Keratinocyte-derived circulating microRNAs in extracellular vesicles: a novel biomarker of psoriasis severity and potential therapeutic target.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by pathogenic hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and immune dysregulation. Currently, objective evaluation tools reflecting the severity of psoriasis are insufficient. MicroRNAs in extracellular vesicles (EV miRNAs) have been shown to be potential biomarkers for various inflammatory diseases. Our objective was to investigate the possibility of plasma-derived EV miRNAs as a marker for the psoriasis disease severity. METHODS: EVs were extracted from the plasma of 63 patients with psoriasis and 12 with Behçet's disease. We performed next-generation sequencing of the plasma-derived EV miRNAs from the psoriasis patients. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the level of EV miRNA expression. In situ hybridization was used to discern the anatomical location of miRNAs. qRT-PCR, western blotting, and cell counting kits (CCKs) were used to investigate IGF-1 signaling in cells transfected with miRNA mimics. RESULTS: We identified 19 differentially expressed EV miRNAs and validated the top three up-and down-regulated EV miRNAs. Among these, miR-625-3p was significantly increased in patients with severe psoriasis in both plasma and skin and most accurately distinguished moderate-to-severe psoriasis from mild-to-moderate psoriasis. It was produced and secreted by keratinocytes upon stimulation. We also observed a significant intensification of IGF-1 signalling and increased cell numbers in the miR-625-3p mimic transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: We propose keratinocyte-derived EV miR-625-3p as a novel and reliable biomarker for estimating the severity of psoriasis. This biomarker could objectively evaluate the severity of psoriasis in the clinical setting and might serve as a potential therapeutic target. Trial registration None.

Real-world safety and effectiveness of lenvatinib in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea: post-marketing study.

Aim: This post-marketing surveillance study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of lenvatinib as first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea.Materials & methods: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and other safety and effectiveness end points were assessed in patients who initiated lenvatinib according to the approved label in republic of Korea.Results: Among 658 lenvatinib-treated patients, ADRs were reported in 57.8%; ADRs grade ≥3 in 13.5%. The most common grade ≥3 ADRs were asthenia (1.2%) and hepatic encephalopathy (1.2%). Physician-reported tumor responses (n = 511) were complete (1.0%) or partial (12.9%) response and stable (45.2%) or progressive disease (40.9%); objective response rates were higher with longer lenvatinib treatment duration (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Lenvatinib was generally well tolerated and effective in real-world clinical practice in Korea.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05225207.

[Box: see text].

Independent replication of advanced brain age in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: detection of future cognitive dysfunction.

We previously developed a novel machine-learning-based brain age model that was sensitive to amyloid. We aimed to independently validate it and to demonstrate its utility using independent clinical data. We recruited 650 participants from South Korean memory clinics to undergo magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessments. We employed a pretrained brain age model that used data from an independent set of largely Caucasian individuals (n = 757) who had no or relatively low levels of amyloid as confirmed by positron emission tomography (PET). We investigated the association between brain age residual and cognitive decline. We found that our pretrained brain age model was able to reliably estimate brain age (mean absolute error = 5.68 years, r(650) = 0.47, age range = 49-89 year) in the sample with 71 participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 375 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 204 with dementia. Greater brain age was associated with greater amyloid and worse cognitive function [Odds Ratio, (95% Confidence Interval {CI}): 1.28 (1.06-1.55), p = 0.030 for amyloid PET positivity; 2.52 (1.76-3.61), p < 0.001 for dementia]. Baseline brain age residual was predictive of future cognitive worsening even after adjusting for apolipoprotein E e4 and amyloid status [Hazard Ratio, (95% CI): 1.94 (1.33-2.81), p = 0.001 for total 336 follow-up sample; 2.31 (1.44-3.71), p = 0.001 for 284 subsample with baseline Clinical Dementia Rating ≤ 0.5; 2.40 (1.43-4.03), p = 0.001 for 240 subsample with baseline SCD or MCI]. In independent data set, these results replicate our previous findings using this model, which was able to delineate significant differences in brain age according to the diagnostic stages of dementia as well as amyloid deposition status. Brain age models may offer benefits in discriminating and tracking cognitive impairment in older adults.

Impact of concomitant cardiovascular medications on overall survival in patients with liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ARTICLE: Liver cirrhosis is the end-stage liver disease associated with poor prognosis and cardiovascular comorbidity could significantly impact mortality of cirrhotic patients. We conducted a large, retrospective study to investigate the survival impact of cardiovascular co-medications in patients with liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study-specific R package was processed on the local databases of partner institutions within the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics consortium, namely Columbia University, New York City (NYC), USA and Ajou University School of Medicine (AUSOM), South Korea. Patients with cirrhosis diagnosed between 2000 and 2020 were included. Final analysis of the anonymous survival data was performed at Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University. RESULTS: We investigated a total of 32,366 patients with liver cirrhosis. Our data showed that administration of antiarrhythmics amiodarone or digoxin presented as a negative prognostic indicator (p = 0.000 in both cohorts). Improved survival was associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (p = 0.005 in NYC cohort, p = 0.075 in AUSOM cohort) and angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan (p = 0.000 in NYC cohort, p = 0.005 in AUSOM cohort). Non-selective beta blocker carvedilol was associated with a survival advantage in the NYC (p = 0.000) cohort but not in the AUSOM cohort (p = 0.142). Patients who took platelet inhibitor clopidogrel had a prolonged overall survival compared to those without (p = 0.000 in NYC cohort, p = 0.003 in AUSOM cohort). CONCLUSION: Concomitant cardiovascular medications are associated with distinct survival difference in cirrhotic patients. Multidisciplinary management is needed for a judicious choice of proper cardiovascular co-medications in cirrhotic patients.

Efficacy of Co-Medications in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still increasing and leads to acute liver injury but also liver cirrhosis and subsequent complications such as liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As most patients fail to achieve alcohol abstinence, it is essential to identify alternative treatment options in order to improve the outcome of ALD patients. METHODS: Evaluating two large cohorts of patients with ALD from the USA and Korea with a total of 12,006 patients, we investigated the effect on survival of aspirin, metformin, metoprolol, dopamine, and dobutamine drugs in patients with ALD between 2000 and 2020. Patient data were obtained through the "The Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics consortium," an open-source, multi-stakeholder, and interdisciplinary collaborative effort. RESULTS: The use of aspirin (p = 0.000, p = 0.000), metoprolol (p = 0.002, p = 0.000), and metformin (p = 0.000, p = 0.000) confers a survival benefit for both AUSOM- and NY-treated cohorts. Need of catecholamines dobutamine (p = 0.000, p = 0.000) and dopamine (p = 0.000, p = 0.000) was strongly indicative of poor survival. ß-Blocker treatment with metoprolol (p = 0.128, p = 0.196) or carvedilol (p = 0.520, p = 0.679) was not shown to be protective in any of the female subgroups. CONCLUSION: Overall, our data fill a large gap in long-term, real-world data on patients with ALD, confirming an impact of metformin, acetylsalicylic acid, and ß-blockers on ALD patient's survival. However, gender and ethnic background lead to diverse efficacy in those patients.

Aberrantly Expressed MicroRNAs in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Their Target Oncogenic Signatures in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to tumor progression, and microRNAs (miRs) play an important role in regulating the tumor-promoting properties of CAFs. The objectives of this study were to clarify the specific miR expression profile in CAFs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identify its target gene signatures. Small-RNA-sequencing data were generated from nine pairs of CAFs and para-cancer fibroblasts isolated from human HCC and para-tumor tissues, respectively. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify the HCC-CAF-specific miR expression profile and the target gene signatures of the deregulated miRs in CAFs. Clinical and immunological implications of the target gene signatures were evaluated in The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA_LIHC) database using Cox regression and TIMER analysis. The expressions of hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-490-3p were significantly downregulated in HCC-CAFs. Their expression in HCC tissue gradually decreased as HCC stage progressed in the clinical staging analysis. Bioinformatic network analysis using miRWalks, miRDB, and miRTarBase databases pointed to TGFBR1 as a common target gene of hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-490-3p. TGFBR1 expression was negatively correlated with miR-101-3p and miR-490-3p expression in HCC tissues and was also decreased by ectopic miR-101-3p and miR-490-3p expression. HCC patients with TGFBR1 overexpression and downregulated hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-490-3p demonstrated a significantly poorer prognosis in TCGA_LIHC. TGFBR1 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, regulatory T cells, and M2 macrophages in a TIMER analysis. In conclusion, hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-490-3p were substantially downregulated miRs in CAFs of HCC, and their common target gene was TGFBR1. The downregulation of hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-490-3p, as well as high TGFBR1 expression, was associated with poor clinical outcome in HCC patients. In addition, TGFBR1 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immunosuppressive immune cells.

Liver stiffness in magnetic resonance elastography is prognostic for sorafenib-treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether liver stiffness (LS) quantified using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) could predict the prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with sorafenib. METHODS: We selected 50 sorafenib-treated advanced HCC patients who underwent MRE within 3 months before drug administration from a prospectively maintained cohort of chronic liver disease patients, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic role of laboratory data, tumor characteristics, and MRE-assessed LS for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and significant liver injury (grade ≥ 3) after sorafenib administration. RESULTS: High MRE-assessed LS either as continuous (per kPa, hazard ratio (HR) 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-1.92, p < 0.001) or categorical (> 7.5 kPa, HR 4.06, 95% CI 1.40-11.79, p < 0.01) variable was significantly associated with poor OS along with higher serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP, ≥ 400 ng/mL) and advanced tumor stage (modified Union for International Cancer Control (mUICC) IVb). Higher MRE-assessed LS was also significantly associated with the development of significant liver injury after sorafenib administration (per kPa, HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.21-2.17, p = 0.001; > 7.5 kPa, HR 10.11, 95% CI 2.41-42.46, p = 0.002). PFS analysis identified higher serum AFP (≥ 400 ng/mL) and advanced tumor stage (mUICC IVb) as significant risk factors for early disease progression, whereas LS was not associated with PFS CONCLUSION: Higher MRE-assessed LS is a potential biomarker for predicting poor OS and significant liver injury in advanced HCC patients treated with sorafenib. KEY POINTS: • Higher pretreatment LS by MRE (> 7.5 kPa), higher AFP (≥ 400 ng/mL), and advanced tumor stage (mUICC IVb) were associated with poor OS in advanced HCC patients treated with sorafenib. • Higher pretreatment LS by MRE was associated with developing significant (grade ≥ 3) liver injury during sorafenib treatment, which required termination of the therapy. • Patients with high pretreatment LS by MRE should be monitored carefully for potential liver injury during sorafenib treatment.

Direct-Acting Antivirals Improve Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Nationwide, Multi-center, Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The influence of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on chronic hepatitis C (CHC)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. We investigated the effect of eradicating CHC using DAAs on treatment outcomes in patients with CHC-related HCC treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: This nationwide, multi-center, retrospective study recruited patients with CHC-related HCC treated with TACE as the first-line anti-cancer treatment, and who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) using DAAs (DAA group) between 2006 and 2017. Patients achieving an SVR following interferon-based treatment (IFN group) and those without treatment (control group) were also recruited for comparison. RESULTS: A total of 425 patients were eligible for the study. Of these, 356 (83.8%), 26 (6.1%), and 43 (10.1%) were allocated to the control, IFN, and DAA groups, respectively. A multivariate analysis showed that liver cirrhosis, segmental portal vein thrombosis, and larger maximal tumor size independently predicted an increased risk of progression (all p < 0.05), whereas, the DAA group (vs. IFN and control groups) independently predicted a reduced risk of progression (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.630, 95% confidence interval 0.411-0.966, p = 0.034). The cumulative incidence rate of HCC progression in the DAA group was significantly lower than that in the IFN and control groups (p = 0.033, log-rank test). In addition, the DAA group (vs. IFN and control groups) was independently associated with a reduced risk of mortality (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: DAA treatment provided significantly prolonged progression-free survival in patients with CHC-related HCC treated with TACE compared to that in patients administered IFN or no treatment.

Role of Immune Cells in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops almost entirely in the presence of chronic inflammation. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with recurrent immune-mediated liver damage ultimately leads to cirrhosis and HCC. It is widely accepted that HBV infection induces the dysfunction of the innate and adaptive immune responses that engage various immune cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are associated with early antiviral and antitumor properties. On the other hand, inflammatory cells release various cytokines and chemokines that may promote HCC tumorigenesis. Moreover, immunosuppressive cells such as regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid-derived suppressive cells play a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. HBV-specific CD8+ T cells have been identified as pivotal players in antiviral responses, whilst extremely activated CD8+ T cells induce enormous inflammatory responses, and chronic inflammation can facilitate hepatocarcinogenesis. Controlling and maintaining the balance in the immune system is an important aspect in the management of HBV-related HCC. We conducted a review of the current knowledge on the immunopathogenesis of HBV-induced inflammation and the role of such immune activation in the tumorigenesis of HCC based on the recent studies on innate and adaptive immune cell dysfunction in HBV-related HCC.

Predictive score for hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis B e antigen loss in patients treated with entecavir or tenofovir.

The risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatitis B e antigen seroclearance (ESC) remains unclear. We established and validated a new risk prediction model for HCC development after ESC in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving antiviral therapy (AVT). Between 2006 and 2016, 769 patients (training cohort) and 1,061 patients (validation cohort) with CHB who experienced ESC during AVT using entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) were recruited. In the multivariate analysis, male sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.092; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.152-3.800), cirrhosis (HR = 5.141; 95% CI = 2.367-11.167) and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) of >3.25 (HR = 2.070; 95% CI = 1.184-3.620) were the independent risk factors for HCC development (all P < .05). Accordingly, a novel HCC-ESCAVT model was developed (1x[sex: male = 1, female = 0] + 3x(cirrhosis = 1, noncirrhosis = 0) + 1x(FIB-4: >3.25 = 1, ≤3.25 = 0). The cumulative risk for HCC development was significantly different among the risk groups based on the HCC-ESCAVT category (0-1, 2-4 and 5 for the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups, respectively) (overall P < .001, log-rank test). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting HCC development 3, 5 and 10 years after ESC was 0.791, 0.771 and 0.790, respectively (all P < .05). The predictive value of the HCC-ESCAVT model was similar in the validation cohort (AUC = 0.802, 0.774 and 0.776 at 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively; all P < .05). Hence, we have developed and validated a new HCC-ESCAVT model for HCC development, which includes male sex, cirrhosis and FIB-4 of >3.25 as constituent variables.

HDAC6 Suppresses Let-7i-5p to Elicit TSP1/CD47-Mediated Anti-Tumorigenesis and Phagocytosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) uniquely serves as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms leading to tumor suppression are not fully understood. To identify comprehensive microRNAs (miRNAs) regulated by HDAC6 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, differential miRNA expression analysis of HDAC6-transfected Hep3B cells was performed. Using integrative analyses of publicly available transcriptome data and miRNA target prediction, we selected five candidate miRNAs and, through in vitro functional validation, showed that let-7i-5p specifically suppressed thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ectopic expression of antisense let-7i-5p (AS-let-7i-5p) inhibited in vitro tumorigenesis of HCC cells. In addition, treatments of partially purified TSP1 from culture cell media (ppTSP1) and recombinant TSP1 (rTSP1) exhibited similar effects with AS-let-7i-5p treatment on the same HCC cells, whereas TSP1 neutralizing antibody treatment significantly attenuated these effects. Notably, treatments of HDAC6 plasmid, AS-let-7i-5p, ppTSP1, and rTSP1 significantly suppressed in vitro angiogenesis and metastatic potential of HCC cells, but the co-treatment of TSP1 antibody specific to cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) binding domain successfully blocked these effects in the same cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that recovery of HDAC6 elicited let-7i-5p suppression to de-repress TSP1 expression; therefore, it occupied the CD47 receptor to block CD47-SIRPα-mediated anti-phagocytosis of macrophage in HCC. We also observed that HCC-derived exosomal let-7i-5p suppressed TSP1 of recipient hepatocyte cells. Treatments of HDAC6 plasmid, AS-let-7i-5p, and rTSP1 suppressed tumor incidence as well as tumor growth rates in a spontaneous mouse HCC model. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the HDAC6-let-7i-5p-TSP1 regulatory pathway suppresses neoplastic and antiphagocytic behaviors of HCC by interacting with cell surface receptor CD47 in HCC and neighboring cells of tumor microenvironment, providing a therapeutic target for the treatment of liver malignancy and metastasis.

Liver stiffness measured by MR elastography is a predictor of early HCC recurrence after treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive tool for measuring liver stiffness (LS) with high diagnostic accuracy. This study investigated whether quantified LS by MRE could predict early recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria. METHODS: A prospectively collected cohort, which included the HCC patients who underwent MRE before treatment (an HCC-MRE cohort), was analyzed. In the HCC-MRE cohort, only patients under the Milan criteria, who underwent hepatic resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), were reviewed. We investigated whether LS assessed by MRE was an independent predictor of early recurrence using Cox regressions and Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: A total of 192 HCC patients under the Milan criteria who underwent hepatic resection (n = 96), RFA (n = 23), or TACE (n = 73) were included. Higher LS ratings (kPa; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.25; p = 0.040) emerged as an independent risk factor for early tumor recurrence. In the subgroup analysis, higher LS ratings were associated with higher risks of early HCC recurrence in both the resection/RFA group (> 4.5 kPa; HR = 2.95; 95% CI = 1.26-6.94; p = 0.013) and the TACE group (> 6 kPa; HR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.27-6.83; p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: LS assessed by MRE was an independent predictor of early recurrence among HCC patients under the Milan criteria after achieving a complete response. KEY POINTS: • Liver parenchymal stiffness measured by MRE predicts early recurrence of treated HCC under Milan criteria. • A liver stiffness > 5.5 kPa was associated with worse recurrence-free survival. • Patients with high pre-treatment LS may benefit from stringent follow-up.

Identification of rare missense mutations in NOTCH2 and HERC2 associated with familial central precocious puberty via whole-exome sequencing.

Objective: Genetic factors play a critical role in pubertal progression; however, mutations associated with central precocious puberty (CPP) have been reported only in four genes: KISS1, KISS1R, DLK1, and MKRN3. This study aimed to identify novel, potentially pathogenic variants in patients with familial CPP via whole-exome sequencing (WES).Methods: WES analysis was applied in 28 patients (25 girls and three boys) belonging to 14 families, wherein all siblings were diagnosed with CPP. Data analysis aimed to select only very rare variants (minor allele frequency <1%). Nonsense, splice-site, and frameshift variants were considered the most ideal candidate variants. Additionally, non-synonymous missense variants predicted as being deleterious using in silico analysis tools were further considered.Results: The analysis of exome sequencing data resulted in the identification of rare mutations in two promising candidate genes (NOTCH2 and HERC2) in a family. Siblings with CPP exhibited two heterozygous missense mutations (p. Leu15Phe in NOTCH2 and p. Arg4081His in HERC2). Moreover, their parents without history of CPP had a missense variant in either NOTCH2 or HERC2.Conclusions: We identified new candidate genes with potential roles in pubertal development. Digenic inheritance of the two genetic mutations associated with the Notch signaling pathway may have a synergistic effect resulting in CPP.

Treatment and prognosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma based on SEER data analysis from 1973 to 2014.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare tumor of vascular origin with an unknown etiology, a low incidence, and a variable natural course. We evaluated the management and prognosis of HEH from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program and changes in treatment modalities of HEH over 30 years. METHODS: From 1973 to 2014 in the SEER database, we selected patients diagnosed with HEH. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, patterns of management, and clinical outcomes of patients with HEH. RESULTS: We identified 79 patients with HEH (median age: 54.0 years; male to female ratio: 1:2.6). The initial extent of disease was local in 22 (27.8%) patients, regional metastasis in 22 (27.8%), distant metastasis in 31 (39.2%) and unknown in 4 (5.1%). The median size of primary tumor was 3.85 cm (interquartile range, 2.50-7.93 cm). Among 74 patients with available management data, the most common management was no treatment (29/74, 39.2%), followed by chemotherapy only (22/74, 29.7%), liver resection-based (13/74, 17.6%), and transplantation-based therapy (6/74, 8.1%). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 57.8%. Patients who underwent surgical treatment had significantly higher survival than those who underwent non-surgical treatment (5-year survival; 88% vs. 49%, P = 0.019). Multivariate analysis revealed that surgical therapy was the only independent prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio: 0.20, P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Resection or liver transplantation is worth considering for treatment of patients with HEH.

Identification of additional EHMT2 variant associated with the risk of chronic hepatitis B by GWAS follow-up study.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a precursor to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, caused by a Hepatitis B viral infection. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been conducted to find genes associated with CHB risk. In previous GWAS, EHMT2 was identified as one of the susceptibility genes for CHB. To further characterize this association and discover possible causal variants, we conducted an additional association study. A total of 11 EHMT2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were selected and genotyped in 3902 subjects (1046 CHB patients and 2856 controls). An additional eight imputed SNPs were also included in further analysis. As a result, rs35875104 showed a strong association with the CHB, along with the previously reported genetic marker for CHB risk, rs652888 (odds ratio (OR) = 0.53, P = 2.20 × 10-8 at rs35875104 and OR = 1.58, P = 9.90 × 10-12 at rs652888). In addition, linkage disequilibrium and conditional analysis identified one SNP (rs35875104) as a novel genetic marker for CHB susceptibility. The GRSs (genetic risk scores) were calculated to visualize the combined genetic effects of all known CHB-associated loci, including EHMT2 rs35875104, which was additionally identified in this study. The findings from the present study may be useful for further understanding of the genetic etiology of CHB.

Sorafenib with or without concurrent transarterial chemoembolization in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: The phase III STAH trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Sorafenib is first-line standard of care for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet it confers limited survival benefit. Therefore, we aimed to compare clinical outcomes of sorafenib combined with concurrent conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) vs. sorafenib alone in patients with advanced HCC. METHODS: In this investigator-initiated, multicenter, phase III trial, patients were randomized to receive sorafenib alone (Arm S, n = 169) or in combination with cTACE on demand (Arm C, n = 170). Sorafenib was started within 3 days and cTACE within 7-21 days of randomization. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). RESULTS: For Arms C and S, the median OS was 12.8 vs. 10.8 months (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91; 90% CI 0.69-1.21; p = 0.290); median time to progression, 5.3 vs. 3.5 months (HR 0.67; 90% CI 0.53-0.85; p = 0.003); median progression-free survival, 5.2 vs. 3.6 months (HR 0.73; 90% CI 0.59-0.91; p = 0.01); and tumor response rate, 60.6% vs. 47.3% (p = 0.005). For Arms C and S, serious (grade ≥3) adverse events occurred in 33.3% vs. 19.8% (p = 0.006) of patients and included increased alanine aminotransferase levels (20.3% vs. 3.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (11.8% vs. 3.0%), ascites (11.8% vs. 4.2%), thrombocytopenia (7.2% vs. 1.2%), anorexia (7.2% vs. 1.2%), and hand-foot skin reaction (10.5% vs. 11.4%). A post hoc subgroup analysis compared OS in Arm C patients (46.4%) receiving ≥2 cTACE sessions to Arm S patients (18.6 vs. 10.8 months; HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.40-0.82; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Compared with sorafenib alone, sorafenib combined with cTACE did not improve OS in patients with advanced HCC. However, sorafenib combined with cTACE significantly improved time to progression, progression-free survival, and tumor response rate. Sorafenib alone remains the first-line standard of care for patients with advanced HCC. LAY SUMMARY: For patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma requiring sorafenib therapy, co-administration with conventional transarterial chemoembolization did not improve overall survival compared to sorafenib alone. Therefore, sorafenib alone remains the first-line standard of care for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical Trial Number: NCT01829035.

Long-term Outcomes of Antiviral Therapy in Patients With Advanced Chronic HBV Infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) suppression with nucleot(s)ide analogue therapy reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with advanced liver disease.1 In the present era of potent antiviral therapies, the prognostic significance of the serum HBV DNA level as a biological gradient has substantially diminished; the majority of treated patients achieve virologic suppression.2,3 After control of viremia, a higher baseline fibrosis level is a useful predictor for disease progression.4 Few "prospective" studies on the effects of antiviral agents, especially in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with advanced liver disease, have been reported.

Comparisons of the Mucosal Healing Process between Flat and Protruded Type after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The mucosal healing process after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is mostly scarring change (flat type), but a protruded lesion is occasionally found. We investigated the factors influencing the mucosal healing process, such as the flat and protruded types. METHODS: A total of 2,096 ESD cases were performed from February 2005 to December 2013, and 1,757 underwent follow-up endoscopy after 3 months to check the healing type of the ulceration. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts to analyze demographic, endoscopic, and pathological findings between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Forty-eight cases were of the protruded type and 1,709 were of the flat type. In univariate analysis, the protruded type was found more in the antrum, anterior wall, and greater curvature (p < 0.001). In protruded types, the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection rate was lower (p < 0.017), the mean length of ESD specimen was shorter (p < 0.012), the fibrosis rate was lower (p < 0.033), and the mean number of hot biopsy and clips during ESD were less (p < 0.008 and p < 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The healing type of mucosal ulceration after ESD seemed to be influenced by location, specimen size, and the presence of an H. pylori infection.

Cyclic Change of Sphincter of Oddi Motility and Its Relationship with Small Bowel Migrating Motor Complex in Humans.

BACKGROUND: Several animal and human studies have reported that sphincter of Oddi (SO) motility shows cyclical changes during the fasting state. However, to date, the relationship between the SO motility and the migrating motor complex (MMC) of the small bowel (SB) remains unclear in humans. AIMS: We observed SO motility over a long study period and evaluated its relationship with the MMC of the SB in humans using percutaneous long-term manometry. METHODS: Our study included patients with hepatolithiasis who required percutaneous transhepatic catheter placement and subsequently underwent choledochoscopy and stone removal. Long-term percutaneous transhepatic SO manometry was performed after complete stone removal. SO and SB motility were simultaneously recorded. RESULTS: SO motility showed cyclical phasic changes with periodic high-frequency contractions similar to the MMC contractions of the SB. All high-frequency contractions of the SO coincided with phase III contractions of the MMC of the SB. The proportions of phase III contractions of SO and SB were similar, but the proportions of phase I (P = 0.001) and phase II (P = 0.002) contractions were significantly different. The mean basal SO pressure was observed to significantly increase in phase III compared to phase I (P = 0.001) and phase II (P = 0.001) contractions. CONCLUSIONS: SO motility in humans showed cyclical phasic changes closely coordinated with the MMC of the SB in a fasting state; however, the proportion of phases differed between the SO and the SB. The basal pressure significantly increased during physiological high-frequency phase III contractions of the SO.