Recent developments in non-invasive methods for assessing metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is increasing,affecting over one-third of the global population and contributing to significant morbidity and mortality.Diagnosing MAFLD,especially with advan-ced fibrosis,remains challenging due to the limitations of liver biopsy,the current gold standard.Non-invasive tests are crucial for early detection and management.Among these,the fibrosis-4 index(Fib-4)is widely recommended as a first-line test for screening for liver fibrosis.Advanced imaging techniques,including ultrasound-based elastography and magnetic resonance elastography,offer high accuracy but are limited by cost and availability.Combining biomarkers,such as in the enhanced liver fibrosis score and FibroScan-AST score,enhances diagnostic precision and is recommended to further stratify patients who are considered to be intermediate or high risk from the Fib-4 score.We believe that the future lies in the combined use of biomarkers to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Insights into renal and urological complications of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic condition characterized by immune-mediated inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract,which follows a relapsing and remitting course.Apart from affecting the gastrointestinal tract,IBD also has extra-intestinal manifestations(EIMs).While the etiology of extraintestinal manifestation remains unclear,it is theorized to be based on immunological responses influenced by genetic factors.Renal involvement is one of the EIMs observed in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.The renal manifes-tations in IBD patients encompass a range of conditions including nephrolithiasis,amyloidosis,tubulointerstitial nephritis,glomerulonephritis(GN),obstructive pathologies,and chronic kidney disease(CKD).The incidence of CKD in IBD patients varies from 5%-15%.The decline in renal function can stem from various factors such as direct inflammatory damage to the kidneys leading to glomerular or tubular injury,or from complications like recurrent stones,amyloidosis,or GN.Additionally,nephrotoxic medications used in treating IBD,such as TNF-αinhibitors,calcineurin inhibitors,and aminosalicylates,can exacerbate the decline in renal function.Currently,there is a lack of consensus regarding these patients'screening and renal function monitoring.This review aims to assess the existing literature on the different renal complications among individuals with IBD,shedding light on their pathophysiology and management.