Utility of handgrip strength (HGS) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is associated with disability, mortality, and poorer survival in cirrhotic patients. For the evaluation of muscle volume, computed tomography (CT) is the most accurate tool. Unfortunately, it would be hard to apply a muscle mass measuring CT to daily practice. This research aims to study the utility of handgrip strength (HGS) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to detect sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients compared with CT as the reference. METHODS: In cirrhotic patients who met inclusions criteria (age 20-70 years, ascites < grade 2 of International Ascites Club grading system, no active malignancy, and no cardiac implanted device), HGS were measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Subsequently, patients with low muscle strength (defined as JSH criteria, < 26 kg in male, < 18 kg in female) were then underwent CT and BIA (Tanita MC780 MA) on the same day to measure muscle volume, the definition of sarcopenia by CT was according to the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH). We also collected data from patients with normal HGS whose CT results were available in the study period. RESULTS: From 146 cirrhotic patients who underwent HGS, 30 patients (20.5%) had diagnosed low HSG. Data from 50 patients whose available CT results included 30 low HGS and 20 patients with normal HSG. The HGS was strongly correlated with skeleton muscle index (SMI) by CT (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) and had an excellent diagnostic performance for detecting sarcopenia by using JSH criteria the sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV were 88.2%, 100%, 100%, and 98.7% respectively. In contrast, only 6 of 30 patients (20%) met sarcopenic criteria by BIA. Among sarcopenic patients, the result showed a fair correlation between SMI and BIA (r = 0.54; p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated an excellent correlation between HGS and SMI by CT in the mixed cirrhotic population from the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups. The HGS using the JSH criteria showed an excellent performance in detecting sarcopenia compared to CT. Nonetheless, for the BIA by using the current cut-offs demonstrated unacceptable rate to detect sarcopenia.

Diagnostic performance of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition by EUS-FNA versus EUS-FNB for solid pancreatic mass without ROSE: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is an established diagnostic procedure for solid pancreatic mass. However, the diagnostic yield between fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic yields between FNA and FNB using conventional FNA and Franseen needles of the same size 22-gauge needle, in patients with solid pancreatic mass who underwent EUS-TA without rapid onsite cytopathology evaluation (ROSE). METHODS: All cases of EUS-TA by FNA or FNB for solid pancreatic mass between January 2017 and October 2020 in a single-centre university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. All procedures were performed without an onsite cytologist. Before the endoscopist finished the procedure, macroscopic onsite evaluation (MOSE) was confirmed. The diagnostic yield and the average number of needle passes between FNB and FNA were then compared. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients (FNA, n = 77; FNB, n = 74) with solid pancreatic mass detected by cross-sectional imaging underwent EUS-TA. The mean age was 62.3 ± 12.8 years, with 88 (58.3%) males. Age, sex, mass location, tumour size and disease stage from imaging were not significantly different between the two groups. The diagnostic performance was higher in EUS-FNB (94.6%) than in EUS-FNA (89.6%). The mean number of needle passes was clearly fewer in FNB than in FNA (2.8 vs. 3.8, p < 0.001). The total procedure time was shorter in FNB (34.7 min) than in FNA (41 min). The adverse event rate between FNB and FNA was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of solid pancreatic mass was higher in FNB using the Franseen needle than in FNA using the conventional FNA needle in a centre where ROSE is unavailable, without serious adverse event. In addition, FNB had fewer needle passes and shorter total procedure time.

Diarrhea in tube-fed hospitalized patients: Feeding formula is not the most common cause.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and enteral nutrition (EN)-associated diarrhea are the most common recognized etiologies of nosocomial diarrhea. However, in clinical practice, the data regarding how each etiology contributes to the diarrheal episodes are limited. We identify the causes and factors associated with post-feeding diarrhea. METHODS: Using the data of patients enrolled in "Effect of Psyllium Fiber Supplementation on Diarrhea Incidence in Enteral Tube-Fed Patients: A Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Trial", the randomized controlled trial showed no difference in diarrheal incidences between fiber-added and fiber-free formulas. Hence, we analyzed the data of all enrolled patients. The causes of diarrhea were classified according to pre-specified definitions. The factors associated with diarrhea were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Diarrhea was found in 37.3% (n = 31/83). The most common cause was medication associated (61.3%). CDAD and EN-associated diarrhea were found in only 9.7% and 6.5%, respectively. Patients with baseline albumin <3 g/dL and underlying cerebrovascular disease were more likely to develop diarrhea (adjusted odds ratio 5.70, 95% confidence interval 1.79-20.51, and adjusted odds ratio 10.83, 95% confidence interval 2.96-48.57, respectively). Compared with those without diarrhea, the length of hospital stay in CDAD patients was significantly longer (+23.1 days, P = 0.02), a trend of longer hospital stay in patients with diarrhea from other causes was observed (+3.2 days, P = 0.096). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that the most common cause of post-feeding diarrhea is medication associated. Review and cessation of possible drugs should be undertaken before EN modification. CDAD accounts for <10% of diarrhea causes, but it impacts the clinical outcome and should be identified and treated properly.

Validation of original, expanded Baveno VI, and stepwise & platelet-MELD criteria to rule out varices needing treatment in compensated cirrhosis from various etiologies.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The Baveno VI criteria to rule out varices needing treatment (VNT) was introduced in 2015. Soon after, the expanded Baveno VI and stepwise platelet-MELD criteria were proposed to be equal/more accurate in ruling out VNT; however, neither has been widely validated. We aimed to validate all 3 criteria in compensated cirrhosis from assorted causes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study including all adult compensated cirrhotic patients who underwent endoscopic surveillance at our center from 2014 to 2018 and had transient elastography (TE), and laboratory data for criteria calculation within 6 months of endoscopies. Exclusion criteria were previous decompensation, unreliable/invalid TE results, and liver cancer. The diagnostic performances of all criteria were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were included. The major cirrhosis etiologies were hepatitis C and B (37.5% and 32.8%, respectively). VNT was observed in 7.8%. All criteria yielded high negative predictive values (NPVs)>95%, missed VNT was observed in 2%, 2.7%, and 2.8% in the original, expanded Baveno VI, and platelet-MELD criteria, respectively. The expanded Baveno VI and the platelet-MELD criteria yielded significantly better specificities and could spare more endoscopies than the original Baveno VI criteria. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 criteria showed satisfactorily high NPVs in ruling out VNT in compensated cirrhosis from various causes. The expanded Baveno VI and the platelet-MELD criteria could spare more endoscopies than the original Baveno VI criteria. From a public health standpoint, the platelet-MELD criteria might be useful in a resource-limited setting where TE is not widely available.

Re-bleeding and its predictors after capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is the preferred diagnostic test of choice in the investigation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Although, a conservative strategy is recommended in the short-term, for cases with a negative result from CE, the impact of CE on long-term re-bleeding still remains unclear. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the long-term re-bleeding rate along with predictors after CE in patients with OGIB. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 216 patients with OGIB, whom had received a CE examination, so as to investigate the cause of obscure GI bleeding; between July 2008 and March 2018. The patient's characteristics, medication use, CE finding, treatments strategy, re-bleeding episodes and follow-up information were collected from the institutional electronic medical chart and CE database. Re-bleeding free survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves with log rank test, whilst predictors associated with the re-bleeding episodes were analyzed via the use of Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-three patients with OGIB, having received CE were enrolled in the analysis. The pool rate of re-bleeding was 26.3% (35/133) during a follow-up duration of 26 months after CE. Patients with positive CE study, without specific treatment, had higher rates of re-bleeding (47.6%) than those with positive study whom received specific treatment (25.7%), and negative study (20.8%) (p = 0.042). Although, the re-bleeding free survival was not significantly different among the groups (log rank test; P = 0.10). Re-bleeding events occurring within 6, 12, and 24 months after CE were 36, 64 and 92%, respectively. The high-frequency re-bleeding etiologies were the small bowel angiodysplasias and abnormal vascular lesions. Furthermore, independent predictors for re-bleeding after CE were patients with cirrhosis (hazard ratio, HR 4.06), incomplete CE visualization (HR 2.97), and a history of previous GI bleeding (HR 2.80). CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of re-bleeding after CE was higher in patients with positive CE study than those with negative study. Specific treatments, or therapeutic interventions for patients with detectable lesions reduced the probability of re-bleeding episodes in long-term follow-up. Close follow-up for recurrent bleeding is recommeded for at least 2 years after CE.

i-Scan detection of minimal change esophagitis in dyspeptic patients with or without Gastroesophageal Reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: The association of minimal change esophagitis (MCE) with GERD is controversial. i-Scan endoscopy (SE) provides high resolution and modulation of images that may improve minimal change lesion (MCL) detection. We aimed to assess the efficacy of SE in detecting MCL in dyspeptic patients with GERD compared with patients without GERD by GerdQ or by endoscopy with 24-h pH monitoring (PHM) and in normal volunteers. METHODS: This is a cohort study conducted at a tertiary center. All dyspeptic patients were prospectively recruited. All patients completed a validated Thai version of GerdQ and then underwent endoscopy. Forty normal volunteers as a control group were recruited for endoscopy. The distal esophagus was examined by high definition endoscopy and SE sequentially. All had PHM done. GERD was diagnosed by Los Angeles classification A-D and/or by a positive PHM. MCE was diagnosed when MCL or combination of MCL was present. RESULTS: Of 174 patients, 144 completed the study protocol. After the exclusion of 6 patients, 138 remained for analysis. Overlapping GERD symptoms were found in 44.2 % and 26.8 % had confirmed GERD. Group A was comprised of 61 patients with a positive GerdQ and 77 patients in group B had a negative GerdQ. Twenty-four in group A, 28 in group B and 7 in the control group had MCE that was not significantly different. MCE in GERD was significantly higher (51.45 %) than in non-GERD (32.7 %) (p = 0.047) and in the control group (20.58 %) (p = 0.007). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of SE were 51.35 %, 67.33 %, 36.54 % and 79.06 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: In dyspeptic patients, SE detected more MCE in GERD than in non-GERD patients and in the control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01742377.

HBV DNA level could predict significant liver fibrosis in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients with biopsy indication.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive models and methods to substitute liver biopsy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were investigated but their roles as predictors of significant liver histology for diagnosis of HBeAg-negative CHB patients who had indication for liver biopsy according to The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) guidelines are still unknown. This study was designed to identify predictors of significant liver necroinflammation as defined by a Histology Activity Index of necroinflammatory score ≥ 4 or Metavir necroinflammatory activity score ≥ 2 and significant liver fibrosis as defined by a Metavir fibrosis score ≥ 2 in HBeAg-negative CHB patients that had a hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level ≥ 2,000 IU/ml and age ≥ 40 years or elevated alanine aminotransferase level between 1-2 times the upper limit of normal. METHODS: Twenty-two patients were prospectively included and performed liver biopsies. Clinical and laboratory parameters including age, gender, underlying disease, family history of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, body mass index (BMI), HBV DNA level, HBsAg level, liver function test, complete blood count, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and transient elastography were collected and analyzed with liver histology profiles. RESULTS: Five patients (23%) had significant liver inflammation and 7 patients (32%) had significant liver fibrosis. Factors associated with significant liver inflammation were a lower BMI and higher alkaline phosphatase level while a factor associated with significant liver fibrosis was lower age. On multivariate analysis, only HBV DNA level > 5.5 log IU/ml could predict significant liver fibrosis (odds ratio 28.012, 95% CI, 1.631-481.240, p = 0.022) and its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 71.4%, 93.3%, 83.3% and 87.5% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An HBV DNA level of > 5.5 log IU/ml was able to predict significant liver fibrosis for treatment of HBeAg-negative CHB patients that had indication for liver biopsy as recommended by AASLD and APASL guidelines.

Influence of meal intake on liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

BACKGROUND: Transient elastography (TE) is a non-invasive test for evaluation of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Meal intake has been found to affect liver stiffness (LS) values in CHC patients, but there is still lack of data in CHB patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the influence of meal intake on LS values by TE in non-cirrhotic CHB patients and compare its effect with non-cirrhotic CHC patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-five CHB patients and 37 CHC patients were included LS measurements by TE were done at three different times including 4-hour fasting immediately, and 60 minutes after finishing 500 kcal meal. RESULTS: Mean fasting LS values in CHB patients were 5.40--1.7 kPa. LS values in CHB patients significantly increased at both immediately and 60 minutes after finishing meal by 0.31?0.1 kPa (p = 0.035) and 0.33 +/- 0.1 kPa (p = 0.018), respectively Difference in the peak changes of LS values after meal were not significant between CHB and CHC patients (CHB 0.72 +/- 0.1 vs. CHC 1.16 +/- 0.1, p = 0.076). No other variables associated with the changes ofLS values after meal in either CHB patients or CHC patients. CONCLUSION: Meal intake significantly increases LS values in CHB and CHC patients. It was considered to be a confounding factor in LS measurements. An appropriate time offasting should be done before LS measurement in both CHB and CHC patients.

Effect of smartphone-assisted lifestyle intervention in MASLD patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is emerging globally as a significant problem. The mainstay of treatment is lifestyle intervention (LSI). We hypothesized that providing information regarding LSI and MASLD through a social media application generally used in the respective society would improve clinical outcomes in MASLD more than standard of care (SOC). This is a randomized controlled study in noncirrhotic MASLD patients aged 18-65 years in Thailand. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the control (SOC) or intervention arm. Patients in both groups received standard LSI advice. Infographics about MASLD and LSI information were sent to the intervention group every 3-7 days via the LINE official account. The outcomes are changes in liver steatosis and liver stiffness by FIBROSCAN at 24 weeks, as well as weight loss, body composition, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level between the two groups. A total of 122 patients were enrolled. The median age of eligible participants was 53 years, 64.7% were female, and median body mass index was 27.3 kg/m2. After a complete 24-week study period, both groups had an improvement in weight, ALT level, liver steatosis, and fat mass, but the differences in those changes between groups were not statistically significant. Interestingly, a significant improvement in liver stiffness was observed in the intervention group than in the control group (- 0.7 ± 1.8 kPa vs. 0.1 ± 2.4 kPa, P = 0.035). Encouraging LSI and delivering MASLD information via a social media application (LINE official account) to patients with MASLD demonstrated a better outcome of liver stiffness measurement than SOC.Clinical trial number: TCTR20210304002 (04/03/2021) ( http://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20210304002 ).

Non-Invasive Serum Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Cirrhosis in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) and AIH-Primary Biliary Cholangitis Overlap Syndrome (AIH-PBC): Red Cell Distribution Width to Platelet Ratio (RPR) Yielded the Most Promising Result.

Several serum biomarkers for fibrosis assessment have been proposed in various liver diseases, but in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or overlap with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC; AIH-PBC) patients, the data are scarce. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to validate six non-invasive biomarkers in the diagnosis of cirrhosis (F4 fibrosis) in such patients. We included adult patients diagnosed with AIH or AIH-PBC overlap syndrome who underwent a liver biopsy between 2011 and 2021. Laboratory data were collected to calculate the following scores: red cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR), aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte-to-platelet ratio (LPR). A total of 139 patients were eligible (111 AIH and 28 AIH-PBC). The prevalence of cirrhosis was 35.3% (36% in AIH and 32.1% in AIH-PBC). The AUROCs of the RPR, FIB-4, APRI, AAR, LPR, and NLR in all patients were 0.742, 0.724, 0.650, 0.640, 0.609, and 0.585, respectively. RPR was significantly superior to APRI, NLR, and LPR. Moreover, RPR showed the highest AUROC (0.915) in the overlap AIH-PBC subgroup. In conclusion, RPR yielded the highest diagnostic accuracy to predict cirrhosis in AIH and AIH-PBC overlap syndrome patients, while FIB-4 was considerably optimal.

Clinical Utility of the aMAP Score for Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the aMAP score and compare it with other risk scores for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in Thai patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We retrospectively analyzed patients with CHB between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2019. Data on demographics, clinical parameters, cirrhosis status, HCC imaging, and alpha fetoprotein surveillance were collected to calculate the aMAP score (0-100) based on age, sex, albumin-bilirubin level, and platelet count. Of the 1060 patients analyzed, 789 were eligible, of whom 51 developed HCC. The cumulative HCC incidences in the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups at 3, 5, and 10 years were significantly different (log-rank, p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of the aMAP scores for predicting HCC at 3, 5, and 10 years were 0.748, 0.777, and 0.784, respectively. Among the risk scores, the CU-HCC score had the highest AUROCs (0.823) for predicting 5-year HCC development. The aMAP score is a valuable tool for predicting HCC risk in Thai patients with CHB and can enhance surveillance strategies. However, its performance is inferior to that of the CU-HCC score, suggesting the need for new predictive tools for HCC surveillance.

Health-related quality of life in Thai patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but remains underexplored in the Thai population. Health state utilities (HSU) are indicators reflecting HRQoL which serve as fundamental inputs for economic evaluation analyses. This study aimed at assessing differences in HRQoL across five CHB stages in Thai patients, including non-cirrhotic CHB, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, early-/intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect HRQoL data from patients with CHB at five stages. The study included patients with CHB who were followed up at a super-tertiary care centre between March 2021 and February 2022. The participants completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and provided demographic data. Disease stage and relevant data were obtained from medical records. HSU and Euroqol-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores, calculated using Thai-specific conversion coefficients, were assessed. Results: Among 422 patients, 236 did not have cirrhosis, 92 had compensated cirrhosis, 13 had decompensated cirrhosis, 55 had early-/intermediate-stage HCC, and 26 had advanced-/terminal-stage HCC. The HSU scores for non-cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, early-/intermediate-stage HCC and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC were 0.95 ± 0.08, 0.89 ± 0.16, 0.79 ± 0.19, 0.89 ± 0.12 and 0.52 ± 0.39, respectively. Similarly, the EQ-VAS scores for various CHB stages were 83.56 ± 12.90, 80.48 ± 13.03, 68.76 ± 17.40, 79.00 ± 14.38 and 62.92 ± 20.62, respectively. A significant correlation (r = 0.469, P < 0.001) was observed between the HSU and EQ-VAS scores. The disease progression led to a notable HSU decline, particularly in the advanced-/terminal-stage HCC group (regression coefficient: -0.436, P < 0.001). The EQ-VAS scores indicated reduced quality of life in advanced liver disease. Conclusions: Later CHB stages compromise the HRQoL. Decompensated cirrhosis and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC profoundly affect physical health and quality of life, whereas patients with compensated cirrhosis and early-/intermediate-stage HCC report better HRQoL.

Efficacy of Vonoprazan vs. Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitor in Prevention of Re-Bleeding of High-Risk Peptic Ulcers: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is well-established for its effectiveness in reducing re-bleeding in high-risk peptic ulcer patients following endoscopic hemostasis. Vonoprazan (VPZ) has demonstrated the capacity to achieve gastric pH levels exceeding 4, comparable to PPIs. This study aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy of intravenous PPI infusion versus VPZ in preventing re-bleeding after endoscopic hemostasis in patients with high-risk peptic ulcers. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled, and double-dummy design was employed. Patients with peptic ulcer bleeding (Forrest class IA/IB or IIA/IIB) who underwent endoscopic hemostasis were randomly assigned to either the PPI group or the VPZ group. Re-bleeding rates at 3, 7, and 30 days, the number of blood transfusions required, length of hospitalization, and ulcer healing rate at 56 days were assessed. Results: A total of 44 eligible patients were enrolled, including 20 patients (PPI group, n = 11; VPZ group, n = 9) with high-risk peptic ulcers. The mean age was 66 years, with 70% being male. Re-bleeding within 72 h occurred in 9.1% of the PPI group versus 0% in the VPZ group (p = 1.000). There was no significant difference in re-bleeding rates within 7 days and 30 days (18.2% vs. 11.1%, p = 1.000). Additionally, the ulcer healing rate did not significantly differ between the groups (87.5% vs. 77.8%). Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates comparable efficacy between oral vonoprazan and continuous PPI infusion in preventing recurrent bleeding events among high-risk peptic ulcer patients following successful endoscopic hemostasis.

Changes in the epidemiological trends of primary liver cancer in the Asia-Pacific region.

Primary liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome and alcohol consumption, along with the existing burden of viral hepatitis, could significantly heighten the impact of primary liver cancer. However, the specific effects of these factors in the Asia-Pacific region, which comprises more than half of the global population, remain largely unexplored. This study aims to analyze the epidemiology of primary liver cancer in the Asia-Pacific region. We evaluated regional and national data from the Global Burden of Disease study spanning 2010 to 2019 to assess the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years associated with primary liver cancer in the Asia-Pacific region. During the study period, there were an estimated 364,700 new cases of primary liver cancer and 324,100 deaths, accounting for 68 and 67% of the global totals, respectively. Upward trends were observed in the age-standardized incidence rates of primary liver cancer due to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as an increase in primary liver cancer from Hepatitis B virus infection in the Western Pacific region. Notably, approximately 17% of new cases occurred in individuals aged 15-49 years. Despite an overall decline in the burden of primary liver cancer in the Asia-Pacific region over the past decade, increases in incidence were noted for several etiologies, including MASLD and ALD. However, viral hepatitis remains the leading cause, responsible for over 60% of the total burden. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the rising burden of primary liver cancer in the Asia-Pacific region.

The efficacy of branched-chain amino acid granules to restore phagocytic activity in cirrhosis patients, a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Infection is a detrimental complication among cirrhotic patients, leading to major morbidity and mortality. Reduction in phagocytic activation, as part of immunoparesis, is a distinctive key component of cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID) and predicts the development of infection. However, there are limited data on immunotherapeutic approaches to restore phagocytosis. Aims: We aimed to determine the effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) granules on phagocytic activity in patients with CAID. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, Participants were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio stratified by Child-Pugh status) to receive either BCAA granules or placebo. In the 3rd and 6th months, phagocytic activity was assessed by flow cytometry. The primary endpoint was the restoration of innate immunity at the 6th month, defined as ≥75% phagocytic activity; the secondary endpoints were the accretion of phagocytic activity and hospitalization due to infection. Results: A total of 37 patients were included. There were no differences among the patients in the baseline characteristics and phagocytic activity. At the 6th month, a higher proportion of patients with phagocytic restoration was observed in the BCAA granule group compared to the placebo group (68 vs. 5.6%, p < 0.001). The mean phagocytic activity was 75.4 and 63.4% in the BCAA granule and placebo groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Progressive accretion of phagocytic activity was observed during the 3rd and 6th months. There was no difference in hospitalization due to infection (3 vs. 2 events, p = 0.487). Conclusion: Our results suggest that BCAA granules significantly restore phagocytic activity across various stages of cirrhosis. A longer follow-up period is required to demonstrate infection prevention.Clinical Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.in.th, TCTR20190830005.

FAIL-T (AFP, AST, tumor sIze, ALT, and Tumor number): a model to predict intermediate-stage HCC patients who are not good candidates for TACE.

Background: Patients with un-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are a diverse group with varying overall survival (OS). Despite the availability of several scoring systems for predicting OS, one of the unsolved problems is identifying patients who might not benefit from TACE. We aim to develop and validate a model for identifying HCC patients who would survive <6 months after their first TACE. Methods: Patients with un-resectable HCC, BCLC stage 0-B, who received TACE as their first and only treatment between 2007 and 2020 were included in this study. Before the first TACE, demographic data, laboratory data, and tumor characteristics were obtained. Eligible patients were randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to training and validation sets. The former was used for model development using stepwise multivariate logistic regression, and the model was validated in the latter set. Results: A total of 317 patients were included in the study (210 for the training set and 107 for the validation set). The baseline characteristics of the two sets were comparable. The final model (FAIL-T) included AFP, AST, tumor sIze, ALT, and Tumor number. The FAIL-T model yielded AUROCs of 0.855 and 0.806 for predicting 6-month mortality after TACE in the training and validation sets, respectively, while the "six-and-twelve" score showed AUROCs of 0.751 (P < 0.001) in the training set and 0.729 (P = 0.099) in the validation sets for the same purpose. Conclusion: The final model is useful for predicting 6-month mortality in naive HCC patients undergoing TACE. HCC patients with high FAIL-T scores may not benefit from TACE, and other treatment options, if available, should be considered.

Heterologous COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster with mRNA Vaccine Provide Enhanced Immune Response in Patients with Cirrhosis: A Prospective Observational Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the antibody and cellular responses to different coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination regimens in patients with cirrhosis and to assess the antibody response after a vaccine booster. We conducted a prospective observational study of 89 patients with cirrhosis and 41 healthy volunteers who received two COVID-19 vaccine doses. Next, we prospectively evaluated 24 patients with cirrhosis who received a booster COVID-19 vaccine dose. In both studies, blood samples were collected before and 4 weeks after vaccination, and anti-spike receptor-binding domain protein IgG levels, T-cell phenotypes, and effector functions were assessed. The heterologous vaccine regimen (CoronaVac [SV]/AstraZeneca [AZ]) produced a better antibody response and CD4+IFNg+ T cell response compared to homogeneous vaccine regimens. The antibody response after the second dose of the vaccine was similar in patients with cirrhosis and healthy volunteers. Patients who received a booster dose of the mRNA vaccine had significantly increased antibody titers compared to those who received the AZ vaccine. In patients with cirrhosis, heterologous vaccination with SV/AZ resulted in a better immune response than the AZ/AZ and SV/SV regimens. Moreover, a booster dose of the mRNA vaccine led to a greater increase in antibody titers compared to the AZ vaccine.

Characteristics of Drug-induced Liver Injury in Chronic Liver Disease: Results from the Thai Association for the Study of the Liver (THASL) DILI Registry.

Background and Aims: The impact of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) on patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is unclear. There are few reports comparing DILI in CLD and non-CLD patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence and outcomes of DILI in patients with and without CLD. Methods: We collected data on eligible individuals with suspected DILI between 2018 and 2020 who were evaluated systematically for other etiologies, causes, and the severity of DILI. We compared the causative agents, clinical features, and outcomes of DILI among subjects with and without CLD who were enrolled in the Thai Association for the Study of the Liver DILI registry. Subjects with definite, or highly likely DILI were included in the analysis. Results: A total of 200 subjects diagnosed with DILI were found in the registry. Of those, 41 had CLD and 159 had no evidence of CLD in their background. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products were identified as the most common class of DILI agents. Approximately 59% of DILI in the CLD and 40% in non-CLD group were associated with CAM use. Individuals with pre-existing CLD had similar severity including mortality. Twelve patients (6%) developed adverse outcomes related to DILI including seven (3.5%) deaths and five (2.5%) with liver failure. Mortality was 4.88% in CLD and 3.14% in non-CLD subjects over median periods of 58 (8-106) days and 22 (1-65) days, respectively. Conclusions: In this liver disease registry, the causes, clinical presentation, and outcomes of DILI in subjects with CLD and without CLD patients were not different. Further study is required to confirm our findings.

HBV seroprevalence and liver fibrosis status among population born before national immunization in Southern Thailand: Findings from a health check-up program.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of liver-related death worldwide, particularly in Asia. Patients with either current or past HBV infection are at risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the HBV seroprevalence in residents of southern Thailand born before the national vaccination program. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of individuals born before the nationwide HBV vaccination program who sought check-up programs which included HBV serology and abdominal ultrasound at a tertiary care hospital in southern Thailand from 2019 to 2020 was conducted. HBV serology, cirrhosis and liver fibrosis status (determined by ultrasonography and FIB-4), and clinical notes regarding management following HBsAg+ detection were obtained. RESULTS: Of 1,690 eligible individuals, the overall prevalence of HBsAg+ and HBsAg-antiHBc+, indicating current and past HBV infections, were 2.9% and 27.8%, respectively. Among current HBV patients, 87.8% were unaware of their infection. Cirrhosis was found in 8.2%, 1.1%, and 0.3% of patients with current, past, and no HBV infection, respectively (p<0.001). One-fourth of past HBV patients had FIB-4≥1.45, which indicated indeterminate or significant liver fibrosis, which may increase the risk of HCC. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HBsAg+ in Southern Thailand was 2.9%, and that of past infection (HBsAg-antiHBc+) was 27.8%. Patients with current and past HBV infection have an increased risk of cirrhosis and significant liver fibrosis. Most current HBV patients were unaware of their infection. Identifying patients with current and past HBV infection who are at risk for HCC and linking them to a cascade of care is necessary to reduce the burden of HBV-related liver diseases in Thailand.

The use of Andrographis paniculata and its effects on liver biochemistry of patients with gastrointestinal problems in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study.

In the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare facility supply and access are limited. There was an announcement promoting Andrographis paniculata (ADG) use for treatment of mild COVID-19 patients in Thailand, but misconception of taking for prevention might occur. Moreover, the effect of ADG on liver function test (LFT) has not been established. To study the ADG use and effect on LFT in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) problems, conducted a cross-sectional study including GI patients who voluntarily filled the ADG questionnaire in Aug-Sep 2021. LFT data at that visit and at the prior visit (if available) were obtained. The changes in LFT within the same person were analyzed and compared between patients with and without ADG consumption. During the study period, a total of 810 patients completed the survey, 168 patients (20.7%) took ADG within the past month. LFT data were available in 485 (59.9%) patients, the median alanine aminotransferase (ALT)  change compared with the prior visit was higher in the ADG vs control group (+ 2 vs 0, p = 0.029), and 44.5% had increased ALT (> 3 U/L) vs 32.2% in the ADG and control group, respectively (p = 0.018). Factors independently associated with an increased ALT, from a multivariable logistic regression, were ADG exposure (adjusted OR 1.62, p = 0.042), and patients with NAFLD who gained weight (adjusted OR 2.37, p = 0.046). In conclusion, one-fifth of GI patients recently took ADG, even it is not recommended for COVID-19 prevention. Those who took ADG are more likely to experience an increased ALT than who did not. The potential risk of ADG consumption on liver function should be further assessed.