0.001). Moreover, significantly different survival among contiguous stages was observed. In the multivariable Cox regression, the MESIAH subclassification was an independent predictor of overall survival (p<0.001). In terms of discrimination and calibration, MESIAH performed better than the original BCLC B subclassification, modified model A and modified model B.

Conclusions

The MESIAH model would be an effective tool for stratifying heterogeneous BCLC stage B cancer, and the ability of this model to predict survival is better than that of the other previously proposed models.

Intraductal placement of non-flared fully covered metallic stent for refractory anastomotic biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation: Long-term results of prospective multicenter trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS) may be an effective modality for managing anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS) after liver transplantation. However, stent migration and stent-induced ductal injury are the main limitations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of an unflared, intraductal FCSEMS that was designed to minimize migration and ductal injury for refractory ABS after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

METHODS

A total of 32 consecutive patients with symptomatic ABS after LDLT unresolved by plastic stents with or without balloon dilation at four tertiary medical centers were prospectively enrolled. A short (3 or 5 cm) FCSEMS having long lasso (10 cm) used in this study had unflared convex ends to minimize tissue hyperplasia and smaller center portion to prevent migration. The FCSEMS was placed above the papilla and removed at 3-4 months after stenting.

RESULTS

Technical and clinical success rates of intraductal placement with FCSEMS were 100% (32/32) and 81.2% (26/32), respectively. Early stent migration was observed in five (15.6%) patients. However, three patients with early stent migration had stricture resolution without needing additional intervention. Intended stent removal was successful in 27 (100%) patients (median, 101 days; range, 23-118 days). No stent-induced ductal change was observed in all patients. Stricture recurrence was observed in 11.5% (3/26) of patients during 639 days of median duration of follow-up (range, 366-2079 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraductal placement of an unflared short FCSEMS may be a promising option for refractory ABS after LDLT with minimal stent-induced ductal injury and stent migration.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis Treated by Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

Sorafenib is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Additionally, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy has been used as a treatment option for advanced HCC. Here, we report a case of sustained partial response in a patient with advanced HCC with PVT after hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Propranolol plus endoscopic ligation for variceal bleeding in patients with significant ascites: Propensity score matching analysis

The use of beta-blockers in decompensated cirrhosis accompanying ascites is still under debate. The aim of this study was to compare overall survival (OS) and incidence of cirrhotic complications between endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) only and EVL + non-selective beta-blocker (NSBB) combination therapy in cirrhotic patients with significant ascites (≥grade 2).This retrospective study included 271 consecutive cirrhotic patients with ascites who were treated with EVL only or EVL + NSBB combination therapy as a primary prophylaxis of esophageal varices. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Propensity score matching was performed between the 2 groups to minimize baseline difference.Median observation period was 42.1 months (interquartile range, 18.4-75.1 months). All patients had deteriorated liver function: 81.1% Child-Pugh class B and 18.9% Child-Pugh class C. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in the EVL + NSBB group than in the EVL only group not only in non-matched cohort, but also in matched cohort (48.9% vs 31.2%; P = .039). More people died from hepatic failure in the EVL + NSBB group than that in the EVL only group (40.5% vs 20.0%; P = .020). However, the incidence of variceal bleeding, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) was not significantly different between the 2 groups.The use of NSBB might worsen the prognosis of cirrhotic patients with significant ascites. These results suggest that EVL alone is a more appropriate treatment option for prophylaxis of esophageal varices than propranolol combination therapy when patients have significant ascites.

Usefulness of noninvasive methods including assessment of liver stiffness by 2-dimensional shear wave elastography for predicting esophageal varices

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to predict the presence of esophageal varices (EVs) by noninvasive tools combined with 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), and to compare the diagnostic capabilities of 2D-SWE with those of transient elastography (TE).

METHODS

Between January 2015 and December 2017, 289 patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) who underwent consecutive 2D-SWE and EGD were enrolled. Capabilities for predicting the presence of EVs of 2D-SWE and models combining 2D-SWE with other noninvasive tools (modified LS-spleen-diameter-to-platelet-ratio score [mLSPS], platelet-spleen ratio score) were compared. A subgroup analysis was performed on 177 patients who also underwent simultaneous TE.

RESULTS

The area under receiver operating characteristics (AUROCs) for detecting EVs for 2D-SWE alone vs. mLSPS, which included 2D-SWE, were 0.757 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.701-0.810) and 0.813 (95% CI, 0.763-.857), respectively. The AUROCs for predicting varices needing treatment (VNT) for 2D-SWE and mLSPS were 0.712 (95% CI, 0.621-0.738) and 0.834 (95% CI, 0.785-0.875), respectively. For the 195 patients who underwent simultaneous TE and 2D-SWE, no differences in diagnostic performance were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic performance of 2D-SWE is similar to that of TE for predicting the presence of EVs. The mLSPS, which includes 2D-SWE, seemed to be useful for predicting EVs.

Clinical outcomes of patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma less than 5 cm treated with transarterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is performed for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that are not eligible for surgery or ablation therapy. We investigated the clinical outcomes of patients with a single HCC ≤ 5 cm treated with TACE.

METHODS

This study analyzed 175 consecutive patients who underwent TACE as an initial treatment for single HCC ≤ 5 cm. Predictive factors for complete response (CR), recurrence after CR, and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Total 119 patients (68%) achieved CR after TACE. Tumor size < 3 cm and hepatitis B virus infection were significant predictors of CR (p < 0.05). Recurrent HCC was detected in 73 patients (61.3%) after CR. Age > 65 years and absence of liver cirrhosis were predictive factors for non-recurrence after CR (p < 0.05). The OS for all patients was 80.7 ± 5.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 88.1%, 64.8%, and 49.9%, respectively. In multivariate analysis for OS, CR (hazard ratio [HR], 0.467; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.292 to 0.747) and Child class A (HR, 0.390; 95% CI, 0.243 to 0.626) were significant factors. The OS for the CR and Child class A group were 92 and 93.6 months, respectively, and that of the non-CR and Child B, C group were 53.3 and 50.7 months, respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

TACE can be a valid treatment in patients with a single HCC ≤ 5 cm not suitable for curative treatment, especially in patients with Child class A and CR after TACE.

Identification of a quadruple mutation that confers tenofovir resistance in chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is one the most potent nucleot(s)ide analogues for treating chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Phenotypic resistance caused by genotypic resistance to TDF has not been reported. This study aimed to characterize HBV mutations that confer tenofovir resistance.

METHODS

Two patients with viral breakthrough during treatment with TDF-containing regimens were prospectively enrolled. The gene encoding HBV reverse transcriptase was sequenced. Eleven HBV clones harboring a series of mutations in the reverse transcriptase gene were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. Drug susceptibility of each clone was determined by Southern blot analysis and real-time PCR. The relative frequency of mutants was evaluated by ultra-deep sequencing and clonal analysis.

RESULTS

Five mutations (rtS106C [C], rtH126Y [Y], rtD134E [E], rtM204I/V, and rtL269I [I]) were commonly found in viral isolates from 2 patients. The novel mutations C, Y, and E were associated with drug resistance. In assays for drug susceptibility, the IC₅₀ value for wild-type HBV was 3.8 ± 0.6 µM, whereas the IC₅₀ values for CYE and CYEI mutants were 14.1 ± 1.8 and 58.1 ± 0.9 µM, respectively. The IC₉₀ value for wild-type HBV was 30 ± 0.5 µM, whereas the IC₉₀ values for CYE and CYEI mutants were 185 ± 0.5 and 790 ± 0.2 µM, respectively. Both tenofovir-resistant mutants and wild-type HBV had similar susceptibility to the capsid assembly modulator NVR 3-778 (IC₅₀ <0.4 µM vs. IC₅₀ = 0.4 µM, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals that the quadruple (CYEI) mutation increases the amount of tenofovir required to inhibit HBV by 15.3-fold in IC₅₀ and 26.3-fold in IC₉₀. These results demonstrate that tenofovir-resistant HBV mutants can emerge, although the genetic barrier is high.

LAY SUMMARY

Tenofovir is the most potent nucleotide analogue for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and there has been no hepatitis B virus mutation that confers >10-fold resistance to tenofovir up to 8 years. Herein, we identified, for the first time, a quadruple mutation that conferred 15.3-fold (IC₅₀) and 26.3-fold (IC₉₀) resistance to tenofovir in 2 patients who experienced viral breakthrough during tenofovir treatment.

Estimation of renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis: Impact of muscle mass and sex

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Accurate evaluation of renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis is critical for clinical management. However, there are still discrepancies between the measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) and creatinine-based estimated GFR (eGFR). In this study, we compared the performance of 2 common eGFR measurements with mGFR and evaluated the impact of low muscle mass on overestimation of renal function in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

This study included 779 consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent ⁵¹Cr-ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) (as a mGFR) and abdominal computed tomography (CT). The eGFR was calculated using creatinine or cystatin C. Muscle mass was assessed in terms of the total skeletal muscle at L3 level using CT.

RESULTS

Modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD)-eGFR was overestimated in 47% of patients. A multivariate analysis showed that female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.91), Child B and C vs. A (aOR 1.69 and 1.84) and skeletal muscle mass (aOR 0.89) were independent risk factors associated with overestimation. Interestingly, the effect of skeletal muscle mass on overestimation varied based on sex. Decreased muscle mass significantly enhanced the risk of overestimation of MDRD-eGFR in male patients, but not in female patients. Cystatin C-based eGFR showed a better correlation with mGFR than MDRD-eGFR; it was also better at predicting overall survival and the incidence of acute kidney injury than MDRD-eGFR.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk factors associated with overestimation included female sex, impaired liver function, and decreased muscle mass in males. In particular, eGFR in male patients with sarcopenia should be carefully interpreted. Creatinine-based eGFR was overestimated more often than cystatin C-based eGFR, with overestimation of eGFR closely related to poor prognostic performance.

LAY SUMMARY

Overestimation of renal function frequently occurs in patients with liver cirrhosis when using serum creatinine. Decreased muscle mass has a great impact on overestimation of kidney function especially in male patients with cirrhosis. Compared with creatinine, cystatin C was more closely correlated with measured glomerular filtration rate and had a higher predictive ability for renal complications and survival than creatinine.

Hexokinase-II Inhibition Synergistically Augments the Anti-tumor Efficacy of Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This study aimed to examine whether inhibition of hexokinase (HK)-II activity enhances the efficacy of sorafenib in in-vivo models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate the prognostic implication of HK-II expression in patients with HCC. We used 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP), a HK-II inhibitor to target HK-II. The human HCC cell line was tested as both subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor xenograft models in BALB/c nu/nu mice. The prognostic role of HK-II was evaluated in data from HCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and validated in patients treated with sorafenib. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical staining revealed that HK-II expression is upregulated in the presence of sorafenib. Further analysis of the endoplasmic reticulum-stress network model in two different murine HCC models showed that the introduction of additional stress by 3-BP treatment synergistically increased the in vivo/vitro efficacy of sorafenib. We found that HCC patients with increased HK-II expression in the TCGA database showed poor overall survival, and also confirmed similar results for TCGA database HCC patients who had undergone sorafenib treatment. These results suggest that HK-II is a promising therapeutic target to enhance the efficacy of sorafenib and that HK-II expression might be a prognostic factor in HCC.

Prognostic Value of Biochemical Response Models for Primary Biliary Cholangitis and the Additional Role of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio

Background/Aims

Recently reported prognostic models for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have been shown to be effective in Western populations but have not been well-validated in Asian patients. This study aimed to compare the performance of prognostic models in Korean patients and to investigate whether inflammation-based scores can further help in prognosis prediction.

Methods

This study included 271 consecutive patients diagnosed with PBC in Korea. The following prognostic models were evaluated: the Barcelona model, the Paris-I/II model, the Rotterdam criteria, the GLOBE score and the UK-PBC score. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was analyzed with reference to its association with prognosis.

Results

For predicting liver transplant or death at the 5-year and 10-year follow-up examinations, the UK-PBC score (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUCs], 0.88 and 0.82) and GLOBE score (AUCs, 0.85 and 0.83) were significantly more accurate in predicting prognosis than the other scoring systems (all p＜0.05). There was no significant difference between the performance of the UK-PBC and GLOBE scores. In addition to the prognostic models, a high NLR (＞2.46) at baseline was an independent predictor of reduced transplant-free survival in the multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.74; p＜0.01). When the NLR was applied to the prognostic models, it significantly differentiated the prognosis of patients.

Conclusions

The UK-PBC and GLOBE scores showed good prognostic performance in Korean patients with PBC. In addition, a high NLR was associated with a poorer prognosis. Including the NLR in prognostic models may further help to stratify patients with PBC.

Recent research trends and updates on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), together with metabolic syndrome and obesity, has shown a rapid increase in prevalence worldwide and is emerging as a major cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplantation. Among the various phenotypes of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is highly likely to progress to development of end-stage liver disease and cardiometabolic disease, resulting in liver-related and non-liver-related mortality. Nonetheless, there is no standardized pharmacotherapy against NASH and many drugs are under development in ongoing clinical trials. To develop a successful anti-NASH drug, it is necessary to select an appropriate target population and treatment outcomes depending on whether the mode of action is anti-metabolic, anti-inflammatory or anti-fibrotic. Recently, innovative surrogate markers have been investigated to replace hard outcomes such as liver histology and mortality and reduce the clinical trial duration. Currently, several drugs with fast track designation are being tested in phase III clinical trials, and many other drugs have moved into phase II clinical trials. Both lean NAFLD and typical obese NAFLD have been extensively studied and genetic variants such as PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 have been identified as significant risk factors for lean NAFLD. In the near future, noninvasive biomarkers and effective targeted therapies for NASH and associated fibrosis are required to develop precision medicine and tailored therapy according to various phenotypes of NAFLD.

Identifying factors that influence individuals’ intentions to quit body tanning: A sociocultural perspective

Our goal was to examine the factors that influence individuals’ intentions to quit body tanning and its relationship with engaging in body-tanning behaviors. Via an online survey, 385 students answered items about their tanning motivations with respect to perceptions of attractiveness of tanning and physical fitness, influence of media, family, and friends, and skin-aging concerns. Structural equation modeling revealed that individuals’ motivation toward perceived attractiveness of a tan negatively influenced their intention to quit tanning, and skin-aging concerns positively influenced their intention to quit tanning. However, the influence of media, family, and friends, and perceived physical fitness were not identified as significant factors in their intention to quit tanning. The attractiveness of a tanned appearance increased the likelihood of body-tanning behaviors, whereas skin-aging concerns decreased the likelihood of body-tanning behaviors. The findings provide important implications for skin cancer prevention strategies. Emphasizing negative appearance-related consequences of tanning would certainly be a body-tanning deterrent, especially for young image-conscious individuals.

Analysis of significant protein abundance from multiple reaction-monitoring data

Background

Discovering reliable protein biomarkers is one of the most important issues in biomedical research. The ELISA is a traditional technique for accurate quantitation of well-known proteins. Recently, the multiple reaction-monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry has been proposed for quantifying newly discovered protein and has become a popular alternative to ELISA. For the MRM data analysis, linear mixed modeling (LMM) has been used to analyze MRM data. MSstats is one of the most widely used tools for MRM data analysis that is based on the LMMs. However, LMMs often provide various significance results, depending on model specification. Sometimes it would be difficult to specify a correct LMM method for the analysis of MRM data. Here, we propose a new logistic regression-based method for Significance Analysis of Multiple Reaction Monitoring (LR-SAM).

Results

Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that LMM methods may not preserve type I error, thus yielding high false- positive errors, depending on how random effects are specified. Our simulation study also shows that the LR-SAM approach performs similarly well as LMM approaches, in most cases. However, LR-SAM performs better than the LMMs, particularly when the effects sizes of peptides from the same protein are heterogeneous. Our proposed method was applied to MRM data for identification of proteins associated with clinical responses of treatment of 115 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib. Of 124 candidate proteins, LMM approaches provided 6 results varying in significance, while LR-SAM, by contrast, yielded 18 significant results that were quite reproducibly consistent.

Conclusion

As exemplified by an application to HCC data set, LR-SAM more effectively identified proteins associated with clinical responses of treatment than LMM did.

Timing of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy does not influence short-term outcomes in patients with acute variceal bleeding

AIM

To examine the association between the timing of endoscopy and the short-term outcomes of acute variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 274 consecutive patients admitted with acute esophageal variceal bleeding of two tertiary hospitals in Korea. We adjusted confounding factors using the Cox proportional hazards model and the inverse probability weighting (IPW) method. The primary outcome was the mortality of patients within 6 wk.

RESULTS

A total of 173 patients received urgent endoscopy (i.e., ≤ 12 h after admission), and 101 patients received non-urgent endoscopy (> 12 h after admission). The 6-wk mortality rate was 22.5% in the urgent endoscopy group and 29.7% in the non-urgent endoscopy group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups before (P = 0.266) and after IPW (P = 0.639). The length of hospital stay was statistically different between the urgent group and non-urgent group (P = 0.033); however, there was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality rate between the two groups (8.1% vs 7.9%, P = 0.960). In multivariate analyses, timing of endoscopy was not associated with 6-wk mortality (hazard ratio, 1.297; 95% confidence interval, 0.806-2.089; P = 0.284).

CONCLUSION

In cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding, the timing of endoscopy may be independent of short-term mortality.

A definition of bioinks and their distinction from biomaterial inks

Biofabrication aims to fabricate biologically functional products through bioprinting or bioassembly (Groll et al 2016 Biofabrication 8 013001). In biofabrication processes, cells are positioned at defined coordinates in three-dimensional space using automated and computer controlled techniques (Moroni et al 2018 Trends Biotechnol. 36 384-402), usually with the aid of biomaterials that are either (i) directly processed with the cells as suspensions/dispersions, (ii) deposited simultaneously in a separate printing process, or (iii) used as a transient support material. Materials that are suited for biofabrication are often referred to as bioinks and have become an important area of research within the field. In view of this special issue on bioinks, we aim herein to briefly summarize the historic evolution of this term within the field of biofabrication. Furthermore, we propose a simple but general definition of bioinks, and clarify its distinction from biomaterial inks.

Incidence, risk factors, and fracture healing of atypical femoral fractures: a multicenter case-control study

The incidence of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) was 2.95% among 6644 hip and femoral fractures. Independent risk factors included the use of bisphosphonates (BPs), osteopenia or osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, increased femoral curvatures, and thicker femoral cortices. Patients with AFFs and BP treatment were more likely to have problematic healing than those with typical femoral fractures (TFFs) and no BP treatment.

INTRODUCTION

To determine the incidence and risk factors of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs), we performed a multicenter case-control study. We also investigated the effects of bisphosphonates (BPs) on AFF healing.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 6644 hip and femoral fractures of patients from eight tertiary referral hospitals. All the radiographs were reviewed to distinguish AFFs from TFFs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors, and interaction analyses were used to investigate the effects of BPs on fracture healing.

RESULTS

The incidence of AFFs among 6644 hip and femoral fractures was 2.95% (90 subtrochanter and 106 femoral shaft fractures). All patients were females with a mean age of 72 years, and 75.5% were exposed to BPs for an average duration of 5.2 years (range, 1-17 years). The use of BPs was significantly associated with AFFs (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 25.65; 95% confidence interval = 10.74-61.28). Other independent risk factors for AFFs included osteopenia or osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, increased anterior and lateral femoral curvatures, and thicker lateral femoral cortex at the shaft level. Interaction analyses showed that patients with AFFs using BPs had a significantly higher risk of problematic fracture healing than those with TFFs and no BP treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AFFs among 6644 hip and femoral fractures was 2.95%. Osteopenia or osteoporosis, use of BPs, rheumatoid arthritis, increased anterior and lateral femoral curvatures, and thicker lateral femoral cortex were independent risk factors for the development of AFFs. Patients with AFFs and BP treatment were more likely to have problematic fracture healing than those with TFFs and no BP treatment.

Combined therapy of transarterial chemoembolization and stereotactic body radiation therapy versus transarterial chemoembolization for ≤5cm hepatocellular carcinoma: Propensity score matching analysis

Patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are often ineligible for resection or local ablation therapy due to poor liver function and/or difficult location. The aim of this study is to evaluate therapeutic outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) compared with TACE alone for HCC measuring less than 5 cm. From March 2011 to December 2016, 85 patients underwent SBRT with TACE (SBRT-TACE group) and 114 underwent TACE (TACE group) at 4 tertiary hospitals. Local control rate (LCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared after propensity-score matching (1:1 ratio). The SBRT-TACE group showed significantly higher 1- and 3-year LCR than the TACE group (91.1% and 89.9%, respectively vs 69.9% and 44.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). The SBRT-TACE group showed better 1- and 3-year PFS than the TACE group (56.5% and 32.3%, respectively vs 42.2% and 21.6%, respectively; P = 0.022). However, 1-, 3- and 5-year OS was not different between the SBRT-TACE and TACE groups (98.8%, 89.1% and 80.7%, respectively vs 99.7%, 83.3% and 71.0%, respectively; P = 0.206). In multivariate analysis, the overall SBRT added to TACE did not contribute to extend PFS. However, in patients with less than 2 tumors, the combined therapy was effective (HR 0.590, 95% CI 0.392-0.889, P = 0.012). SBRT-TACE is superior to TACE in terms of LCR. Particularly, SBRT-TACE may be an effective alternative in patients with HCC number (≤2), which is not indicated for resection or local ablation.

Endoscopic Removal of Inflated Transected Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube Using Endoscopic Scissors

Balloon tamponade using Sengstaken–Blakemore (SB) tube is employed as a bridging therapy in cases in which endoscopic therapy fails to control esophageal variceal bleeding. Although SB tube insertion can lead to successful hemostasis, it is accompanied by numerous complications, with SB tube transection being one of the rarest complications. A 53-year-old man with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma presented with massive esophageal variceal bleeding. Therapeutic endoscopic variceal ligation failed, and SB tube was inserted. The SB tube was unexpectedly disconnected because of the patient’s irritability due to hepatic encephalopathy. The esophageal and gastric balloon of the SB tube remained inflated in the stomach. Whereas the use of other endoscopic instruments was ineffective, endoscopic removal was successfully accomplished using endoscopic scissors. In conclusion, we detected SB tube transection in a patient with hepatic encephalopathy and removed remnants of the inflated tube using endoscopic scissors.

Scoring system for risk stratification of viral reactivation during prophylactic antiviral treatment in Korean patients with hepatitis B undergoing anticancer chemotherapy: A multicenter study

Prophylactic antiviral therapy is recommended for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients with malignancies who are undergoing systemic chemotherapy. In the current study, we aimed to develop a risk scoring system to guide the selection of prophylactic antiviral agents. In this retrospective analysis, we included consecutive chronic hepatitis B patients who received antiviral prophylaxis for chemotherapy of solid or hematologic malignancies at three large-volume hospitals in Korea. The primary endpoint was HBV reactivation. The inverse probability treatment weighting method was used to minimize selection bias in terms of antiviral assignments. A total of 419 patients were enrolled: 129 patients received lamivudine (LAM), 216 received telbivudine (LdT), and 74 received entecavir (ETV), respectively. Of these, 36 patients developed on-treatment HBV reactivation (LAM, 17; LdT, 18; ETV, 1). Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors for reactivation: hepatitis B e-antigen positivity, HBV DNA level, and type of malignancy. Accordingly, a risk scoring system was developed wherein one point was assigned for each of the risk factors. HBV reactivation occurred more frequently in the high-risk group (score ≥ 2) than in the low-risk group (hazards ratio, 14.17; P < 0.001). ETV exhibited superior prophylactic efficacy over LdT or LAM in the high-risk group, whereas no significant difference was noted in the low-risk group. The prognostic scoring system was useful for risk stratification of chemotherapy-related HBV reactivation. High genetic barrier agents appear to be vital for high-risk patients, whereas cost-effectiveness may be more relevant for low-risk patients.

Useful Endoscopic Ultrasonography Parameters and a Predictive Model for the Recurrence of Esophageal Varices and Bleeding after Variceal Ligation

Background/Aims

To identify the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography with a mini-probe (EUM) and to create a predictive model for esophageal variceal (EV) recurrence and bleeding following esophageal variceal ligation (EVL).

Methods

A total of 144 patients who received EUM prior to prophylactic EVL and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. EUM findings, EV diameter, paraesophageal vein diameter, and the number of perforating veins were assessed.

Results

EV recurrence was observed in 42 patients (29.2%), 10 of whom experienced EV bleeding. Larger diameter of the paraesophageal vein (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17 to 1.96; p=0.002) and perforating vein (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.11 to 9.65; p=0.032) were significant predictive factors for EV recurrence. However, the diameter of the paraesophageal vein was the only significant risk factor for EV bleeding (adjusted OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.16; p=0.022). The areas under the curves of the predictive model for EV recurrence and bleeding were 0.872 (95% CI, 0.811 to 0.934) and 0.811 (95% CI, 0.630 to 0.992), respectively.

Conclusions

The diameter of the paraesophageal vein was a significant predictive factor for EV recurrence and bleeding. The predictive model constructed based on the significant EUM findings exhibited good performance.

Reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma by achieving a subcirrhotic liver stiffness through antiviral agents in hepatitis B virus-related advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A subcirrhotic range of liver stiffness (sc-LS), assessed by transient elastography, is associated with better outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We investigated whether the achievement of sc-LS by antiviral therapy (AVT) reduced the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with CHB-related advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.

METHODS

In total, 209 patients with CHB-related advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, who received paired transient elastography examinations during AVT between 2007 and 2012, were enrolled. The cut-off LS value for ultrasonographic cirrhosis was defined as 11.6 kPa.

RESULTS

The median age of the study population was 51 years, with males predominating (n = 138, 66.0%). The median LS value at enrollment was 14.1 kPa (interquartile range: 9.5-24.1 kPa). After 2 years of AVT, 140 (67.0%) patients achieved sc-LS. During the study period, 28 (13.4%) patients developed HCC after 2 years of AVT. On multivariate analysis, the achievement of sc-LS after AVT was independently associated with a decreased risk of HCC development (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.485, P = 0.047), whereas older age (HR = 1.071) and male gender (HR = 3.704) were independently associated with an increased HCC risk (both P < 0.05). Patients with a cirrhotic range of LS value after 2 years of AVT were at a higher risk of HCC development than those with sc-LS (log-rank test, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

The achievement of sc-LS after AVT can reduce the risk of HCC development in patients with CHB, even when advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis is apparent on starting AVT.

Antiplatelet therapy and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients on antiviral treatment

Antiplatelet therapy has shown protective effects against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in preclinical studies. However, it is unclear whether antiplatelet therapy lowers the risk of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B. A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from 1,674 chronic hepatitis B patients, enrolled between January 2002 and May 2015, whose serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels were suppressed by antivirals to <2,000 IU/mL. The primary and secondary outcomes were development of HCC and bleeding events, respectively. Risk was compared between patients with antiplatelet treatment (aspirin, clopidogrel, or both; antiplatelet group) and patients who were not treated (non-antiplatelet group) using a time-varying Cox proportional hazards model for total population and propensity score-matching analysis. The antiplatelet group included 558 patients, and the non-antiplatelet group had 1,116 patients. During the study period, 63 patients (3.8%) developed HCC. In time-varying Cox proportional analyses, the antiplatelet group showed a significantly lower risk of HCC (hazard ratio [HR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.85; P = 0.01), regardless of antiplatelet agent. In propensity score-matched pairs, antiplatelet therapy significantly reduced the risk of HCC (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.77; P = 0.01). However, the overall risk of bleeding was higher in the antiplatelet group (HR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.98-5.42; P < 0.001), particularly for clopidogrel with or without aspirin. Treatment with aspirin alone was not associated with a higher bleeding risk (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.48-2.54; P = 0.81).

CONCLUSION

Antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of HCC in chronic hepatitis B patients whose hepatitis B virus is effectively suppressed. However, antiplatelet therapy containing clopidogrel may increase the risk of bleeding. (Hepatology 2017;66:1556-1569).

A model to estimate survival in ambulatory patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Can it predict the natural course of hepatocellular carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

Several hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) staging systems are available including the newly developed staging system, the Model to Estimate Survival in Ambulatory HCC patients (MESIAH); however, whether these staging systems could predict the natural course of HCC is largely unknown.

METHODS

1013 patients with history of HCC treatment and 111 patients without any history of treatment till death or last follow-up at a single tertiary hospital were included.

RESULTS

The MESIAH score showed a better discrimination ability, with a C-statistic of 0.835 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.810-0.861] in the group of treated patients compared to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system [0.739 (95% CI, 0.709-0.769)] before propensity score matching. However, the MESIAH score failed to stratify patients according to their risk of death in the group of untreated patients unlike the BCLC staging system. Propensity score matching analysis confirmed that the MESIAH score was most strongly influenced by whether treatment was given or not.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the MESIAH score provided better prognostic stratification than other staging systems in treated HCC patients, it was not helpful in predicting the natural course of HCC. Since the treatment affects patient outcome and prognosis, it is necessary to develop a new staging system that can also reflect the natural course of HCC.

Sub-classification of Advanced-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Cohort Study Including 612 Patients Treated with Sorafenib

PURPOSE

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with various clinical conditions including major vessel invasion, metastasis, and poor performance status. The aim of this study was to establish a prognostic scoring system and to propose a sub-classification of the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included consecutive patientswho received sorafenib for BCLC stage C HCC at a single tertiary hospital in Korea. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to develop a scoring system, and internal validationwas performed by a 5-fold cross-validation. The performance of the model in predicting risk was assessed by the area under the curve and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.

RESULTS

A total of 612 BCLC stage C HCC patients were sub- classified into strata depending on their performance status. Five independent prognostic factors (Child-Pugh score, α-fetoprotein, tumor type, extrahepatic metastasis, and portal vein invasion) were identified and used in the prognostic scoring system. This scoring system showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.734 to 0.818) and calibration functions (both p < 0.05 by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test at 1 month and 12 months, respectively). The differences in survival among the different risk groups classified by the total score were significant (p < 0.001 by the log-rank test in both the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0 and 1 strata).

CONCLUSION

The heterogeneity of patientswith BCLC stage C HCC requires sub-classification of advanced HCC. A prognostic scoring system with five independent factors is useful in predicting the survival of patients with BCLC stage C HCC.