Hepatocellular carcinoma and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Revealing the prognostic potential of natural killer cell-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma: the key role of NRAS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy associated with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. To improve the prognosis of HCC, early diagnosis is crucial. However, to date, little is known about the role of natural killer cell-related genes (NKCRGs) in predicting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. In this study, we identified 24 differentially expressed NKCRGs in HCC specimens from the TCGA dataset, including 22 upregulated genes and 2 downregulated genes. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were mainly involved in immune response pathways and various cancer-related pathways. Univariate analysis identified 21 prognostic NKCRGs, with eight genes (PAK1, MAP2K2, MAPK3, PLCG1, SHC1, HRAS, NRAS, and MICB) confirmed to be involved in HCC prognosis through Venn diagram analysis. A prognostic model was developed using LASSO-Cox regression, incorporating four genes (MAP2K2, SHC1, HRAS, and NRAS). The model's risk score was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) in both the TCGA and ICGC cohorts. Patients with high-risk scores had poorer OS, as demonstrated by Kaplan-Meier curves and ROC analyses. The risk score was not significantly correlated with gender or age but was higher in patients with advanced tumor grades and stages. Immune status analysis using ssGSEA showed higher enrichment scores for various immune cells and pathways in the high-risk group. Additionally, the risk score was positively correlated with the immune score, indicating its potential role in tumor microenvironment modulation. Expression analysis revealed that HRAS, SHC1, MAP2K2, and NRAS were upregulated in HCC tissues, with higher expressions of HRAS, MAP2K2, and NRAS associated with shorter OS. Knockdown experiments confirmed that silencing NRAS suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Overall, our findings suggest that the identified NKCRGs, particularly NRAS, play crucial roles in HCC progression and could serve as valuable prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Preventive role of Pastinaca sativa in mitigating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease via modulation of metabolic endotoxemia

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a leading global liver disorder. Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), rich in dietary fiber and medicinal properties, has shown health benefits, but its effects on MASLD are largely unexplored. This study evaluated the prebiotic and anti-MASLD effects of parsnip root water-soluble extract (PRE) in a mouse model. Mice fed a high-fat diet with 50 or 100 mg/kg PRE for eight weeks showed reduced fat accumulation, improved serum metabolic profiles, and decreased liver injury markers. PRE also lowered hepatic lipogenic protein levels induced by the high-fat diet. Additionally, PRE enhanced gut health by reducing endotoxins, improving intestinal permeability, and upregulating tight junction proteins. These results indicate that PRE can improve gut health, prevent MASLD, and support its potential as a dietary supplement to enhance metabolic health.

Advances in the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer globally and the primary cause of death in cancer cases, with significant public health concern worldwide. Despite the overall decline in the incidence and mortality rates of HCC in recent years in recent years, the emergence of metabolic liver disease-related HCC is causing heightened concern, especially in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and P.R. China. The escalation of metabolic liver disease-related HCC is attributed to a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition, lifestyle choices, and changes in the living environment. However, the pathogenesis of metabolic liver disease-associated HCC remains imperfect. In this review, we encapsulate the latest advances and essential aspects of the pathogenesis of metabolic liver disease-associated HCC, including alcoholic liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and inherited metabolic liver diseases.

Effects of Fermented Extracts of Wuniuzao Dark Loose Tea on Hepatic Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein Pathway and Gut Microbiota Disorder in Obese Mice

BACKGROUND

Artificially fermented dark loose tea is a type of novel dark tea prepared via fermentation by Eurotium cristatum. The effects of artificially fermented dark loose tea on lipid metabolism are still unclear.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore if artificially fermented dark loose tea has the same effects as naturally fermented dark loose tea in regulating hepatic lipid metabolism.

METHODS

Thirty-six 8-wk-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups, including normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), positive control (PC), Wuniuzao dark raw tea (WDT), Wuniuzao naturally fermented dark loose tea (NFLT), and Wuniuzao artificially fermented dark loose tea (AFLT) groups. The HFD, PC, WDT, NFLT, and AFLT groups were fed a HFD. The PC group was supplemented with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg). The WDT group was supplemented with WDT (300 mg/kg), the NFLT group with NFLT (300 mg/kg), and the AFLT group with AFLT (300 mg/kg).

RESULTS

The study compared the effect of WDT, NFLT, and AFLT on liver steatosis and gut microbiota disorder in obese mice. All 3 tea extracts reduced body weight, glucose tolerance, and serum lipid concentrations. Via sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-mediated lipid metabolism, all 3 tea extracts alleviated hepatic steatosis in mice with obesity. Furthermore, NFLT and AFLT intervened in the abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Clostridia, Muribaculaceae, and Lachnospiraceae.

CONCLUSION

In mice with obesity induced by a HFD, WDT, NFLT, and AFLT may improve hepatic steatosis through an SREBP-mediated lipid metabolism. Moreover, NFLT and AFLT improved the composition of gut microbiota.

Hepatic vagotomy blunts liver regeneration after hepatectomy by downregulating the expression of interleukin-22

BACKGROUND

Rapid regeneration of the residual liver is one of the key determinants of successful partial hepatectomy (PHx). At present, there is a lack of recognized safe, effective, and stable drugs to promote liver regeneration. It has been reported that vagus nerve signaling is beneficial to liver regeneration, but the potential mechanism at play here is not fully understood.

AIM

To explore the effect and mechanism of hepatic vagus nerve in liver regeneration after PHx.

METHODS

A PHx plus hepatic vagotomy (Hv) mouse model was established. The effect of Hv on liver regeneration after PHx was determined by comparing the liver regeneration levels of the PHx-Hv group and the PHx-sham group mice. In order to further investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-22 in liver regeneration inhibition mediated by Hv, the levels of IL-22 in the PHx-Hv group and the PHx-sham group was measured. The degree of liver injury in the PHx-Hv group and the PHx-sham group mice was detected to determine the role of the hepatic vagus nerve in liver injury after PHx.

RESULTS

Compared to control-group mice, Hv mice showed severe liver injury and weakened liver regeneration after PHx. Further research found that Hv downregulates the production of IL-22 induced by PHx and blocks activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway then reduces the expression of various mitogenic and anti-apoptotic proteins after PHx. Exogenous IL-22 reverses the inhibition of liver regeneration induced by Hv and alleviates liver injury, while treatment with IL-22 binding protein (an inhibitor of IL-22 signaling) reduce the concentration of IL-22 induced by PHx, inhibits the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway in the liver after PHx, thereby hindering liver regeneration and aggravating liver injury in PHx-sham mice.

CONCLUSION

Hv attenuates liver regeneration after hepatectomy, and the mechanism may be related to the fact that Hv downregulates the production of IL-22, then blocks activation of the STAT3 pathway.

Risk of Severe Infection in Patients With Biopsy-proven Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - A Population-based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It has been suggested that patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) might be at increased risk of severe infections, but large-scale data from cohorts with biopsy-proven NAFLD are lacking.

METHODS

Population-based cohort study including all Swedish adults with histologically confirmed NAFLD (n = 12,133) from 1969 to 2017. NAFLD was defined as simple steatosis (n = 8232), nonfibrotic steatohepatitis (n = 1378), noncirrhotic fibrosis (n = 1845), and cirrhosis (n = 678). Patients were matched to ≤5 population comparators (n = 57,516) by age, sex, calendar year, and county. Swedish national registers were used to ascertain incident severe infections requiring hospital admission. Multivariable adjusted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios in NAFLD and histopathological subgroups.

RESULTS

Over a median of 14.1 years, 4517 (37.2%) patients with NAFLD vs 15,075 (26.2%) comparators were hospitalized for severe infections. Patients with NAFLD had higher incidence of severe infections than comparators (32.3 vs. 17.0/1000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.63-1.79). The most frequent infections were respiratory (13.8/1000 person-years) and urinary tract infections (11.4/1000 person-years). The absolute risk difference at 20 years after NAFLD diagnosis was 17.3%, equal to one extra severe infection in every 6 patients with NAFLD. Risk of infection increased with worsening histological severity of NAFLD (simple steatosis [aHR, 1.64], nonfibrotic steatohepatitis [aHR, 1.84], noncirrhotic fibrosis [aHR, 1.77], and cirrhosis [aHR, 2.32]. Also compared with their full siblings, patients with NAFLD were at increased risk of severe infections (aHR, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-1.70).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were at significantly higher risk of incident severe infection requiring hospitalization both compared with the general population and compared with siblings. Excess risk was evident across all stages of NAFLD and increased with worsening disease severity.

Canagliflozin and Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: New Insights From CANVAS

CONTEXT

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, there is still no approved pharmacological treatment. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have been suggested to beneficially modify liver-related outcomes in patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the effects of the SGLT-2 inhibitor canagliflozin on liver-related outcomes in patients with advanced T2DM and high cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

We performed a secondary post hoc analysis of 2 large double-blind randomized controlled trials, CANVAS (NCT01032629) and CANVAS-R (NCT01989754), which included patients with T2DM and high cardiovascular risk who were randomized to receive either canagliflozin or placebo once daily. The primary endpoint was a composite of improvement of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels >30% or normalization of ALT levels. Secondary endpoints included change in noninvasive tests of fibrosis and weight reduction of >10%.

RESULTS

In total, 10 131 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 2.4 years (mean age 62 years; mean duration of diabetes 13.5 years; 64.2% male). Of those patients, 8967 (88.5%) had MAFLD according to hepatic steatosis index and 2599 (25.7%) exhibited elevated liver biochemistry at baseline. The primary composite endpoint occurred in 35.2% of patients receiving canagliflozin and in 26.4% with placebo (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.51; 95% CI, 1.38-1.64; P < .001). Canagliflozin led to improvements in some noninvasive tests of fibrosis (NFS, APRI, FNI). Significant weight reduction of >10% (within 6 years) was achieved in 12.7% with canagliflozin compared to 4.1% with placebo (aOR 3.45; 95% CI, 2.91-4.10; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In patients with T2DM, treatment with canagliflozin vs placebo resulted in improvements in liver biochemistry and metabolism and might beneficially affect liver fibrosis.

Clinical impact of hepatic steatosis on chronic hepatitis B patients in Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatic steatosis (HS) are two prevalent chronic liver diseases in Asia. The incidence of CHB combined with HS is increasing due to the rising obesity rates. However, the impact of HS on CHB remains a topic of debate. Hereby, this meta-analysis aims to examine the effect of HS on Asian patients with CHB. Searches were conducted on four databases to identify articles published from 2005 to 2023. The random-effects or fixed-effects model was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs), weighted mean difference (WMD), and confidence intervals (CIs) for the included articles. Of the 15,959 records screened, 88 studies were included in the analysis of HS prevalence in Asian CHB patients with a prevalence of 36.5% (95% CI: 33.7%-39.3%). In addition, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and combined metabolic diseases have varying degrees of impact on HS in CHB patients. Furthermore, the coexistence of HS was negatively associated with the response to antiviral therapy, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.53-0.89) and ALT normalization (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61-0.92) in CHB patients after 48 weeks of treatment. Regarding disease prognosis, HS was not significantly associated with fibrosis or cirrhosis in CHB patients, while an inverse association was observed between HS and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.23-6.99). This implies that the coexistence of HS in CHB patients may exacerbate the progression of HCC, which needs to be verified by further studies.

Antibiotic use and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A population-based case-control study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Antibiotics affect the gut microbiome. Preclinical studies suggest a role of gut dysbiosis in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but data from large cohorts with liver histology are lacking.

METHODS

In this nationwide case-control study, Swedish adults with histologically confirmed early-stage NAFLD (total n = 2584; simple steatosis n = 1435; steatohepatitis (NASH) n = 383; non-cirrhotic fibrosis n = 766) diagnosed January 2007-April 2017 were included and matched to ≤5 population controls (n = 12 646) for age, sex, calendar year and county of residence. Data for cumulative antibiotic dispensations and defined daily doses were accrued until 1 year before the matching date. Using conditional logistic regression, multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated. In a secondary analysis, NAFLD patients were compared with their full siblings (n = 2837).

RESULTS

Previous antibiotic use was seen in 1748 (68%) NAFLD patients versus 7001 (55%) controls, corresponding to 1.35-fold increased odds of NAFLD (95% CI = 1.21-1.51) in a dose-dependent manner (pfor trend  < .001). Estimates were comparable for all histologic stages (p > .05). The highest risk of NAFLD was observed after treatment with fluoroquinolones (aOR 1.38; 95% CI = 1.17-1.59). Associations remained robust when patients were compared with their full siblings (aOR 1.29; 95% CI = 1.08-1.55). Antibiotic treatment was only linked to NAFLD in patients without metabolic syndrome (aOR 1.63; 95% CI = 1.35-1.91) but not in those with metabolic syndrome (aOR 1.09; 95% CI = 0.88-1.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Antibiotic use may be a risk factor for incident NAFLD, especially in individuals without the metabolic syndrome. The risk was highest for fluoroquinolones and remained robust in sibling comparisons with whom individuals share genetic and early environmental susceptibilities.

Protein kinases: The key contributors in pathogenesis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-derived hepatocellular carcinoma

Protein kinases (PKs), one of the largest protein families, can be further divided into different groups based on their substrate or structure and function. PKs are important signaling messengers in numerous life activities, including cell metabolism, proliferation, division, differentiation, senescence, death, and disease. Among PK-related diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been recognized as a major contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver transplantation. Unfortunately, NAFLD-derived HCC (NAFLD-HCC) has poor prognosis because it is typically accompanied by older age, multiple metabolic syndromes, obstacles in early-stage diagnosis, and limited licensed drugs for treatment. Accumulating evidence suggests that PKs are implicated in the pathogenic process of NAFLD-HCC, via aberrant metabolism, hypoxia, autophagy, hypoxia, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and/or immune cell rearrangement. The present review aims to summarize the latest research advances and emphasize the feasibility and effectiveness of therapeutic strategies that regulate the expression and activities of PKs. This might yield clinically significant effects and lead to the design of novel PK-targeting therapies. Furthermore, we discuss emerging PK-based strategies for the treatment of other malignant diseases similar to NAFLD-HCC.

Raman Scattering-Based Optical Sensing Of Chronic Liver Diseases

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are a major public health problem. Despite the progress achieved in fighting against viral hepatitis, the emergence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease might pose a serious challenge to the public's health in the coming decades. Medical management of CLDs represents a substantial burden on the public health infrastructures. The health care cost of these diseases is an additional burden that weighs heavily on the economies of developing countries. Effective management of CLDs requires the adoption of reliable and cost-effective screening and diagnosing methods to ensure early detection and accurate clinical assessment of these diseases. Vibrational spectroscopies have emerged as universal analytical methods with promising applications in various industrial and biomedical fields. These revolutionary analytical techniques rely on analyzing the interaction between a light beam and the test sample to generate a spectral fingerprint. This latter is defined by the analyte's chemical structure and the molecular vibrations of its functional groups. Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy have been used in combination with various chemometric tests to diagnose a wide range of malignant, metabolic and infectious diseases. The aim of the current review is to cast light on the use of these optical sensing methods in the diagnosis of CLDs. The vast majority of research works that investigated the potential application of these spectroscopic techniques in screening and detecting CLDs were discussed here. The advantages and limitations of these modern analytical methods, as compared with the routine and gold standard diagnostic approaches, were also reviewed in details.

An integrated analysis of Dynamin 1 Like: A new potential prognostic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma

Dynamin 1 Like (DNM1L), a member of dynamin superfamily capable of mediating mitochondrial outer membrane division, plays a key role in the progression of different types of tumors. However, the prognostic value, clinical significance of DNM1L and its specific mechanism involved in tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been investigated clearly. In this study, we found that the expression of DNM1L were significantly higher in HCC tissues than adjacent/normal liver tissues based on multiple data sets obtained from TCGA, GEO and ONCOMINE database, also its protein expression form Drp1 is significantly higher in HCC tissues than adjacent tissues, and is related to the degree of differentiation. Kaplan-Meier curves suggested that high DNM1L expression prominently correlated with poorer overall survival, progression-free survival, relapse-free survival and disease-specific survival. Multivariate analysis showed that higher DNM1L expression was independent prognostic factors of shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene set enrichment analysis analysis combined with validation experiments revealed the regulatory role of DNM1L on key molecules in the metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome p450 pathway, and DNM1L may also affects invasion and metastasis capability of HCC by mediating extracellular matrix -receptor interaction pathway. Moreover, analysis showed that higher DNM1L, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, CYP1A2 expression were associated with the resistance to sorafenib therapy. TIMER and CIBERSORT analysis indicated that the increase of DNM1L expression may affect the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, the above results indicated that DNM1L could be able to serve as a promising independent predictor and therapeutic target for HCC patients.

Beneficial Effects of Viable and Heat-Inactivated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Administration on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Diet-Induced NAFLD in Rats

Oxidative stress and inflammation are well-known triggers of NAFLD onset and progression. The aim of this study is to compare the potential benefits of a viable probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) and its parabiotic (heat-inactivated) on oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage and cell death pathways in the liver of rats featuring diet-induced NAFLD. The consumption of the steatotic diet led to increased final body and liver weights, higher hepatic triacylglycerol content, altered serum transaminase levels and enhanced oxidative and inflammatory status. Administration of the probiotic and the parabiotic partially prevented the body weight increase induced by the steatotic diet, whereas the probiotic caused more effective decreasing hepatic triglyceride content. Sharp but nonstatistically significant decreases in serum transaminase levels were also observed for both treatments. The reduction in antioxidant enzyme activities found in the nontreated animals fed the steatotic diet was partially prevented by both treatments (GPx activity). Similarly, the reductions in nonenzymatic antioxidant protection (GSH content) and total antioxidant capacity (ORAC) found in the nontreated rats were restored by the administration of both treatments. These results show that both viable and heat-inactivated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG administration partially prevent steatotic diet-induced liver oxidative stress and inflammation induced in rats.

Clinical care in hepatocellular carcinoma: A mixed methods assessment of experiences and challenges of oncology professionals

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare providers (HCPs) may face numerous dilemmas in optimally screening, diagnosing, and treating patients with, and/or at risk for, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to achieve a greater understanding of the challenges in HCC care which in turn could delineate HCP educational opportunities within this oncologic sub-specialty.

METHODS

A mixed-methods approach was used to identify practice gaps and clinical barriers experienced by US-based medical oncologists, hepatologists, oncology physician assistants, oncology nurse practitioners, and interventional radiologists involved in HCC care. The qualitative (semi-structured interview) and quantitative (survey) data collection approaches were deployed sequentially with findings subsequently triangulated.

RESULTS

A total of 214 HCPs participated in this study. Analysis revealed challenges related to screening and diagnosing HCC, specifically in applying appropriate screening guidelines, and the optimal use and decisions related to diagnostic imaging and biopsy. Issues related to treatment selection included the application of existing HCC guidelines in treatment decision-making, weighing risk/benefit ratios of various antineoplastics regimens (i.e., tyrosine kinase inhibitors-TKIs, immunotherapy agents, chemotherapy), sequencing therapies, potential toxicity management, and optimally educating patients about their HCC.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the educational needs of those involved in HCC care and provide a starting point for clinicians to both reflect on their practice and identify opportunities to enhance communication within the HCC team and between provider and patient. There is an opportunity to optimize continuing professional development interventions that address the identified gaps in clinical practice specifically related to teamwork and interdisciplinary communication.

Prognostic Prediction for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Ascites: Role of Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Grade and Easy (EZ)-ALBI Grade

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often have co-existing ascites, which is a hallmark of liver decompensation. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade and EZ (easy)-ALBI grade are used to assess liver functional reserve in HCC, but the predictive accuracy of these two models in HCC patients with ascites is unclear. We aimed to determine the prognostic role of ALBI and EZ-ALBI grades in these patients. A total of 4431 HCC patients were prospectively enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. Independent prognostic predictors were identified by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Of all patients, 995 (22.5%) patients had ascites. Grade 1, 2, and 3 ascites were found in 16%, 4%, and 3% of them, respectively. A higher ascites grade was associated with higher ALBI and EZ-ALBI scores and linked with decreased overall survival. In the Cox multivariate analysis, serum bilirubin level > 1.1 mg/dL, creatinine level ≥ 1.2 mg/dL, α-fetoprotein ≥ 20 ng/mL, total tumor volume > 100 cm3, vascular invasion, distant metastasis, poor performance status, ALBI grade 2 and 3, EZ-ALBI grade 2 and 3, and non-curative treatments were independently associated with increased mortality (all p < 0.05) among HCC patients with ascites. The ALBI and EZ-ALBI grade can adequately stratify overall survival in both the entire cohort and specifically in patients with ascites. Ascites is highly prevalent and independently predict patient survival in HCC. The ALBI and EZ-ALBI grade are feasible markers of liver dysfunction and can stratify long-term survival in HCC patients with ascites.

The Global, Regional, and National Burden and Trends of NAFLD in 204 Countries and Territories: An Analysis From Global Burden of Disease 2019

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a substantial socioeconomic burden and is becoming the fastest growing driver of chronic liver disease, potentially accompanied by a poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to elucidate the global and regional epidemiologic changes in NAFLD during the past 30 years and explore the interconnected diseases.

METHODS

Data on NAFLD incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The age-standardized incident rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalent rate (ASPR), age-standardized death rate (ASDR), and age-standardized DALYs were calculated to eliminate the confounding effects of age when comparing the epidemiologic changes between different geographical regions. In addition, we also investigated the correlation between the NAFLD burden and the sociodemographic index (SDI). Finally, the associations of the 3 common comorbidities with NAFLD were determined.

RESULTS

Globally, the incidence and prevalence of NAFLD both increased drastically during the past 3 decades (incidence: from 88,180 in 1990 to 172,330 in 2019, prevalence: from 561,370,000 in 1990 to 1,235,700,000 in 2019), mainly affecting young adults who were aged from 15 to 49 years. The ASIR increased slightly from 1.94 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 2.08 per 100,000 population in 2019, while ASPR increased from 12,070 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 15,020 per 100,000 population in 2019. In addition, the number of deaths and DALYs attributable to NAFLD increased significantly as well from 93,760 in 1990 to 168,970 in 2019 and from 2,711,270 in 1990 to 4,417,280 in 2019, respectively. However, the ASDR and age-standardized DALYs presented decreasing trends with values of estimated annual percentage change equaling to -0.67 and -0.82, respectively (ASDR: from 2.39 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 2.09 per 100,000 population in 2019; age-standardized DALYs: from 63.28 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 53.33 per 100,000 population in 2019). Thereinto, the burden of death and DALYs dominated the patients with NAFLD who are older than 50 years. Moreover, SDI appeared to have obvious negative associations with ASPR, ASDR, and age-standardized DALYs among 21 regions and 204 countries, although there is no marked association with ASIR. Finally, we found that the incidence and prevalence of NAFLD were positively related to those of diabetes mellitus type 2, stroke, and ischemic heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD is leading to increasingly serious health challenges worldwide. The morbidity presented a clear shift toward the young populations, while the heavier burden of death and DALYs in NAFLD was observed in the aged populations and in regions with relatively low SDI. Comprehensive acquisition of the epidemiologic pattern for NAFLD and the identification of high-risk comorbidities may help policy makers and clinical physicians develop cost-effective prevention and control strategies, especially in countries with a high NAFLD burden.

Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes From Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Across the World: Data From the Global Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)/ Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Registry

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Globally, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease. We assessed the clinical presentation and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among NAFLD patients from different countries.

METHODS

Clinical, laboratory, and PRO data (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH], Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, and the Work Productivity and Activity Index) were collected from NAFLD patients seen in real-world practices and enrolled in the Global NAFLD/NASH Registry encompassing 18 countries in 6 global burden of disease super-regions.

RESULTS

Across the global burden of disease super-regions, NAFLD patients (n = 5691) were oldest in Latin America and Eastern Europe and youngest in South Asia. Most men were enrolled at the Southeast and South Asia sites. Latin America and South Asia had the highest employment rates (>60%). Rates of cirrhosis varied (12%-21%), and were highest in North Africa/Middle East and Eastern Europe. Rates of metabolic syndrome components varied: 20% to 25% in South Asia and 60% to 80% in Eastern Europe. Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-NASH and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue PRO scores were lower in NAFLD patients than general population norms (all P < .001). Across the super-regions, the lowest PRO scores were seen in Eastern Europe and North Africa/Middle East. In multivariate analysis adjusted for enrollment region, independent predictors of lower PRO scores included younger age, women, and nonhepatic comorbidities including fatigue (P < .01). Patients whose fatigue scores improved over time experienced a substantial PRO improvement. Nearly 8% of Global NAFLD/NASH Registry patients had a lean body mass index, with fewer metabolic syndrome components, fewer comorbidities, less cirrhosis, and significantly better PRO scores (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD patients seen in real-world practices in different countries experience a high comorbidity burden and impaired quality of life. Future research using global data will enable more precise management and treatment strategies for these patients.

RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN PATIENTS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is growing in worldwide prevalence and thus, is expected to have a higher number of NAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the following years. This review describes the risk factors associated with HCC in NAFLD-patients. The presence of liver cirrhosis is the preponderant one. Male gender, PNPLA3 variants, diabetes, and obesity also appear to predispose to the development of HCC, even in non-cirrhotic subjects. Thus far, intensive lifestyle modifications, including glycemic control, and obesity treatment, are effective therapies for NAFLD/ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and, therefore, probably, also for HCC. Some drugs that aimed at decreasing inflammatory activity and fibrosis, as well as obesity, were studied. Other data have suggested the possibility of HCC chemoprevention. So far, however, there is no definitive evidence for the routine utilization of these drugs. We hope, in the future, to be able to profile patients at higher risk of NAFLD-HCC and outline strategies for early diagnosis and prevention.

Molecular pathogenesis: Connections between viral hepatitis-induced and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-induced hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world and is usually caused by viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV), alcoholic, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Viral hepatitis accounts for 80% of HCC cases worldwide. In addition, With the increasing incidence of metabolic diseases, NAFLD is now the most common liver disease and a major risk factor for HCC in most developed countries. This review mainly described the specificity and similarity between the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis(HBV and HCV)-induced HCC and NAFLD-induced HCC. In general, viral hepatitis promotes HCC development mainly through specific encoded viral proteins. HBV can also exert its tumor-promoting mechanism by integrating into the host chromosome, while HCV cannot. Viral hepatitis-related HCC and NASH-related HCC differ in terms of genetic factors, and epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA effects). In addition, both of them can lead to HCC progression through abnormal lipid metabolism, persistent inflammatory response, immune and intestinal microbiome dysregulation.

Triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio for diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a widespread disease in the western world. It can develop into more serious pathological conditions (i.e. liver cirrhosis). Therefore, it is important to diagnose it in order to prevent this evolution. For diagnosis it is possible to use both imaging methods and biomarkers, such as the Triglycerides To High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio (TG/HDL-C). Aim of our study is to determine whether TG/HDL-C ratio is significantly associated with NAFLD and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS).

METHODS

We recruited 231 patients, 131 with and 100 without NAFLD. The Body Mass Index had been calculated and different laboratory parameters had been obtained. TG/HDL-C ratio was calculated for each.

RESULTS

In our sample HDL-C was not significantly reduced in NAFLD group (P=0.49), but higher TG and TG/HDL-C ratio were significantly associated with NAFLD: in both P<0.001. According to receiver operating characteristic curve, the best cut-off of TG/HDL-C in NAFLD population was 1.64 (area under the curve [AUC] 0.675 [95% CI 0.604-0.746], P<0.001). TG/HDL-C higher ratio was significantly associated with MetS (P<0.001). The best cut-off of TG/HDL-C in patients with MetS was 2.48 (AUC 0.871 [95% CI 0.808-0.935], P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that higher TG/HDL-C ratio is associated with NAFLD and MetS. Though nowadays TG/HDL-C ratio is not a criteria for NAFLD diagnosis, we believe that in the future it could be used as a reliable non-invasive marker in routine diagnostics of NAFLD.

Impact of Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease on the Prognosis of Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Purpose

Both metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although concurrent MAFLD is common in patients with HBV-related HCC, whether MAFLD increases the risk of poor prognosis in patients with HBV-related HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MAFLD on prognosis in patients with HBV-related HCC.

Patients and Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 549 patients with HBV-related HCC were enrolled from January 2010 to April 2020 in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, including 169 patients with MAFLD (MAFLD group) and 380 patients without MAFLD (Non-MAFLD group). Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to balance the baseline characteristics. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were performed to compare the prognosis between the two matched groups. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk factors for poor prognosis.

Results

The median follow-up time for all patients was 20 (interquartile range 8–40) months. We found concurrent MAFLD was associated with a significantly decreased PFS rate before and after PSM analysis. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year PFS rates for the MAFLD and Non-MAFLD groups after PSM were 61.3% and 70.8%, 43.9% and 54.5%, 31.1% and 41.8%, respectively. Cox multivariable analysis showed that concurrent MAFLD was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis (death or progression) (HR = 1.49, P = 0.001). More interestingly, the risk of poor prognosis was significantly higher in the MAFLD subtype with metabolic components ≥2 compared to those with metabolic components <2 (HR = 1.97, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Concurrent MAFLD was associated with a higher risk of poor prognosis in patients with HBV-related HCC, especially MAFLD with metabolic components ≥2.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Due to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Current Concepts and Future Challenges

Obesity has been labeled as the global pandemic of the 21st century, resulting from a sedentary lifestyle and caloric excess. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by excessive hepatic steatosis, is strongly associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome and is estimated to be present in one-quarter of the world population, making it the most common cause of the chronic liver disease (CLD). NAFLD spectrum varies from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. The burden of NAFLD has been predicted to increase in the coming decades resulting in increased rates of decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver-related deaths. In the current review, we describe the pathophysiology of NAFLD and NASH, risk factors associated with disease progression, related complications, and mortality. Later, we have discussed the changing epidemiology of HCC, with NAFLD emerging as the most common cause of CLD and HCC. We have also addressed the risk factors of HCC development in the NAFLD population (including demographic, metabolic, genetic, dietary, and lifestyle factors), presentation of NAFLD-associated HCC, its prognosis, and the issue of HCC development in non-cirrhotic NAFLD. Lastly, the problems related to HCC screening in the NAFLD population, the remaining challenges, and future directions, especially the need to identify the high-risk individuals, will be discussed. We will conclude the review by summarizing the clinical evidence for treating fibrosis and preventing HCC in those at risk with NAFLD-associated HCC.

Estrogen Deficiency Aggravates Fluoride-Induced Liver Damage and Lipid Metabolism Disorder in Rats

Estrogen exerts essential role in liver metabolism, and its deficiency is frequently accompanied by a series of metabolic disorder diseases. To investigate the role of estrogen deficiency in fluorine ions (F^-) induced liver injury, the ovariectomy (OVX) rat models were performed by surgically removing the ovaries, and the rats from OVX and non-OVX models were exposed to differential dose of F^- (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/L) in drinking water for 90 days. The liver morphological structure was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Proliferation ability of hepatocytes was evaluated by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. And distribution of lipid droplets in liver tissue was observed via oil red O staining. In addition, the liver function and lipid metabolism parameters in serum were detected by commercial kits. Results showed that F^- induced hepatocytes morphological damage and inhibited the proliferation ability of hepatocytes; estrogen deficiency exacerbated these changes. The deposition of lipid droplets in the liver tissue was multiplicative with increased F^- dose, especially after estrogen deficiency. In addition, F^- exposure increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) serum aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) activities and total bilirubin (T-bil) level; meanwhile, serum triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC) levels were also elevated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). F^--induced liver function and lipid metabolism indexes were further increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the state of estrogen deficiency. In conclusion, estrogen deficiency aggravated F^--induced liver damage and lipid metabolism disorder.

Structure based innovative approach to analyze aptaprobe-GPC3 complexes in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Glypican-3 (GPC3), a membrane-bound heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Aptamers specifically binding to target biomolecules have recently emerged as clinical disease diagnosis targets. Here, we describe 3D structure-based aptaprobe platforms for detecting GPC3, such as aptablotting, aptaprobe-based sandwich assay (ALISA), and aptaprobe-based imaging analysis.

RESULTS

For preparing the aptaprobe-GPC3 platforms, we obtained 12 high affinity aptamer candidates (GPC3_1 to GPC3_12) that specifically bind to target GPC3 molecules. Structure-based molecular interactions identified distinct aptatopic residues responsible for binding to the paratopic nucleotide sequences (nt-paratope) of GPC3 aptaprobes. Sandwichable and overlapped aptaprobes were selected through structural analysis. The aptaprobe specificity for using in HCC diagnostics were verified through Aptablotting and ALISA. Moreover, aptaprobe-based imaging showed that the binding property of GPC3_3 and their GPC3 specificity were maintained in HCC xenograft models, which may indicate a new HCC imaging diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Aptaprobe has the potential to be used as an affinity reagent to detect the target in vivo and in vitro diagnosing system.

Causes of death in patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease and chronic viral Hepatitis B and C

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Cause of mortality in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs) may differ based on underlying etiology of liver disease. Our aim was to assess different causes of death in patients with the most common types of CLD using a national database from the United States.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Death data from 2008 and 2018 from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) were used. The rank of cause-of-death for each etiology of CLDs was assessed. Causes of death were classified by the ICD-10 codes. Liver-related deaths included liver cancer, cirrhosis and CLDs.

RESULTS

Among a total of 2,826,531 deaths in 2018, there were 85,807 (3.04%) with underlying CLD (mean age at death 63.0 years, 63.8% male, 70.8% white). Liver-related mortality was the leading cause of death for all types of CLD [45.8% in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), 53.0% in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), 57.8% in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 81.8% in alcoholic liver disease (ALD)]. This was followed by death from cardiac causes (NAFLD 10.3%, CHC 9.1%, CHB 4.6%, ALD 4.2%) and extrahepatic cancer (NAFLD 7.0%, CHC 11.9%, CHB 14.9%, ALD 2.1%). Although liver cancer was the leading cause of cancer death, lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancer were also common causes of cancer death.

CONCLUSIONS

Among deceased patients with CLD, underlying liver disease was the leading cause of death. Among solid cancers, liver cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related mortality.

Current status of first-line therapy, anti-angiogenic therapy and its combinations of other agents for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequently diagnosed malignancy with rapidly increasing incidence and mortality rates. Unfortunately, many of these patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages when locoregional treatments are not appropriate. Before 2008, no effective drug treatments existed to prolong survival, until the breakthrough multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib was developed. It remained the standard treatment option for advanced HCC for 10 years, with a battery of other candidate drugs in clinical trials failing to produce similar efficacy results. In 2018, the REFLECT trial introduced another multi-TKI, lenvatinib, which has non-inferior overall survival compared with sorafenib. Thus, offering patients and their treating physicians two effective treatment options. Recently, immunotherapy-based drugs, such as atezolizumab and bevacizumab, have shown promising results in patients with unresectable HCC. This review summarizes clinical trial and real-world data studies of sorafenib and lenvatinib in patients with unresectable HCC. We offer guidance on the optimal choice between the two treatments and discuss the potential of immunotherapy-based combination; when more data become available, this will likely make the choice between sorafenib and lenvatinib somewhat obsolete.

Assessment of Prognostic Value of Aspartate Aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Meta-Analysis of 28 Cohort Studies

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors globally; it is valuable to predict its prognosis after treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet index (APRI), a non-invasive biomarker consists of two routine test parameters easily available in all the patients. Our study aimed to investigate whether APRI can serve as an independent prognostic marker in the patients with HCC.

Methods: We extensively searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases on June 20, 2021 to determine all relevant literature. The studies that explored the association between the APRI levels and prognosis of patients with HCC and reported risk estimate data were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies.

Results: A total of 1,097 articles were initially identified, of which 28 studies involving 11,041 patients met the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 1.77 (95% CI: 1.53–2.05, P < 0.001) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.47–1.71, P < 0.001), respectively, suggesting a significant correlation between the increased APRI levels and poor prognosis in the patients with HCC. In the subgroup analyses, statistical significance of the correlation disappeared in the Korean and Japanese population and in the patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Of note, the current results may be overestimated due to publication bias, but the conclusion remained unchanged when the bias was adjusted.

Conclusion: High APRI levels are associated with poor OS and DFS in the patients with HCC. In most cases, pretreatment APRI can be used as an independent prognostic factor, but it is necessary to incorporate other predictive prognostic systems to ensure accuracy. Further studies are needed to determine the specific beneficiary population and the optimal cutoff value.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease and acute-on-chronic liver failure: common themes for common problems

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects 20-30% of the worldwide population and is becoming the most common cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MAFLD is the hepatic expression of metabolic dysfunction correlated with a variety of metabolic comorbidities including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Obesity, altered gut permeability, chronic inflammation and dysbiosis related to MAFLD might predispose patients with cirrhosis to the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF); however, this relationship remains unclear. ACLF is a syndrome with high short-term mortality, presenting with acute hepatic decompensation associated with organ failures in patients with underlying chronic liver disease with or without an identifiable precipitating event. While this syndrome can occur in any patient with cirrhosis, the increasing prevalence of cirrhosis due to MAFLD is of great concern because, in a recent analysis, MAFLD was the fastest rising cause of cirrhosis associated with ACLF among patients listed for LT in the US. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge on MAFLD and the development of ACLF.

Genetics, Immunity and Nutrition Boost the Switching from NASH to HCC

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading contributor to the global burden of chronic liver diseases. The phenotypic umbrella of NAFLD spans from simple and reversible steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may worsen into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Notwithstanding, HCC may develop also in the absence of advanced fibrosis, causing a delayed time in diagnosis as a consequence of the lack of HCC screening in these patients. The precise event cascade that may precipitate NASH into HCC is intricate and it entails diverse triggers, encompassing exaggerated immune response, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress, organelle derangement and DNA aberrancies. All these events may be accelerated by both genetic and environmental factors. On one side, common and rare inherited variations that affect hepatic lipid remodeling, immune microenvironment and cell survival may boost the switching from steatohepatitis to liver cancer, on the other, diet-induced dysbiosis as well as nutritional and behavioral habits may furtherly precipitate tumor onset. Therefore, dietary and lifestyle interventions aimed to restore patients' health contribute to counteract NASH progression towards HCC. Even more, the combination of therapeutic strategies with dietary advice may maximize benefits, with the pursuit to improve liver function and prolong survival.

Nutritional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer and presents together with cirrhosis in most cases. In addition to commonly recognized risk factors for HCC development, such as hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus infection, age and alcohol/tobacco consumption, there are nutritional risk factors also related to HCC development including high intake of saturated fats derived from red meat, type of cooking (generation of heterocyclic amines) and contamination of foods with aflatoxins. On the contrary, protective nutritional factors include diets rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and coffee. While the patient is being evaluated for staging and treatment of HCC, special attention should be paid to nutritional support, including proper nutritional assessment and therapy by a multidisciplinary team. It must be considered that these patients usually develop HCC on top of long-lasting cirrhosis, and therefore they could present with severe malnutrition. Cirrhosis-related complications should be properly addressed and considered for nutritional care. In addition to traditional methods, functional testing, phase angle and computed tomography scan derived skeletal muscle index-L3 are among the most useful tools for nutritional assessment. Nutritional therapy should be centered on providing enough energy and protein to manage the increased requirements of both cirrhosis and cancer. Supplementation with branched-chain amino acids is also recommended as it improves response to treatment, nutritional status and survival, and finally physical exercise must be encouraged and adapted to individual needs.

Burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa: Data from Global Burden of Disease 2009-2019

BACKGROUND & AIM

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) worldwide. Our aim was to assess the burden of liver complications (LC, cirrhosis and liver cancer) related to NAFLD (LC-NAFLD) between 2009-2019 in Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

METHODS

We used Global Burden of Disease data to assess incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for LC-NAFLD from Asia and the MENA region. Annual % change (APC) in rates were computed using a joinpoint regression model. Associations of LC-NAFLD with low physical activity, diet and metabolic risks were determined by partial Spearman correlation coefficients (ρ).

RESULTS

Globally in 2019, there were 170,000 incident cases of LC-NAFLD, accounting for 6.6% of LC incident cases from all CLDs. There were 168,969 deaths related to LC-NAFLD, accounting for 8.6% of LC deaths from all CLDs. Asia accounted for 48.3% of the global incidence of LC-NAFLD and for 46.2% of deaths attributable to LC-NAFLD, while MENA accounted for 8.9% and 8.6%, respectively. There were 2.08 million DALYs in Asia and 340,000 DALYs in MENA. From 2009 to 2019, regions in Asia and MENA experienced a rise in DALYs attributable to LC-NAFLD (compared to LC from other CLDs), ranging from South Asia (APC = +2.12% vs. -0.94%) to high-income Asia Pacific (APC = -0.07%, p = 0.646 vs. -0.97%). In Asia, NAFLD-related DALYs were significantly correlated with dietary risks (95% CI 0.280-0.763, p = 0.004), metabolic risks (0.341-0.790, p <0.001) and tobacco use (0.134-0.691, p = 0.007). In MENA, low physical activity (0.557-0.918, p <0.001), metabolic risks (0.432-0.888, p = 0.001), and dietary risks (0.315-0.855, p = 0.001) correlated with DALYs.

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD is posing a substantial burden in Asia and MENA. About half of the global burden of LC-NAFLD is accounted for by these regions.

LAY SUMMARY

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. We used Global Burden of Disease data to assess the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years attributable to NAFLD-related liver complications in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. NAFLD is poised to contribute to a substantial liver disease burden in these regions. Regional and global policies are needed to address the increasing burden of complications of NAFLD.

Construction of a Novel Gene-Based Model for Survival Prediction of Hepatitis B Virus Carriers With HCC Development

Despite the effectiveness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in reducing the prevalence of chronic HBV infection as well as the incidence of acute hepatitis B, fulminant hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there was still a large crowd of chronically infected populations at risk of developing cirrhosis or HCC. In this study, we established a comprehensive prognostic system covering multiple signatures to elevate the predictive accuracy for overall survival (OS) of hepatitis B virus carriers with HCC development. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE), and multivariate COX analysis, along with a suite of other online analyses were successfully applied to filtrate a three-gene signature model (TP53, CFL1, and UBA1). Afterward, the gene-based risk score was calculated based on the Cox coefficient of the individual gene, and the prognostic power was assessed by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (tROC) and Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analysis. Furthermore, the predictive power of the nomogram, integrated with the risk score and clinical parameters (age at diagnosis and TNM stage), was revealed by the calibration plot and tROC curves, which was verified in the validation set. Taken together, our study may be more effective in guiding the clinical decision-making of personalized treatment for HBV carriers.

Serum syndecan-4 is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

OBJECTIVES

The accelerated shedding of extracellular domains of syndecan-4 (SDC4) is associated with central obesity and insulin resistance, while the association between serum SDC4 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association between SDC4 and NAFLD.

METHODS

Adults undergoing a health examination from 1 June 2019 to 31 December 2019 were enrolled. A diagnosis of NAFLD was made with an abdominal ultrasound. Logistic regression models and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the role of SDC4 in predicting NAFLD.

RESULTS

In total, 533 eligible participants were finally enrolled, among them 157 (29.46%) had NAFLD. The proportion of patients with NAFLD increased with the increasing quartiles of serum SDC4. With the increase of serum SDC4 levels, metabolic features including waist circumference, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly increased. SDC4 was an independent factor for NAFLD (odds ratio 1.963, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.628-2.367, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve of SDC4 for predicting NAFLD was 0.934 (95% CI 0.910-0.959). The optimal cut-off value was 6.575 ng/mL at Youden's index of 0.767. SDC4 had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (84.1%), positive predictive value (82.5%), negative predictive value (93.3%) and positive likelihood ratio (11.356) among all the variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated serum SDC4 level is associated with metabolic disorders and the prevalence of NAFLD among general population. Serum SDC4 may serve as a biomarker of NAFLD.

Development and validation of a LRP1B mutation-associated prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

 To develop a LRP1B gene mutation based prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients risk prediction. Methods: The LRP1B gene mutation rate was calculated from HCC patient samples. Meanwhile, differentially expressed genes according to LRP1B mutant were screened out for prognostic model establishment. Based on this innovative model, HCC patients were categoried into high and low-risk group. The immune status including immune cell infiltration ratio and checkpoints have been explored in two groups. The functions of LRP1B and risk factors in the model were verified using both in vivo and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

It could be demonstrated that LRP1B was a potential negative predictor for HCC patients prognosis with high mutation frequency. The functions of LRP1B was verified with ELISA assay and Quantitative Real-time PCR method based on clinical recruited HCC participants. 11 genes displayed significant differences according to LRP1B status, which could better predict HCC patient prognosis. The functions of these genes were examined using HCC cell line HCCLM3, suggesting they played a pivotal role in determining HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis. From the immune cell infiltration ratio analysis, there was a significant difference in the infiltration degree of 7 types of immune cells and 2 immune checkpoints between high and low-risk HCC patients.

CONCLUSION

 This study hypothesized a potential prognostic biomarker and developed a novel LRP1B mutation-associated prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma, which provided a systematic reference for future understanding of clinical research.

CD36 and DGAT2 facilitate the lipid-lowering effect of chitooligosaccharides via fatty acid intake and triglyceride synthesis signaling

This study examined the impact of chitobiose (GlcN)2 and chitotriose (GlcN)3 on lipid accumulation modification and their inhibitory functionalities. (GlcN)2 and (GlcN)3 significantly inhibited the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipid cholesterol (LDL-c) levels in the liver of the ob/ob-/- mice fed a non-high-fat diet. This phenomenon was associated with a reduction in the mRNA and protein expression of TG synthesis and fatty acid uptake-related signaling, significantly affecting the cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2). Furthermore, the CD36 and DGAT2 genes were overexpressed by constructing a plasmid and transfecting it into HepG2 cells, after which the phenotypic traits of lipid accumulation were assessed in vitro. Consequently, it was evident that (GlcN)2 and (GlcN)3 reduced the overexpression of these proteins and relieved cellular lipid accumulation. In conclusion, these results indicated that (GlcN)2 and (GlcN)3 acted positively against NAFLD while regulating steatosis in the non-high-fat diet NAFLD model. The potential NAFLD treatment strategies, such as targeting CD36 and DGAT2 signaling, could provide scientific insight into further applying food-derived ingredients to reduce the risk of high-fat metabolism.

Chronic hepatitis B infection with concomitant hepatic steatosis: Current evidence and opinion

With the increasing incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome worldwide, concomitant nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has become highly prevalent. The risk of dual etiologies, outcome, and mechanism of CHB with concomitant NAFLD have not been fully characterized. In this review, we assessed the overlapping prevalence of metabolic disorders and CHB, assessed the risk of advanced fibrosis/hepatocellular carcinoma in CHB patients concomitant with NAFLD, and discussed the remaining clinical issues to be addressed in the outcome of such patients. We also explored the possible roles of hepatitis B virus in the development of steatosis and discussed difficultiesof histological evaluation. For CHB patients, it is important to address concomitant NAFLD through lifestyle management and disease screening to achieve better prognoses. The assessment of progressive changes and novel therapies for CHB patients concomitant with NAFLD deserve further research.

The association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (with or without metabolic syndrome) and extrahepatic cancer development

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study was designed to determine whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS), is a risk factor for cancer development.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study at the Center for Preventive Medicine, St. Luke's International Hospital. Among all participants who underwent a health checkup between 2005 and 2019, cancer development tendencies were compared between those who were diagnosed with NAFLD and those who were not. Further evaluation was conducted among NAFLD-diagnosed participants with versus without MetS in the same manner. Those with a history of a specific liver disease, any type of cancer, or alcohol consumption in any amount at the time of the initial visit were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 30 172 participants who underwent health checkups, among whom 4394 (14.6%) had NAFLD. Over the 14-year follow-up period, 2086 participants (6.9%) developed cancer. Participants with NAFLD had a higher incidence of digestive organ neoplasms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.67), especially in the stomach (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02-1.94) and small intestine (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 0.87-8.96), than did those without NAFLD. Participants with NAFLD and MetS had significantly lower rates of neoplasms in respiratory and intrathoracic organs (OR: 0.35 95% CI: 0.14-0.88) and male genital organs (OR: 0.46 95% CI: 0.24-0.87) than did individuals without NAFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with the development of gastrointestinal malignancies, while MetS is a negative risk factor for lung and prostate cancer.

Performance of Ultrasound Techniques and the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in the Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Global statistics show an increasing percentage of patients that develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even in the absence of cirrhosis. In the present review, we analyzed the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US) in the non-invasive evaluation of NAFLD and NAFLD-related HCC, as well as possibilities of optimizing US diagnosis with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) assistance. To date, US is the first-line examination recommended in the screening of patients with clinical suspicion of NAFLD, as it is readily available and leads to a better disease-specific surveillance. However, the conventional US presents limitations that significantly hamper its applicability in quantifying NAFLD and accurately characterizing a given focal liver lesion (FLL). Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) are an essential add-on to the conventional B-mode US and to the Doppler US that further empower this method, allowing the evaluation of the enhancement properties and the vascular architecture of FLLs, in comparison to the background parenchyma. The current paper also explores the new universe of AI and the various implications of deep learning algorithms in the evaluation of NAFLD and NAFLD-related HCC through US methods, concluding that it could potentially be a game changer for patient care.

Association between the Frequency of Daily Toothbrushing and Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background &amp; Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the frequency of daily toothbrushing and the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted from 2005 to 2012 at the Center for Preventive Medicine at St. Luke's International Hospital, Japan. Data on all participants who underwent a health checkup during the study period were collected. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography, and all participants who were diagnosed with NAFLD at the time of their initial visit, consumed alcohol in any amount, or had received only one health checkup were excluded. The questionnaire for the frequency of daily toothbrushing was conducted as part of health checkups. The primary outcome was the risk of developing NAFLD according to the frequency of daily toothbrushing (1-2 times a day or 3 times a day) compared to those who brush teeth once or less than once a day.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 25,804 people. A total of 3,289 (12.7%) participants developed NAFLD. The mean age was 45.2 years, and 6,901 (26.7%) of the participants were male. The risk of developing NAFLD significantly decreased with increased frequency of daily toothbrushing. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) are as follows: brushing teeth 1-2 times a day (OR: 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.95) and 3 times a day (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.82).

CONCLUSION

Frequent toothbrushing was shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing NAFLD.

Comparative Effects of Pterostilbene and Its Parent Compound Resveratrol on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Steatohepatitis Induced by High-Fat High-Fructose Feeding

Different studies have revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation are crucial in NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). The aim of this study is to analyze whether pterostilbene and resveratrol are able to either avoid or delay the progression of non-alcoholic liver steatosis towards steatohepatitis. This has been performed by examining their effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis and pre-carcinogenic stages. Rats were distributed into five experimental groups and were fed with either a standard diet or a high-fat high-fructose diet, supplemented or not with pterostilbene (15 or 30 mg/kg/d) or resveratrol (30 mg/kg/d), for 8 weeks. Liver histological analysis was carried out by haematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum and hepatic oxidative stress-related parameters were assessed using spectrophotometry, and the expression of genes related to inflammation, fibrosis and cancer by qRT-PCR. The dietary model used in this study led to the development of steatohepatitis, where rats displayed oxidative stress, inflammation and ballooning, although not fibrosis. It also modified the expression of hepatocarcinoma-related genes. The results show, for the first time, that pterostilbene was able to partially prevent these alterations, with the exception of changes in hepatocarcinoma-related genes, mainly at 30 mg/kg/d. Pterostilbene was more effective than its parent compound resveratrol, probably due to its high bioavailability and higher anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, attributable to its different chemical structure.

The water extract of Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its mechanism

BACKGROUND

Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma is traditionally used for clearing away heat and toxic materials in China.

PURPOSE

This study aims to observe the amelioration of Sophorae tonkinensis water extract (STR) against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the engaged mechanism.

METHODS

NAFLD was induced in mice fed by methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet. Liver histological observation, Oil Red O, Masson's trichrome and F4/80 immunohistochemical staining were performed. Serum and liver biochemical parameters, hepatic gene and protein expression were detected. Cellular lipids accumulation in human normal liver l-02 and hepatoma HepRG cells were induced by 0.5 mM nonestesterified fatty acid (NEFA). The contents of matrine (MT) and oxymatrine (OMT) in STR were detected by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) expression and enzymatic activity were detected both in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) activity, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content and liver histological observation showed that STR alleviated hepatocellular damage in mice fed with MCD diet. Hepatic triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and NEFA amounts, and Oil Red O staining showed that STR reduced hepatic lipids accumulation in mice fed with MCD diet. STR and its main compounds including MT and OMT decreased NEFA-induced cellular lipids accumulation in hepatocytes. STR enhanced CPT1A activity both in vivo and in vitro. MT and OMT also enhanced cellular CPT1A activity in l-02 hepatocytes treated with NEFA. Moreover, the CTP1A inhibitor etomoxir (ETO) reduced the lipid-lowering activity provided by STR, MT or OMT in vitro. Liver myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and hydroxyproline content, Masson's trichrome and F4/80 immunohistochemical staining, and hepatic mRNA expression of some molecules involved in regulating inflammation or fibrosis demonstrated that STR alleviated hepatic inflammation and liver fibrosis in mice fed with MCD diet.

CONCLUSION

STR alleviated NAFLD by inhibiting hepatic inflammation and liver fibrosis, and reducing hepatic lipids accumulation through promoting fatty acids β-oxidation by enhancing liver CPT1A activity. MT and OMT may be the main active compounds contributing to the lipid-lowering activity provided by STR.

The Growing Burden of Disability Related to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Data From the Global Burden of Disease 2007-2017

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a growing cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The burden of CLD varies according to etiology and geographic location. We assessed the global burden of disability from the most important complications of CLD (cirrhosis and liver cancer [LC]) according to the most common etiologies between 2007 and 2017. We obtained years living with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) data from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study. Between 2007 and 2017, LC DALYs decreased by 4.52% and cirrhosis DALYs decreased by 10.58%. Nevertheless, in 2017, CLD caused 62.16 million DALYs (33.4% LC and 66.5% cirrhosis), of which 96.8% came from YLL (34.1% LC and 65.9% cirrhosis) and 3.2% from YLD (11.6% LC and 88.4% cirrhosis). In 2017, Asia accounted for 66% of all DALYs globally. Central Asia, Africa regions, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe had the highest liver-related DALYs (≥1,000 per 100,000), whereas the lowest rates (≤500 per 100,000) were seen in high-income regions, such as Asia Pacific, North America, Western Europe, and Australasia. In 2007, hepatitis B virus caused the majority (47.5%) of liver-related DALYs, followed by hepatitis C virus (23.7%), alcoholic liver disease (14.2%), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) (6.4%). In 2017, these rates shifted to 45.7%, 24.1%, 4.8%, and 7.1%, respectively. Between 2007 and 2017, cirrhosis-related DALYs due to NAFLD/NASH increased by 23.4%, whereas the increment was 37.5% for LC-related DALYs due to NAFLD/NASH. Conclusion: DALYs due to viral hepatitis still account for the largest proportion of CLD-related DALYs. Although DALYs from all other liver diseases have remained stable in the last decade, DALYs related to NAFLD/NASH are growing. National, regional, and global policies are needed to address the disability burden of NAFLD across the world.

The Role of Insulin Resistance and Diabetes in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) consists of the entire spectrum of fatty liver disease in patients without significant alcohol consumption, ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to cirrhosis, with NASH recently shown as an important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is a close relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and NAFLD, with a five-fold higher prevalence of NAFLD in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) compared to that in patients without T2DM. IR is involved in the progression of disease conditions such as steatosis and NASH, as well as hepatic fibrosis progression. The mechanisms underlying these processes involve genetic factors, hepatic fat accumulation, alterations in energy metabolism, and inflammatory signals derived from various cell types including immune cells. In NASH-associated fibrosis, the principal cell type responsible for extracellular matrix production is the hepatic stellate cell (HSC). HSC activation by IR involves “direct” and “indirect” pathways. This review will describe the molecular mechanisms of inflammation and hepatic fibrosis in IR, the relationship between T2DM and hepatic fibrosis, and the relationship between T2DM and HCC in patients with NAFLD.

The Crosstalk between Tumor Cells and the Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Role of Exosomal microRNAs and their Clinical Implications

The communication between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and their microenvironment is an essential mechanism supporting or preventing tumor development and progression. Recent evidence has identified extracellular vesicles (EVs) as one of the mechanisms mediating paracrine signaling between cells. Exosomes, the most described class of EVs, deliver proteins, mRNAs, noncoding RNAs, DNA, and lipids to recipient cells, also at remote distances. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as part of the non-coding RNA exosomal cargo, have an important role in regulating cellular pathways in targeted cells, regulating several processes related to tumor progression invasion and metastasis, such as angiogenesis, immune-escape, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and multi-drug resistance. Accumulating evidence suggests exosomal miRNAs as relevant players in the dynamic crosstalk among cancerous, immune, and stromal cells in establishing the tumorigenic microenvironment. In addition, they sustain the metastasic niche formation at distant sites. In this review, we summarized the recent findings on the role of the exosome-derived miRNAs in the cross-communication between tumor cells and different hepatic resident cells, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cell re-programming. In addition, we describe the clinical implication derived from the exosomal miRNA-driven immunomodulation to the current immunotherapy strategies and the molecular aspects influencing the resistance to therapeutic agents.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in autophagy-induced hepatocellular carcinoma

Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process, is the most important pathogenic events in the development and progression of liver diseases. Deregulation of Nrf2 is proposed to play a key pathogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Under certain pathophysiological conditions, such as oxidative stress, impaired autophagy is accompanied by the Nrf2 activation that leads to the detrimental effects favoring the proliferation and survival of HCC. Elucidating its role and potential mechanism is essential for understanding tumorigenesis and the development of effective clinical application. Nrf2 is participated in HCC proliferation, migration and invasion through autophagy pathways. These includes the negatively regulated-Nrf2 by Keap1 that participates in HCC tumorigenesis via regulating ROS production, in which autophagy may contribute to oxidant metabolic reprogramming of HCC cells. Post-transcriptional modifications, such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination of Nrf2, can be positively or negatively induced by multiple transcription factors. Nrf2 exhibits chemoresistance through its binding sites in the promoter region of the target genes. Nrf2 may be a valuable potential biomarker and therapeutic strategy for diagnostics, prognostics and treatment of HCC.