The Effects of Hepatogomax Enteral Formula on Systemic Inflammation, Caecum Short-Chain Fatty Acid Levels, and Liver Histopathology in Thioacetamide-Induced Rats.

Liver damage characterized by fibrosis and necrosis can worsen the condition of liver disease. Liver disease is associated with impaired immune response and may affect short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) gut metabolites. Hepatogomax enteral formula was developed, which contains brain-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and middle-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which could repair liver tissue damage, improve the inflammatory status, and modulate SCFA in liver damage. The study aimed to determine the effect of hepatogomax on liver tissue repair, inflammation (TNF-α and IL-6), and SCFA levels in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced rats. The induction of TAA causes liver steatosis, increasing TNF-α and IL-6, and decreasing SCFA levels. Hepatogomax at a dose of 14.6 g/200 gBW significantly reduces TNF-α and IL-6 levels and increases SCFA levels (p < 0.05). The number of steatosis between groups P2 and P3 was lower as compared to a group of negative control [K2] (p < 0.05). Hepatogomax, in a dose-dependent manner, may repair liver tissue and improve inflammatory response and SCFA levels in TAA-induced rats.

Circulating level of 25(OH)D3 with risk factors of asymptomatic adenoma and proximal non-adenoma colorectal polyps / Níveis circulantes de 25(OH)D3 com fatores de risco de adenoma assintomático e pólipos colorretais proximais sem adenoma

ABSTRACT Background: An inverse association between circulating vitamin D and adenoma risk hasbeen reported, but less is known about proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic polyps.Purpose: To investigate circulating 25(OH)D3and risk factors of proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic and adenoma colorectal polyps.Methods: From January 2017 to June 2019, consecutive asymptomatic average-risk partic-ipants undergoing initial screening colonoscopy. Questionnaires provided information oncolorectal polyp risk factors, and plasma samples were assayed for 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D ­25(OH)D3. The colorectal polyps were assessed, and medical history and demographic datawere obtained from each patient.Results: Of the 220 asymptomatic subjects, the prevalence of proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic polyps and adenoma polyps were 16.8%; 18.1% and 22.2%, respectively.Multivariate analysis revealed that low vitamin D (25(OH)D3< 18 ng/mL, OR = 3.94; 95%CI: 1.81­9.51) and current/former smoking (OR = 6.85; 95% CI: 2.98­15.70), high bodymass index (BMI > 24, OR = 5.32, 95% CI: 2.62­4.71) were independent predictors forproximal inflammatory-hyperplastic colorectal polyps (non-adenoma). Low vitamin D(25(OH)D3< 18 ng/mL, OR = 7.75; 95% CI: 3.19­18.80) and current/former smoking (OR = 3.75;95% CI: 1.30­10.81), age over 60 years old (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.02­5.57), were independentpredictors for adenoma colorectal polyps.Conclusion: Low vitamin D and smoking are common risk factors for both adenomatous andproximal inflammatory hyperplastic polyps. Old age and BMI are additional risk factors forthe development of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps.

RESUMO Background: An inverse association between circulating vitamin D and adenoma risk hasbeen reported, but less is known about proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic polyps.Purpose: To investigate circulating 25(OH)D3and risk factors of proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic and adenoma colorectal polyps.Methods: From January 2017 to June 2019, consecutive asymptomatic average-risk partic-ipants undergoing initial screening colonoscopy. Questionnaires provided information oncolorectal polyp risk factors, and plasma samples were assayed for 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D ­25(OH)D3. The colorectal polyps were assessed, and medical history and demographic datawere obtained from each patient.Results: Of the 220 asymptomatic subjects, the prevalence of proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic polyps and adenoma polyps were 16.8%; 18.1% and 22.2%, respectively.Multivariate analysis revealed that low vitamin D (25(OH)D3< 18 ng/mL, OR = 3.94; 95%CI: 1.81­9.51) and current/former smoking (OR = 6.85; 95% CI: 2.98­15.70), high bodymass index (BMI > 24, OR = 5.32, 95% CI: 2.62­4.71) were independent predictors forproximal inflammatory-hyperplastic colorectal polyps (non-adenoma). Low vitamin D(25(OH)D3< 18 ng/mL, OR = 7.75; 95% CI: 3.19­18.80) and current/former smoking (OR = 3.75;95% CI: 1.30­10.81), age over 60 years old (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.02­5.57), were independentpredictors for adenoma colorectal polyps.Conclusion: Low vitamin D and smoking are common risk factors for both adenomatous andproximal inflammatory hyperplastic polyps. Old age and BMI are additional risk factors forthe development of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps.

International Liver Transplantation Society Asian Consensus on the Management of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Resource Limited Setting-From Noncirrhotic to Decompensated Disease and After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The population of Asia exceeds 4.4 billion people. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Asia is characterized by specific distribution of genotypes, lack of access to specific therapeutic agents, relatively high cost of treatment, and lack of experienced healthcare providers. Clear consensus on the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of HCV infection specific to the Asian region is a major unmet need. The consensus guidelines documents that have been published to date by major medical societies presume access to an array of direct acting antiviral agents and diagnostic tests that are not broadly applicable to resource limited settings, including Asia. METHODS: To address the lack of an Asia-specific set of HCV treatment guidelines, we assembled a panel of 15 HCV experts in the field of hepatology from India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Pakistan, Philippines, and Mongolia convened in April 2017 to review the updated literature and provide recommendations on the diagnosis and management of chronic HCV infection that reflects local conditions. RESULTS: An evidence-based comprehensive compilation of the literature supported by the graded recommendations from the expert panel for the optimization of the diagnosis, pretreatment, on treatment, and posttreatment assessments, and management of chronic HCV infection has been presented in this article. CONCLUSIONS: With the evolving treatment landscape and addition of several new direct-acting antiviral agents and combination regimens into the therapeutic armamentarium, the current article may serve as a guide to the clinicians in optimizing the diagnosis and treatment selection for the management of chronic HCV infection in resource-limited settings.

Combination of Aspartate Aminotranferase and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α as Non Invasive Diagnostic Tools for Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).

AIM: to develop a non-invasive diagnostic test for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis NASH. METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) subjects. Sample was taken by consecutive sampling method. Diagnostic criteria of NAFLD were confirmed by liver biopsy. Clinical variables include metabolic syndrome, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), adiponectine, TNF-, insulin, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and liver biopsy. Patients were divided into two groups based on their liver biopsy, group 1: Non-NASH (NAFLD activity score <3) and group 2: NASH (NAFLD activity score of >4). Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test, Mann Whitney U, chi-square, the ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity test. RESULTS: fifty NAFLD patients were recruited, 30 males and 20 females. Among these patients, 12 (24%) had type 2 diabetes, 36 (72%) had metabolic syndrome, the remaining 2 (4%) did not fulfilled metabolic syndrome. Liver biopsy confirmed 21 (42%) non- NASH and 29 (58%) NASH respectively. Level of AST and ALT, plasma level of adiponectine and TNF- were statistically different between two groups. The AST level (>25 U/L) in combination with TNF- (>3.28 pg/cc) demonstrated a good diagnostic accuracy for NASH (Accuracy 82%, Sensitivity 76%, Specificity 90%, PPV 92%, and NPV 73%). CONCLUSION: the combined diagnostic tests of AST and TNF- plasma levels demonstrated a good accuracy for the detection of NASH among NAFLD patients. This combination test can be used as a noninvasive method to diagnose NASH.