Alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin can predict the objective response of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving durvalumab plus tremelimumab therapy.

Durvalumab plus tremelimumab (Durva/Treme) combined immunotherapy is the first-line therapy recommended for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since sequential therapy is more effective in improving prognosis, tumor markers have been used as predictive biomarkers for response to systemic therapy. This study aimed to investigate the predictive ability of objective response (OR) by tumor markers for Durva/Treme therapy against HCC. In this multicenter study, 110 patients with HCC who received Durva/Treme therapy were retrospectively enrolled. The OR rate was 15.5%. To aid early decision-making regarding OR, we evaluated the predictors contributing to OR in two steps: before (first step) and 4 weeks after (second step) treatment induction. Changes in tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin [DCP]) from baseline to 4 weeks after treatment (ΔAFP/ΔDCP) were included as the input factors. In the first step, multivariable analysis identified only the baseline AFP level (odds ratio 3.497, p = 0.029) as a predictor of OR. Patients with AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL had a significantly higher OR rate than those with < 400 ng/mL (28.2 vs. 8.5%, p = 0.011), and there was no significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups. When AFP/DCP response was defined as a ≥10% reduction from baseline, multivariable analysis showed that AFP response (odds ratio 6.023, p = 0.042) and DCP response (odds ratio 11.657, p = 0.006) were both independent predictors of OR in the second step. The PFS of patients with AFP or DCP response was significantly longer than that of patients without AFP or DCP response. The study demonstrated that the use of AFP and DCP can predict the OR of patients with HCC receiving Durva/Treme therapy.

Impact of BMI and Body Composition on First-line Systemic Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The effects of body mass index (BMI) and body composition on the outcomes of systemic treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) remain unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with uHCC treated with lenvatinib (LEN) or atezolizumab+bevacizumab, were classified into high- (≥25 kg/m2) and low- (<25 kg/m2) BMI groups and evaluated for prognosis. Prognostic impact of body composition was also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with a high BMI had lower skeletal mass index (SMI), subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI), and visceral adipose tissue index (VATI) compared to those in the low-BMI cohort. The baseline Child-Pugh scores and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages were comparable between the two cohorts. The overall survival (OS) was better in the high BMI group compared to the low BMI group (median, 913 vs. 484 days; p=0.008). SMI had a strong influence on OS. Additionally, low BMI, VATI, SATI, and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) in the LEN treatment group were associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS). CONCLUSION: Following systemic treatment for uHCC, patients with low BMI have a poor prognosis. Among anthropometric factors, low SMI is associated with poor OS. In the LEN treatment group, low VATI may impact PFS negatively.

Predicting early rebleeding and mortality after endoscopic hemostasis of esophagogastric varices: Diagnostic performance of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and model for end-stage liver disease-Na score.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic variceal ligation and sclerotherapy are recommended for esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) in cirrhosis but can be complicated by early rebleeding and death. This study aimed to identify noninvasive markers accurately predicting early rebleeding and mortality after endoscopic hemostasis for EGVB. METHODS: Among 116 patients with endoscopically confirmed EGVB and endoscopic hemostasis, various noninvasive markers were calculated, and their predictive accuracy was compared by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Endpoints included 5-day rebleeding, 5-day mortality, 6-week rebleeding, and 6-week mortality. RESULTS: The median age was 63 years. Child-Pugh class B and C patients accounted for 40.5% and 34.5%, respectively. Only the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) significantly predicted 5-day rebleeding, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.777 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.537-1). The model for end-stage liver disease-Na (MELD-Na) score showed good predictive accuracy for 5-day mortality (AUC: 0.839, 95% CI: 0.681-0.997), 6-week rebleeding (AUC: 0.797, 95% CI: 0.663-0.932), and 6-week mortality (AUC: 0.888, 95% CI: 0.797-0.979). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cirrhosis with a high APRI and MELD-Na score were at high risk of early rebleeding and death after EGVB. Allocating appropriate monitoring and care for those patients is necessary.

Evaluation of the associations of interlukin-7 genetic variants with toxicity and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors: A replication study of a Japanese population, based on the findings of a European genome-wide association study.

AIM: Recent genome-wide association studies of European populations have identified rs16906115, a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the interleukin-7 gene, as a predictor of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. We evaluated this single-nucleotide polymorphism in a Japanese population. METHODS: From January 2021, we stored host DNA from individuals who received various types of immune checkpoint inhibitors. From this population, we categorized 510 participants into cases (grade ≥2 irAEs) and controls (received ≥3 immune checkpoint inhibitor doses, follow-up ≥12 weeks, no irAEs), and divided 339 hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with atezolizumab/bevacizumab into responders and non-responders, evaluated using the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. We compared the minor allele frequencies of rs16906115 between cases and controls, and responders and non-responders. RESULTS: In the irAE prediction analysis of 234 cases and 276 controls, the minor allele frequency was 0.244 in the case group and 0.265 in the control group. This difference is not significant. In the analysis predicting the therapeutic efficacy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients, the responders had a significantly lower minor allele frequency of 0.220, compared with 0.300 for the non-responders (p = 0.022). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the minor allele homozygosity as a significant predictor of treatment response, with odds ratios of 0.292 (p = 0.015) in the univariate analysis and 0.315 (p = 0.023) in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In our Japanese cohort, no association was found between the rs16906115 minor allele and irAEs or treatment efficacy. The minor allele homozygosity may be associated with a negative therapeutic outcome. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry with the number UMIN000043798.

Initial clinical experience with durvalumab plus tremelimumab in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in real­world practice.

Although durvalumab plus tremelimumab (Dur/Tre) has been approved as first-line therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC), its outcomes in real-world clinical practice are unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dur/Tre treatment. This multicenter study was conducted between March 2023 and January 2024, and included 120 patients with u-HCC treated with Dur/Tre. Among the patients, 44 had no history of systemic treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS), therapeutic response and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rates (DCR) were 15.8 and 53.3%, respectively. The median PFS was 3.9 months. The incidence rates of AEs of any grade and those grade 3 or higher were 83.3 and 36.7%, respectively. Liver injury was the most frequent AE of any grade and grade 3 or higher. Although there was no significant difference in ORR and PFS between the first and later line groups (ORR 15.8 vs. 15.7%, P=0.986; PFS 4.5 vs. 3.6 months, P=0.213), there was a significant difference in DCR between the two groups (65.8 vs. 45.9%, P=0.034). No significant differences were noted between the first- and later-line treatment groups regarding the incidence rate of AEs. Decision tree analysis revealed that poor liver function and advanced age were significant variables for discontinuation owing to AEs. In conclusion, Dur/Tre as first-line therapy had better disease control responses compared with later-line therapy; however, this regimen should be carefully administered to patients with deteriorating hepatic function or advanced age.

A machine learning algorithm for stratification of risk of cardiovascular disease in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is associated with adverse cardiac events. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as a condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of hepatic lipids that is closely linked to five metabolic disorders: overweight or obesity, impaired glucose regulation, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. This retrospective study aimed to stratify the risk of cardiac events in patients with MASLD. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with MASLD through ultrasonography were evaluated. We implemented a machine learning-based approach using a survival classification and regression tree (CART) model to stratify patients based on age, and the number of risk scores was investigated as a predictor of adverse outcomes in the derivation cohort. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization due to coronary artery disease. RESULTS: Among 2,962 patients (median age, 62 years; men, 53.5 %), the distribution of risk factors was as follows: one (10.8 %), two (28.5 %), three (33.0 %), four (19.9 %), and five (7.8 %). Over a median follow-up period of 6.8 years, 170 (5.7 %) patients experienced MACE. In the derivation cohort of 2,073 patients, the CART model identified age ≥60 years old and risk factors ≥4 as significant predictors of MACE. These findings were corroborated in a validation cohort of 889 patients. Patients meeting both criteria exhibited the highest risk of MACE (log-rank test, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged ≥60 years old with risk factors ≥4 indicates at high risk of MACE in patients with MASLD. This risk stratification system provides a practical tool for identifying high-risk individuals in the MASLD population.

Clinical Outcomes of Use of the Porous Glass Membrane Pumping Emulsification Device During Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The porous glass membrane pumping emulsification device enhances local therapeutic effects of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, limited clinical outcomes have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization using the glass membrane pumping emulsification device for HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2019 and 2023, 58 patients (median age=73 years) with unresectable HCC underwent 73 transarterial chemoembolizations using the glass membrane pumping emulsification device at the Nagoya University Hospital. Treatment effects were assessed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography 1-3 months after therapy and every 2-3 months thereafter. RESULTS: The median size of treated tumors was 25.5 mm (45 solitary nodules). The median dosage of ethiodized oil mixed with the epirubicin solution was 3 ml. Complete and partial response were observed in 73% and 11% of patients, respectively. Local control rates at 6 and 12 months were 82.8% and 59.8%, respectively. The median time to recurrence after treatment was 581 days. No major treatment-related complications occurred. The number of tumors and therapeutic effects of the initial transarterial chemoembolization were significantly associated with better local control. CONCLUSION: The glass membrane pumping emulsification device facilitated the accumulation of more concentrated ethiodized oil within the tumor and effective local control.

Sex and ethnic disparities in hepatitis B evaluation and treatment across the world.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Oral antiviral therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is well-tolerated and lifesaving, but real-world data on utilization are limited. We examined rates of evaluation and treatment in patients from the REAL-B consortium. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study nested within our retrospective multinational clinical consortium (2000-2021). We determined the proportions of patients receiving adequate evaluation, meeting AASLD treatment criteria, and initiating treatment at any time during the study period. We also identified factors associated with receiving adequate evaluation and treatment using multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: We analyzed 12,566 adult treatment-naïve patients with CHB from 25 centers in 9 countries (mean age 47.1 years, 41.7% female, 96.1% Asian, 49.6% Western region, 8.7% cirrhosis). Overall, 73.3% (9,206 patients) received adequate evaluation. Among the adequately evaluated, 32.6% (3,001 patients) were treatment eligible by AASLD criteria, 83.3% (2,500 patients) of whom were initiated on NAs, with consistent findings in analyses using EASL criteria. On multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, cirrhosis, and ethnicity plus region, female sex was associated with adequate evaluation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.13, p = 0.004), but female treatment-eligible patients were about 50% less likely to initiate NAs (aOR 0.54, p <0.001). Additionally, the lowest evaluation and treatment rates were among Asian patients from the West, but no difference was observed between non-Asian patients and Asian patients from the East. Asian patients from the West (vs. East) were about 40-50% less likely to undergo adequate evaluation (aOR 0.60) and initiate NAs (aOR 0.54) (both p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation and treatment rates were suboptimal for patients with CHB in both the East and West, with significant sex and ethnic disparities. Improved linkage to care with linguistically competent and culturally sensitive approaches is needed. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Significant sex and ethnic disparities exist in hepatitis B evaluation and treatment, with female treatment-eligible patients about 50% less likely to receive antiviral treatment and Asian patients from Western regions also about 50% less likely to receive adequate evaluation or treatment compared to Asians from the East (there was no significant difference between Asian patients from the East and non-Asian patients). Improved linkage to care with linguistically competent and culturally sensitive approaches is needed.

Diagnostic guide for immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced liver injury.

With the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), liver injury (ICI-induced liver injury) as an immune-related adverse event has become a major concern in clinical practice. Because severe cases of liver injury require administration of corticosteroids, a comprehensive evaluation is crucial, including clinical course, blood and imaging tests, and if necessary, pathological examination through liver biopsy. As with liver injury induced by other drugs, classification of injury type by R-value is useful in deciding treatment strategies for ICI-induced liver injury. Histologically, the most representative feature is an acute hepatitis-like hepatocellular injury, characterized by diffuse lobular inflammation accompanied by CD8-positive T lymphocytes. Another condition that can cause liver injury during ICI treatment is cholangitis accompanied by non-obstructive bile duct dilatation and bile duct wall thickening. Many cases of ICI-induced cholangitis are classified as non-hepatocellular injury type, and they have been reported to respond poorly to corticosteroids. It is essential that gastroenterologists/hepatologists and doctors in various departments work in cooperation to develop a system that achieves early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of ICI-induced liver injury.

Histology of Bronchiolar Tumor Spread Through Air Spaces.

The clinical significance of lung tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) has been extensively studied, and is recognized as a unique pattern of invasion. Previous studies of STAS have focused primarily on STAS in alveolar spaces, whereas STAS in the bronchiolar spaces (bronchiolar STAS) has been described in only a few case reports only. Here, we examined 306 cases of primary lung adenocarcinoma and found that bronchiolar STAS was present in 18%. Bronchiolar STAS was associated with an inferior prognosis, more advanced stage, and higher histologic grade. No significant difference in clinicopathological factors or prognosis was observed between cases with bronchiolar STAS and those with alveolar STAS alone. Notably, bronchiolar STAS often occurred simultaneously with alveolar STAS and endobronchial spread of adenocarcinoma, particularly when bronchiolar STAS was present outside the main tumor. We also identified cases where bronchiolar STAS and endobronchial spread of adenocarcinoma occurred simultaneously in the same bronchi or bronchioles located outside the main tumor, as well as cases with bronchiolar STAS adjacent to intrapulmonary metastatic nodules. Our results highlight the significant role of bronchiolar STAS in the aerogenous spread of adenocarcinoma cells. Bronchiolar STAS can be regarded as a histologic variant of alveolar STAS. This study also supports the idea that STAS is not a tissue processing artifact, but a true biological process with clinical implications, offering histologic evidence of aerogenous spread in lung adenocarcinoma.

Single-centre observational study of the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia for the management of thoracic infections.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia is widely performed to diagnose malignancies and infectious diseases. However, few reports have described the use of this procedure for diagnosing and treating intrathoracic infections. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia for the management of intrathoracic infections. RESULTS: Data from patients who underwent thoracoscopy procedures performed by chest physicians under local anaesthesia at our hospital between January 2018 and December 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. We analysed their demographic factors, reasons for the examinations, diseases targeted, examination lengths, anaesthetic methods used, diagnostic and treatment success rates, as well as any adverse events. Thirty patients were included. Of these, 12 (40%) had thoracoscopies to diagnose infections, and 18 (60%) had them to treat pyothorax. In terms of diagnosing pleurisy, the causative microorganism of origin was identified via thoracoscopy in only three of 12 (25.0%) patients. For diagnosing pyothorax, the causative microorganism was identified in 7 of 18 (38.9%) patients. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most common causative microorganism identified. The treatment success rates were very high, ranging between 94.4 and 100%, whereas the identification rate of the causative microorganisms behind infections was low, ranging between 25.0 and 38.9%. The most frequent adverse events included perioperative hypoxaemia and pain. There were two (6.7%) serious adverse events of grade ≥ 3, but none resulted in death. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of managing intrathoracic infections through thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia is commendable. Nonetheless, the diagnostic accuracy of the procedure, regarding the precise identification of the causative microorganisms responsible for intrathoracic infections, persists at a notably low level, presenting a substantial clinical hurdle.

Skill Proficiency, Efficacy, and Safety of the Transradial Approach in Transarterial Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction Abdominal angiography procedures such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are essential for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. One method commonly used is transfemoral access (TFA). However, issues associated with this method, which include postoperative compression of the puncture site and long periods of bed rest, can affect patient satisfaction. Thus, transradial access (TRA), a minimally invasive treatment method that improves treatment quality, was developed for TACE. This retrospective, multicenter study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of abdominal angiography using the radial artery approach. Methods In total, 1,601 patients underwent abdominal angiography using TRA and received treatment (radial access for visceral intervention (RAVI)) at 14 institutions in Japan. The treatment time, procedure completion rate, patient satisfaction, and complications were investigated. Results The success rate of RAVI was 99.4%, and the complication rate was 1.2%. Approximately 98.2% of the patients requested the radial artery approach again. There were no significant differences in the success rate of RAVI and the incidence of complications based on the operator's years of experience or the patient's age. Some patients developed minor complications such as puncture site bleeding, hematoma, vascular pain, and vasospasm. Further, serious complications (cerebral infarction (n = 1), cerebellar infarction (n = 1), and aortic dissection (n = 1)) were observed. Conclusion Similar to the conventional TFA, RAVI helped in facilitating peritoneal angiography safely. In abdominal angiography, this method can reduce patient burden and can be widely used in the future from the perspective of clinical benefit.

Risk factors for decreased bone mineral density in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A cross-sectional study at a health examination center.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is often detected in health examinations. However, although individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD) may have decreased bone mineral density (BMD), the specific risk factors remain unclarified. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with decreased BMD in patients with MASLD. METHODS: Individuals who underwent abdominal ultrasonography and BMD measurements at our healthcare center were included. The BMD of the calcaneus was assessed using an AOS-10SA bone densitometer. Decreased BMD was defined as a T-score below -1.0 SD or the administration of osteoporosis treatment. SLD was diagnosed based on specific ultrasonographic criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1410 patients were diagnosed with MASLD. The median age was 52 years. Multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model revealed that the independent predictors of decreased BMD were a low body mass index (BMI) or a small waist circumference (odds ratio (OR): 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-0.67), hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.00-1.65), and a weak grip strength (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-1.00). Subgroup analyses of individuals aged 50 years or older, men, and individuals with a FIB-4 index of 1.3 or greater revealed that the absence of a high BMI or a large waist circumference was associated with decreased BMD. The subgroup analysis of men revealed that a weaker grip strength was associated with decreased BMD. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested several potential risk factors for decreased BMD in patients with MASLD. Individuals with the abovementioned risk factors should be encouraged to undergo BMD measurement from the perspective of preventive medicine.

Descriptive analysis of incidence and risk factors for short intramedullary nail breakage in femoral intertrochanteric fractures: a multicenter (TRON group) retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hip fractures is increasing. Femoral intertrochanteric fractures make up 50% of hip fractures and are treated by intramedullary nails. Implant breakage is a recognized complication that can have rare and serious implications. This study aimed to investigate implant breakage rates after surgical treatment for femoral intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter analysis. All 1854 patients who underwent surgical treatment for femoral intertrochanteric fractures were selected from 12 hospitals (TRON group) between 2016 and 2020. Exclusion criteria included implants other than those specified and follow-up periods less than three months. Demographic data, surgical details, and radiographic assessments were collected from medical records and X-ray evaluations. RESULTS: Among the 983 study patients, consisting of 245 males (24.9%) and 738 females (75.1%), the implant breakage rate was 0.31%, with three confirmed cases. The average age was 83.9 years. The mean follow-up period was 640.9 days. Two cases were linked to ASULOCK implants, and one to an OLSII implant. Statistical analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of ASULOCK implant breakage (p < 0.001). In the two cases of ASULOCK implant breakage and one case of OLSII implant breakage, breakage in all three implants occurred at the anti-rotation screws. CONCLUSIONS: There were no implant breakages of the main body of the implants; all breakages occurred in the additional anti-rotation screw. The necessity of the anti-rotation screw will require further discussion. These results can potentially inform clinical decisions and guide further research in preventing implant breakage.

Intestinal Microbiome Associated with Efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has become the first-line treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no studies have reported on specific intestinal microbiota associated with the efficacy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab. In this study, we analyzed fecal samples collected before treatment to investigate the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and the efficacy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab. A total of 37 patients with advanced HCC who were treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab were enrolled. Fecal samples were collected from the patients, and they were divided into responder (n = 28) and non-responder (n = 9) groups. We compared the intestinal microbiota of the two groups and analyzed the intestinal bacteria associated with prognosis using QIIME2. The alpha and beta diversities were not significantly different between both groups, and the proportion of microbiota was similar. The relative abundance of Bacteroides stercoris and Parabacteroides merdae was higher in the responder group than in the non-responder group. When the prognosis was analyzed by the presence or absence of those bacteria, patients without both had a significantly poorer prognosis. Differences in intestinal microbiome are involved in the therapeutic effect of atezolizumab and bevacizumab.

Severe hepatic steatosis promotes increased liver stiffness in the early stages of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The predictors of progression from steatosis to more advanced stages of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) remain unclear. We evaluated the association between the quantity of hepatic steatosis and longitudinal changes in liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in patients with MASLD. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed patients with MASLD who underwent at least two serial MRE and magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) examinations at least 1 year apart. Fine-Gray competitive proportional hazard regression was used to identify LSM progression and regression factors. RESULTS: A total of 471 patients were enrolled. Factors linked to LSM progression were steatosis grade 3 (MRI-PDFF ≥17.1%, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.597; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.483-4.547) and albumin-bilirubin grade 2 or 3 (aHR 2.790; 95% CI 1.284-6.091), while the only factor linked to LSM regression was % decrease rate of MRI-PDFF ≥5% (aHR 2.781; 95% CI 1.584-4.883). Steatosis grade 3 correlated with a higher incidence rate of LSM progression than steatosis grade 1 (MRI-PDFF <11.3%) in patients with LSM stage 0 (<2.5 kilopascal [kPa]), and a % annual decrease rate of MRI-PDFF ≥5% correlated with a higher incidence rate of LSM regression than that of MRI-PDFF >-5% and <5% in patients with LSM stage 1 or 2-4 (≥2.5 kPa). CONCLUSIONS: Severe hepatic steatosis was linked to significant LSM progression in patients with MASLD and low LSM (<2.5 kPa).

RECAM-J 2023-Validation and development of the Japanese version of RECAM for the diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury.

AIM: The diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is challenging. We modified the revised electronic version of the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) for the diagnosis of DILI (RECAM), the scoring system developed in US and Spanish cohorts in 2022, and developed RECAM-J 2023 to align with the clinical practice in Japan. In the current study, we introduce RECAM-J 2023 and verify its performance in the context of Japanese patients with DILI. METHODS: After translation of RECAM into Japanese, modifications were made to develop RECAM-J 2023 without any alteration to the scores. To examine the validity and performance of RECAM-J 2023, clinical information on DILI and non-DILI cases in Japan were retrospectively collected. The diagnosis of DILI was made by expert's decision. Then we scored each case using RECAM-J 2023, and calculated area under curve (AUC) values for identification for DILI. RESULTS: We collected data from 538 DILI and 128 non-DILI cases. The sum of highly probable (HP) and probable (PR) cases categorized by RECAM-J 2023 were only 206 (38%) in DILI cases. As the primary cause of low scores was the deduction with missing hepatitis virus markers, which is unlikely to be an issue in prospective applications, we rescored without these deductions. At this time, the sum of HP and PR was raised to 421 (78%). The AUCs of RECAM-J 2023 without deductions were 0.70 and 0.88 for identifying at least HP, and at least PR, respectively. CONCLUSION: RECAM-J 2023, when prospectively used without any missing hepatitis virus markers, provides acceptable performance for identifying at least PR DILI cases in Japanese daily clinical practice.

Predictability of noninvasive liver fibrosis score for cardiac events in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have a higher risk of cardiac events. However, although the severity of liver fibrosis is related to worsening prognosis in patients with NAFLD, it is unclear whether the noninvasive liver fibrosis score has a predictive value for cardiac events. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 4071 patients with NAFLD diagnosed using ultrasonography. Liver fibrosis was assessed and divided into three groups based on the Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). The primary outcome of this study was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization due to coronary artery disease. The median age of the evaluated patients was 61 (52-69) years, and 2201 (54.1%) were male. During the median follow-up period of 6.6 years, 179 (4.4%) patients experienced MACE. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that MACE increased progressively with the FIB4 index (log-rank, p < 0.001) and NFS (log-rank, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that the higher the FIB4 index, the higher the risk for MACE (low group as reference vs. intermediate group, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.860 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.326-2.610; p < 0.001]; vs. high group, HR:3.325 [95% CI, 2.017-5.479; p < 0.001]), as well as NFS (low NFS group as reference vs. intermediate group, HR: 1.938 [95% CI, 1.391-2.699; p < 0.001]; vs. high group, HR: 3.492 [95% CI, 1.997-6.105; p < 0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: The FIB4 index and NFS are associated with the probability of MACE in patients with NAFLD. CLINICAL TRIALS: The study design was approved by the ethics review board of Ogaki Municipal Hospital (approval number: 20221124-12, registration date: November 28th, 2022). https://www.ogaki-mh.jp/chiken/kenkyu.html.

Immunoglobulin-like transcript 2 as an impaired anti-tumor cytotoxicity marker of natural killer cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role in immune surveillance in the liver. We aimed to identify potential targets for NK cell-mediated immune intervention by revealing the functional molecules on NK cells in HCC patients. Methods: To evaluate the impact of aging on NK cell phenotypes, we examined NK cells from healthy volunteers (HVs) of various ages. Because ILT2 expression on CD56dim NK cells increased with increasing age, we enrolled age-matched HCC patients and HVs. We determined the NK cell phenotypes in blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and intrahepatic lymphocytes (IHLs) from cancerous and non-cancerous tissues. We evaluated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of NK cells in vitro. Results: ILT2-positive CD56dim NK cells in PBMCs were increased in HCC patients compared with HVs. In HCC patients, ILT2-positive CD56dim NK cells were increased in cancerous IHLs compared with non-cancerous IHLs and PBMCs. We examined the impact of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on ILT2 expression in co-cultures of HCC cells and NK cells. The enhanced expression of ILT2 on CD56dim NK cells from HCC patients was inhibited by masking antibodies against MIF and CXCR4. ILT2-positive CD56dim NK cells exhibited lower capacities for cytotoxicity and ADCC than ILT2-negative cells, which were partially restored by ILT2 blockade. Conclusions: In HCC patients, ILT2 is a signature molecule for cancerous CD56dim NK cells with impaired cytolytic capacity. The MIF-CXCR4 interaction is associated with ILT2 induction on CD56dim NK cells and ILT2 serves as a target for functional NK cell restoration.