Transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter for the diagnosis of colorectal polyps in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND The severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and lipid metabolism are related to the occurrence of colorectal polyps.Liver-controlled attenuation parameters(liver-CAPs)have been established to predict the prognosis of hepatic steatosis patients.AIM To explore the risk factors associated with colorectal polyps in patients with NAFLD by analyzing liver-CAPs and establishing a diagnostic model.METHODS Patients who were diagnosed with colorectal polyps in the Department of Gastroenterology of our hospital between June 2021 and April 2022 composed the case group,and those with no important abnormalities composed the control group.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to predict the diagnostic efficiency.Differences were considered statistically significant when P<0.05.RESULTS The median triglyceride(TG)and liver-CAP in the case group were significantly greater than those in the control group(mmol/L,1.74 vs 1.05;dB/m,282 vs 254,P<0.05).TG and liver-CAP were found to be independent risk factors for colorectal polyps,with ORs of 2.338(95%CI:1.154–4.733)and 1.019(95%CI:1.006–1.033),respectively(P<0.05).And there was no difference in the diagnostic efficacy between liver-CAP and TG combined with liver-CAP(TG+CAP)(P>0.05).When the liver-CAP was greater than 291 dB/m,colorectal polyps were more likely to occur.CONCLUSION The levels of TG and liver-CAP in patients with colorectal polyps are significantly greater than those patients without polyps.Liver-CAP alone can be used to diagnose NAFLD with colorectal polyps.

Circulating microRNA expression and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents with severe obesity

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is one of the most common chronic liver diseases in children and adolescents.NAFLD ranges in severity from isolated hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH),wherein hepatocellular inflammation and/or fibrosis coexist with steatosis.Circulating microRNA(miRNA)levels have been suggested to be altered in NAFLD,but the extent to which miRNA are related to NAFLD features remains unknown.This analysis tested the hypothesis that plasma miRNAs are significantly associated with histological features of NAFLD in adolescents.AIM To investigate the relationship between plasma miRNA expression and NAFLD features among adolescents with NAFLD.METHODS This study included 81 adolescents diagnosed with NAFLD and 54 adolescents without NAFLD from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery study.Intra-operative core liver biopsies were collected from participants and used to characterize histological features of NAFLD.Plasma samples were collected during surgery for miRNA profiling.A total of 843 plasma miRNAs were profiled using the HTG EdgeSeq platform.We examined associations of plasma miRNAs and NAFLD features using logistic regression after adjusting for age,sex,race,and other key covariates.Ingenuity Pathways Analysis was used to identify biological functions of miRNAs that were associated with multiple histological features of NAFLD.RESULTS We identified 16 upregulated plasma miRNAs,including miR-193a-5p and miR-193b-5p,and 22 downregulated plasma miRNAs,including miR-1282 and miR-6734-5p,in adolescents with NAFLD.Moreover,52,16,15,and 9 plasma miRNAs were associated with NASH,fibrosis,ballooning degeneration,and lobular inflammation,respectively.Collectively,16 miRNAs were associated with two or more histological features of NAFLD.Among those miRNAs,miR-411-5p was downregulated in NASH,ballooning,and fibrosis,while miR-122-5p,miR-1343-5p,miR-193a-5p,miR-193b-5p,and miR-7845-5p were consistently and positively associated with all histological features of NAFLD.Pathway analysis revealed that most common pathways of miRNAs associated with multiple NAFLD features have been associated with tumor progression,while we also identified linkages between miR-122-5p and hepatitis C virus and between miR-199b-5p and chronic hepatitis B.CONCLUSION Plasma miRNAs were associated with NAFLD features in adolescent with severe obesity.Larger studies with more heterogeneous NAFLD phenotypes are needed to evaluate miRNAs as potential biomarkers of NAFLD.

Caveolin‑1 is critical for hepatic iron storage capacity in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is associated with disordered lipid and iron metabolism.Our previous study has substantiated the pivotal role of Caveolin-1(Cav-1)in protecting hepatocytes and mediating iron metabolism in the liver.This study aimed to explore the specific mechanisms underlying the regulation of iron metabolism by Cav-1 in NAFLD.Methods:Hepatocyte-specific Cav-1 overexpression mice and knockout mice were used in this study.Cav-1-knockdown of RAW264.7 cells and mouse primary hepatocytes were performed to verify the changes in vitro.Moreover,a high-fat diet and palmitic acid plus oleic acid treatment were utilized to construct a NAFLD model in vivo and in vitro,respectively,while a high-iron diet was used to construct an in vivo iron overload model.Besides,iron concentration,the expression of Cav-1 and iron metabolism-related proteins in liver tissue or serum were detected using iron assay kit,Prussian blue staining,Western blotting,immunofluorescence staining,immunohistochemical staining and ELISA.The related indicators of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress were evaluated by the corresponding reagent kit and staining.Results:Significant disorder of lipid and iron metabolism occurred in NAFLD.The expression of Cav-1 was decreased in NAFLD hepatocytes(P<0.05),accompanied by iron metabolism disorder.Cav-1 enhanced the iron storage capacity of hepatocytes by activating the ferritin light chain/ferritin heavy chain pathway in NAFLD,subsequently alleviating the oxidative stress induced by excess ferrous ions in the liver.Further,CD68^(+) CD163^(+) macrophages expressing Cav-1 were found to accelerate iron accumulation in the liver,which was contrary to the effect of Cav-1 in hepatocytes.Positive correlations were also observed between the serum Cav-1 concentration and the serum iron-related protein levels in NAFLD patients and healthy volunteers(P<0.05).Conclusions:These findings confirm that Cav-1 is an essential target protein that regulates iron and lipid metabolic homeostasis.It is a pivotal molecule for predicting and protecting against the development of NAFLD.

Prevalence and risk factors for impaired renal function among Asian patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is associated with impaired renal function,and both diseases often occur alongside other metabolic disorders.However,the prevalence and risk factors for impaired renal function in patients with NAFLD remain unclear.The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and risk factors for renal impairment in NAFLD patients.Methods:All adults aged 18-70 years with ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD and transient elastography examination from eight Asian centers were enrolled in this prospective study.Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were assessed by FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase(FAST),Agile 3+and Agile 4 scores.Impaired renal function and chronic kidney disease(CKD)were defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)with value of<90 mL/min/1.73 m^(2) and<60 mL/min/1.73 m^(2),respectively,as estimated by the CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration(CKD-EPI)equation.Results:Among 529 included NAFLD patients,the prevalence rates of impaired renal function and CKD were 37.4%and 4.9%,respectively.In multivariate analysis,a moderate-high risk of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis according to Agile 3+and Agile 4 scores were independent risk factors for CKD(P<0.05).Furthermore,increased fasting plasma glucose(FPG)and blood pressure were significantly associated with impaired renal function after controlling for the other components of metabolic syndrome(P<0.05).Compared with patients with normoglycemia,those with prediabetes[FPG≥5.6 mmol/L or hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)≥5.7%]were more likely to have impaired renal function(P<0.05).Conclusions:Agile 3+and Agile 4 are reliable for identifying NAFLD patients with high risk of CKD.Early glycemic control in the prediabetic stage might have a potential renoprotective role in these patients.

Impact of lifestyle interventions on pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This editorial builds on the article titled“Establishment and validation of an adherence prediction system for lifestyle interventions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”by Zeng et al.We carried out a critical examination of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)pathogenesis and how lifestyle interventions could facilitate disease resolution,particularly highlighting that non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is a severe form of NAFLD.Our discussion details that weight loss is a pivotal factor in disease outcomes:A 3%-5%reduction is enough for resolution in 50%of non-obese individuals,while a 7%-10%reduction achieves similar benefits in obese individuals,as demonstrated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Additionally,the editorial underscores that such lifestyle changes are instrumental not only in resolving NAFLD but also in reversing hepatic steatosis and inflammation.These insights,derived from the research,emphasize the critical role of personalized lifestyle modifications in halting the progression of NAFLD to NASH and even reversing fibrosis,thus offering a template for effective patient management.

Validation of adherence prediction system for lifestyle interventions in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This editorial delves into the research article by Zeng et al published in the latest issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology.The manuscript contributes significantly to addressing the global health issue of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)by introducing and validating the Exercise and Diet Adherence Scale(EDAS).The article effectively conveys the importance of the study,highlighting the prevalence of NAFLD,the lack of approved drugs for its treatment,and the crucial role of lifestyle correction.The use of the Delphi method for scale development and the subsequent evaluation of its reliability add scientific rigor to the methodology.The results demonstrate that the scale is correlated with key lifestyle indicators,which makes it a promising tool for assessing patient adherence to interventions.The identification of specific score thresholds for predicting adherence to daily calorie intake and exercise adds practical value to the scale.The differentiation among scores indicative of good,average,and poor adherence enhances its clinical applicability.In conclusion,the manuscript introduces EDAS,a valuable instrument that can contribute substantially to the field of NAFLD research and clinical practice.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with hepatitis B:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB)has increased in recent clinical practice;however,the relationship between CHB and hepatic steatosis(HS)remains controversial.AIM To shed light on the potential association between NAFLD and hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection.METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search using multiple databases,including PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and EMBASE,to identify relevant studies.Predefined inclusion criteria were used to determine the eligibility of the studies for further analysis.RESULTS Comprehensive meta-analysis software was used for statistical analysis,which covered 20 studies.The results indicated a lower NAFLD susceptibility in HBVinfected individuals(pooled OR=0.87;95%CI=0.69-1.08;I2=91.1%),with diabetes(P=0.015),body mass index(BMI;P=0.010),and possibly age(P=0.061)as heterogeneity sources.Of note,in four studies(6197 HBV patients),HBV-infected individuals had a reduced NAFLD risk(OR=0.68,95%CI=0.51-0.89,P=0.006).A positive link between hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome emerged in hepatitis B patients,along with specific biochemical indicators,including BMI,creatinine,uric acid,fasting blood glucose,and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.CONCLUSION HBV infection may provide protection against HS;however,the occurrence of HS in patients with HBV infection is associated with metabolic syndrome and specific biochemical parameters.

Investigating the causal associations between five anthropometric indicators and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Although the etiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has not been thoroughly understood,the emerging roles of anthropometric indicators in assessing and predicting the risk of NAFLD have been highlighted by accumulating evidence.AIM To evaluate the causal relationships between five anthropometric indicators and NAFLD employing Mendelian randomization(MR)design.METHODS The Anthropometric Consortium provided genetic exposure data for five anthropometric indicators,including hip circumference(HC),waist circumference(WC),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),body mass index(BMI),and body fat percentage(BF).Genetic outcome data for NAFLD were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank and FinnGen Consortium.Genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms were chosen as instrumental variables.Univariable MR(UVMR)and multivariable MR(MVMR)designs with analytical approaches,including inverse variance weighted(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median(WM),and weighted mode methods,were used to assess the causal relationships between anthropometric indicators and NAFLD.RESULTS Causal relationships were revealed by UVMR,indicating that a higher risk of NAFLD was associated with a perunit increase in WC[IVW:odds ratio(OR)=2.67,95%CI:1.42-5.02,P=2.25×10^(−3)],and BF was causally associated with an increased risk of NAFLD(WM:OR=2.23,95%CI:1.07-4.66,P=0.033).The presence of causal effects of WC on the decreased risk of NAFLD was supported by MVMR after adjusting for BMI and smoking.However,no causal association between BF and NAFLD was observed.In addition,other causal relationships of HC,WHR(BMI adjusted),and BMI with the risk of NAFLD were not retained after FDR correction.CONCLUSION This study establishes a causal relationship,indicating that an increase in WC is associated with a higher risk of NAFLD.This demonstrates that a suitable decrease in WC is advantageous for preventing NAFLD.

Influence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on response to antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Although hepatitis B virus infection is the leading cause of chronic liver injury globally,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is gradually gaining attention as another major chronic liver disease.The number of patients having chronic hepatitis B(CHB)with concomitant hepatic steatosis has increased.AIM To analyze the effect of NAFLD on the response to antiviral treatment in patients with CHB.METHODS Relevant English studies were systematically searched across PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,and Cochrane Library until October 2023.Studies in which the treatment outcomes were compared between patients with CHB only and those with CHB and hepatic steatosis were included.RESULTS Of the 2502 retrieved studies,11 articles were finally included.Biochemical response until 48 wk(OR=0.87,95%CI:0.50–1.53,P=0.000)and 96 wk(OR=0.35,95%CI:0.24–0.53,P=0.24)and virological response until 96 wk(OR=0.80,95%CI:0.43–1.49,P=0.097)were lower in patients with hepatic steatosis than in patients with CHB alone.CONCLUSION Hepatic steatosis lowers the biochemical response to antiviral treatment in patients with CHB.

Mapping the global research landscape on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance:A visualization and bibliometric study

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a liver condition that is prevalent worldwide and associated with significant health risks and economic burdens.As it has been linked to insulin resistance(IR),this study aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis and visually represent the scientific literature on IR and NAFLD.AIM To map the research landscape to underscore critical areas of focus,influential studies,and future directions of NAFLD and IR.METHODS This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of the literature on IR and NAFLD indexed in the SciVerse Scopus database from 1999 to 2022.The search strategy used terms from the literature and medical subject headings,focusing on terms related to IR and NAFLD.VOSviewer software was used to visualize research trends,collaborations,and key thematic areas.The analysis examined publication type,annual research output,contributing countries and institutions,funding agencies,journal impact factors,citation patterns,and highly cited references.RESULTS This analysis identified 23124 documents on NAFLD,revealing a significant increase in the number of publications between 1999 and 2022.The search retrieved 715 papers on IR and NAFLD,including 573(80.14%)articles and 88(12.31%)reviews.The most productive countries were China(n=134;18.74%),the United States(n=122;17.06%),Italy(n=97;13.57%),and Japan(n=41;5.73%).The leading institutions included the Universitàdegli Studi di Torino,Italy(n=29;4.06%),and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche,Italy(n=19;2.66%).The top funding agencies were the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the United States(n=48;6.71%),and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(n=37;5.17%).The most active journals in this field were Hepatology(27 publications),the Journal of Hepatology(17 publications),and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism(13 publications).The main research hotspots were“therapeutic approaches for IR and NAFLD”and“inflammatory and high-fat diet impacts on NAFLD”.CONCLUSION This is the first bibliometric analysis to examine the relationship between IR and NAFLD.In response to the escalating global health challenge of NAFLD,this research highlights an urgent need for a better understanding of this condition and for the development of intervention strategies.Policymakers need to prioritize and address the increasing prevalence of NAFLD.

Pharmacodynamic study and mechanism of action of Linggui Zhugan Decoction in the intervention of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of Linggui Zhugan Decoction on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through in vivo animal experiments, and to explore the mechanism of action of Linggui Zhugan Decoction in the intervention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods: A rat model of non- alcoholic fatty liver disease was established after 20 weeks of high-fat feeding, and the rats were divided into six groups, normal group, model group, simvastatin group (4 mg/kg), low- dose group of Linggui Zhugan Decoction (2.1 g/kg), medium-dose group of Linggui Zhugan Decoction (4.2 g/kg), and high-dose group of Linggui Zhugan Decoction (8.4 g/kg), and the liver morphological changes of HE staining and oil red O staining after the intervention of Linggui Zhugan Decoction were observed, and the microplate reader detected aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, Four levels of blood lipids. Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking was used to screen the potential mechanism and target of Linggui Zhugan Decoction for the intervention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Results: Linggui Zhugan Decoction significantly improved the levels of alanine aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in model rats (P<0.05). HE staining and oil red O staining showed that Linggui Zhugan Decoction significantly reduced liver lipid deposition in rats in the model group. Linggui Zhugan Decoction could significantly reduce the quadruplical levels of blood lipids in model rats (P<0.05). Network pharmacology screened out 10 key targets and 5 key signaling pathways;The molecular docking results showed that the first 20 active ingredients all had good binding ability to the top 10 targets. Conclusion: The results show that Linggui Zhugan Decoction has the effect of regulating blood lipids and improving liver tissue lesions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and preliminarily verifies the regulatory effect of Linggui Zhugan Decoction on lipid metabolism-related genes.

A Retrospective Analysis of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists in Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Complicated by Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: The objective of this study was to compare and analyze the variations in clinical indices before and after treatment of type 2 mellitus (T2DM) combined with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that were treated with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Methods: The electronic medical record system was utilized to search for a total of 16 patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by NAFLD who were hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University from October 2022 to April 2023 and treated with GLP-1RA for the first time. The clinical indices were compared before and after 12 weeks of treatment with GLP-1RA. Results: The liver-spleen CT ratio (L/S), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in all patients treated with GLP-1RA after 12 weeks were significantly different (P 0.05). The patients were categorized into two groups based on the types of GLP-1RAs. The changes in L/S, TC, TG, and LDL-C in the long-acting group after treatment were statistically significant (P Conclusions: GLP-1RAs can improve liver function, regulate lipid metabolism, and reduce the severity of fatty liver in patients with T2DM complicated by NAFLD, which demonstrates the importance of clinical applications.

Correlation between the triglyceride glucose index and the degree of steatosis and liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective:To investigate the relationship between triglyceride glucose index(TyG)and the degree of steatosis and liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods:Totally 2054 patients hospitalized in the second affiliated hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from September 2020 to September 2021 were retrospectively selected.According to abdominal ultrasound were divided into NAFLD group and non-NAFLD group.In accordance with the degree of steatosis,NAFLD patients were separated into mild group,moderate group and severe group.According to the liver stiffness,NAFLD patients were divided into liver fibrosis group and non-liver fibrosis group.We used the logistic regression to examine the correlation between TyG index and the the degree of steatosis and liver fibrosis.ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of TyG index for NAFLD and liver fibrosis.Results:The prevalence of NAFLD increased with the increase of the interquartile of TyG index(Q_(1)44.1%,Q_(2)58.7%,Q_(3)71.9%,Q_(4)84.6%,P<0.001);The prevalence of liver fibrosis increased with the increase of the interquartile of TyG index(Q_(1)25.8%,Q_(2)30.2%,Q_(3)38.6%,Q_(4)44.3%,P<0.001).After adjusting for confounders,there was a correlation between TyG index and the degree of steatosis in NAFLD patients(the OR values of mild,moderate and severe groups were 1.383,2.450 and 3.070,P<0.001).TyG index was associated with liver fibrosis(OR=1.132,P<0.001).The ROC curve of TyG index predicted NAFLD was 0.701,with an optimal cutoff value of TyG is 8.57.However,the ROC curve of TyG index predicted liver fibrosis was 0.595.TyG index may not be a reliable predictor of liver fibrosis.Conclusion:TyG index was positively correlated with the degree of steatosis and liver fibrosis in NAFLD.

Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of noninvasive diagnosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B complicated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and significant liver fibrosis

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of chronic viral hepatitis B(CHB)with significant liver fibrosis(S2)in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)by using noninvasive diagnosis and their combined models,and to explore their clinical features.Methods:A total of 104 inpatients with CHB diagnosed and complicated with NAFLD(hepatic steatosis suggested by liver biopsy)were retrospectively collected from January 2018 to January 2023 in the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University.Liver biopsy was performed in all patients.General data,laboratory test results,liver hardness(LSM),FIB-4,APRI,GGT/PLT,AST/PLT and other results of patients were collected and grouped according to different fibrosis stages(S)to explore the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with<S2 and S2 stages.Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of LSM,FIB-4,APRI,GGT/PLT,AST/PLT and their combined models in patients with significant liver fibrosis in CHB patients with NAFLD.Results:Among the 104 patients,there were 55 patients had S1 fibrosis,32 patients had S2 fibrosis,11 patients had S3 fibrosis and 6 patients had S4 fibrosis.Patients had<S2 fibrosis,ALT 33.75±17.15 U/L,AST 24.00(19.77,29.00)U/L,inflammation above G2 stage accounted for 92.72%,GGT/PLT 0.07(0.10,0.15),AST/PLT 0.09(0.10,0.15),LSM 8.70(6.80,10.10)kPa,FIB-41.07±0.51,APRI 0.26(0.22,0.28).In patients S2 fibrosis,ALT 42.14±21.39 U/L,AST 29.04(24.00,40.32)U/L,inflammation above G2 stage accounted for 97.95%,GGT/PLT 0.15(0.10,0.28),AST/PLT 0.14(0.10,0.26),GGT/PLT 0.15(0.10,0.28),AST/PLT 0.14(0.10,0.26).LSM 11.80(8.50,16.65)kPa,FIB-41.39±0.72,APRI 0.35(0.26,0.66),the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves of the subjects of LSM,FIB-4,APRI,GGT/PLT and AST/PLT were 0.716,0.623,0.669,0.644 and 0.669(P<0.05),respectively.In the combined model,the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves of LSM combined with FIB-4,LSM combined with APRI,LSM combined with GGT/PLT and LSM combined with AST/PLT were 0.712,0.719,0.715 and 0.719,respectively(P<0.05).Conclusion:Although the currently commonly used Noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis has certain diagnostic efficacy for significant liver fibrosis in CHB complicated with NAFLD,it cannot replace liver biopsy.Noninvasive Diagnosis can be used as an auxiliary method for regular clinical evaluation of liver biopsy.

Validation model of fibrosis-8 index score to predict significant fibrosis among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND Identifying hepatic fibrosis is crucial for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)management.The fibrosis-8(FIB-8)score,recently developed by incorporating four additional variables into the fibrosis-4(FIB-4)score,showed better performance in predicting significant fibrosis in NAFLD.AIM To validate the FIB-8 score in a biopsy-proven NAFLD cohort and compare the diagnostic performance of the FIB-8 and FIB-4 scores and NAFLD fibrosis score(NFS)for predicting significant fibrosis.METHODS We collected the data of biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from three Asian centers in three countries.All the patients with available variables for the FIB-4 score(age,platelet count,and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels)and FIB-8 score(the FIB-4 variables plus 4 additional parameters:The body mass index(BMI),albumin to globulin ratio,gamma-glutamyl transferase level,and presence of diabetes mellitus)were included.The fibrosis stage was scored using nonalcoholic steatohepatitis CRN criteria,and significant fibrosis was defined as at least fibrosis stage 2.RESULTS A total of 511 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and complete data were included for validation.Of these 511 patients,271(53.0%)were female,with a median age of 51(interquartile range:41,58)years.The median BMI was 29(26.3,32.6)kg/m2,and 268(52.4%)had diabetes.Among the 511 NAFLD patients,157(30.7%)had significant fibrosis(≥F2).The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the FIB-8 and FIB-4 scores and NFS for predicting significant fibrosis were 0.774,0.743,and 0.680,respectively.The FIB-8 score demonstrated significantly better performance for predicting significant fibrosis than the NFS(P=0.001)and was also clinically superior to FIB-4,although statistical significance was not reached(P=0.073).The low cutoff point of the FIB-8 score for predicting significant fibrosis of 0.88 showed 92.36%sensitivity,and the high cutoff point of the FIB-8 score for predicting significant fibrosis of 1.77 showed 67.51%specificity.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that the FIB-8 score had significantly better performance for predicting significant fibrosis in NAFLD patients than the NFS,as well as clinically superior performance vs the FIB-4 score in an Asian population.A novel simple fibrosis score comprising commonly accessible basic laboratories may be beneficial to use for an initial assessment in primary care units,excluding patients with significant liver fibrosis and aiding in patient selection for further hepatologist referral.

Screening for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease:Time to discard the emperor’s clothes of normal liver enzymes?

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is the most prevalent chronic liver condition worldwide.Current liver enzyme-based screening methods have limitations that may missed diagnoses and treatment delays.Regarding Chen et al,the risk of developing MAFLD remains elevated even when alanine aminotransferase levels fall within the normal range.Therefore,there is an urgent need for advanced diagnostic techniques and updated algorithms to enhance the accuracy of MAFLD diagnosis and enable early intervention.This paper proposes two potential screening methods for identifying individuals who may be at risk of developing MAFLD:Lowering these thresholds and promoting the use of noninvasive liver fibrosis scores.

Necroptosis contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathoetiology with promising diagnostic and therapeutic functions

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most prevalent type of chronic liver disease.However,the disease is underappreciated as a remarkable chronic disorder as there are rare managing strategies.Several studies have focused on determining NAFLD-caused hepatocyte death to elucidate the disease pathoe-tiology and suggest functional therapeutic and diagnostic options.Pyroptosis,ferroptosis,and necroptosis are the main subtypes of non-apoptotic regulated cell deaths(RCDs),each of which represents particular characteristics.Considering the complexity of the findings,the present study aimed to review these types of RCDs and their contribution to NAFLD progression,and subsequently discuss in detail the role of necroptosis in the pathoetiology,diagnosis,and treatment of the disease.The study revealed that necroptosis is involved in the occurrence of NAFLD and its progression towards steatohepatitis and cancer,hence it has potential in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.Nevertheless,further studies are necessary.

Role of gut-liver axis and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome.It is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide and shows increasing prevalence rates in most countries.MAFLD is a progressive disease with the most severe cases presenting as advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.Gut microbiota play a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of MAFLD by disrupting the gut-liver axis.The mechanisms involved in maintaining gut-liver axis homeostasis are complex.One critical aspect involves preserving an appropriate intestinal barrier permeability and levels of intestinal lumen metabolites to ensure gutliver axis functionality.An increase in intestinal barrier permeability induces metabolic endotoxemia that leads to steatohepatitis.Moreover,alterations in the absorption of various metabolites can affect liver metabolism and induce liver steatosis and fibrosis.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists(GLP-1 RAs)are a class of drugs developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.They are also commonly used to combat obesity and have been proven to be effective in reversing hepatic steatosis.The mechanisms reported to be involved in this effect include an improved regulation of glycemia,reduced lipid synthesis,β-oxidation of free fatty acids,and induction of autophagy in hepatic cells.Recently,multiple peptide receptor agonists have been introduced and are expected to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.A modulation of gut microbiota has also been observed with the use of these drugs that may contribute to the amelioration of MAFLD.This review presents the current understanding of the role of the gutliver axis in the development of MAFLD and use of members of the GLP-1 RA family as pleiotropic agents in the treatment of MAFLD.

Validity of fatty liver prediction scores for diagnosis of fatty liver by Fibroscan

Background:The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(K-NAFLD)score was recently developed with the intent to operationally define nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).However,there remained an external validation that confirmed its diagnostic performance,especially in patients with alcohol consumption or hepatitis virus infection.Methods:Diagnostic accuracy of the K-NAFLD score was evaluated in a hospital-based cohort consisting of 1388 participants who received Fibroscan®.Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models and the contrast estimation of receiver operating characteristic curves were used for validation of the K-NAFLD score,fatty liver index(FLI),and hepatic steatosis index(HSI).Results:K-NAFLD-moderate[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)=2.53,95%confidence interval(CI):1.13-5.65]and K-NAFLD-high(aOR=4.14,95%CI:1.69-10.13)groups showed higher risks of fatty liver compared to the K-NAFLD-low group after adjustments for demographic and clinical characteristics,and FLI-moderate and FLI-high groups revealed aORs of 2.05(95%CI:1.22-3.43)and 1.51(95%CI:0.78-2.90),respectively.In addition,the HSI was less predictive for Fibroscan®-defined fatty liver.Both K-NAFLD and FLI also demonstrated high accuracy in the prediction of fatty liver in patients with alcohol consumption and chronic hepatitis virus infection,and the adjusted area under curve values were comparable between K-NAFLD and FLI.Conclusions:Externally validation of the K-NAFLD and FLI showed that these scores may be a useful,noninvasive,and non-imaging modality for the identification of fatty liver.In addition,these scores also predicted fatty liver in patients with alcohol consumption and chronic hepatitis virus infection.

Current remarks and future directions on the interactions between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and COVID-19

During the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,particular interest rose regarding the interaction between metabolic dysfunctionassociated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and the COVID-19 infection.Several studies highlighted the fact that individuals with MAFLD had higher probability of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and more severe adverse clinical outcomes.One of the proposed mechanisms is the inflammatory response pathway,especially the one involving cytokines,such as interleukin 6,which appeared particularly elevated in those patients and was deemed responsible for additional insult to the already damaged liver.This should increase our vigilance in terms of early detection,close follow up and early treatment for individuals with MAFLD and COVID-19 infection.In the direction of early diagnosis,biomarkers such as cytokeratin-18 and scoring systems such as Fibrosis-4 index score are proposed.COVID-19 is a newly described entity,expected to be of concern for the years to come,and MAFLD is a condition with an ever-increasing impact.Delineating the interaction between these two entities should be brought into the focus of research.Reducing morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 and MAFLD should be the ultimate objective,and the optimal way to achieve this is by designing evidence-based prevention and treatment policies.