Exploring the role of mitochondrial proteins SIRT5 and MRPL33 through Mendelian randomization in primary biliary cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by elevated serum antimitochondrial antibody levels in 90-95 % of cases. However, the exact causal relationship between mitochondrial proteins and PBC remains unclear. This study aims to investigate and clarify this relationship. METHODS: Genome-wide association data for mitochondrial proteins and PBC were obtained from public databases. The assessment of causal relationships between exposures and outcomes employed the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, MR Egger regression, and Weighted Median. Sensitivity analyses were systematically carried out to appraise the robustness of the Mendelian Randomization (MR) findings. RESULTS: The analysis revealed two mitochondrial proteins exhibiting a causal relationship with PBC. Elevated SIRT5 levels demonstrated a positive correlation with an augmented susceptibility to PBC in the IVW approach (odds ratio, OR: 1.2907, 95 % CI: 1.062-1.568, p = 0.0102). Conversely, increased MRPL33 levels were associated with a decreased risk of PBC (OR: 0.8957, 95 % CI: 0.807-0.993, p = 0.0376). Sensitivity analysis corroborated these findings consistently. CONCLUSION: This investigation advances the notion of a potential causal association between elevated SIRT5 levels and an increased risk of PBC, alongside a decreased risk of PBC linked to elevated MRPL33 levels. The identified mitochondrial proteins may serve as viable biomarkers, offering pertinent insights for the understanding and addressing of PBC.

Impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease on the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 155 patients with CHB-related HCC who received ICI-based therapy (in the Department of Hepatology, Tianjin Second People's Hospital and Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital) between April 2021 and December 2023 were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups: MASLD concurrent with CHB [MASLD-CHB] (n = 38), and CHB (n = 117). RESULTS: The median progression-free survival (PFS, 6.9 months vs. 9.3 months; P = 0.001), progressive disease (57.89% vs. 37.61%; P = 0.028), and disease control rate (42.11% vs. 62.39%; P = 0. 028) in the MASLD-CHB group were significantly worse than the CHB group. The median overall survival was not attained. The percentage of CD4+PD1+ (17. 56% vs. 8.89%; P < 0.001) and CD8+PD1+ T cells (10.50% vs. 7.42%; P = 0.005) in patient samples from the MASLD-CHB group were significantly higher than the CHB group. Concurrent MASLD [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.921; 95% CI, 1.138-3.245; P = 0.015] and alpha-fetoprotein levels after 3 months of treatment (HR = 2.412; 95% CI, 1.360-4.279; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for PFS in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: ICI-based therapy in patients with CHB-related HCC and concurrent MASLD resulted in poorer efficacy and shorter PFS compared to patients with CHB-related HCC alone.

Noninvasive tests maintain high accuracy for advanced fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with different nomenclatures of steatotic liver disease.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a new nomenclature proposed in 2023. We aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of noninvasive tests (NITs) for advanced fibrosis under different nomenclatures in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 844 patients diagnosed with CHB and concurrent steatotic liver disease (SLD) by liver biopsy were retrospectively enrolled and divided into four groups. The performances of fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio index (GPRI), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were compared among the four groups. The four NITs showed similar diagnostic efficacy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), MASLD, and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with CHB with advanced fibrosis. LSM showed the most stable accuracy for NAFLD (AUC = 0.842), MASLD (AUC = 0.846), and MAFLD (AUC = 0.863) compared with other NITs (p < 0.05). Among the four NITs, APRI (AUC = 0.841) and GPRI (AUC = 0.844) performed best in patients with CHB & MetALD (p < 0.05). The cutoff value for GPRI in patients with CHB & MetALD was higher than that in the other three groups, while further comparisons of NITs at different fibrosis stages showed that the median GPRI of CHB & MetALD (1.113) at F3-4 was higher than that in the CHB & MASLD group (0.508) (p < 0.05). Current NITs perform adequately in patients with CHB and SLD; however, alterations in cutoff values for CHB & MetALD need to be noted.

Establishment and validation of an adherence prediction system for lifestyle interventions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, affecting about 1/4th of the global population and causing a huge global economic burden. To date, no drugs have been approved for the treatment of NAFLD, making the correction of unhealthy lifestyles the principle method of treatment. Identifying patients with poor adherence to lifestyle correction and attempting to improve their adherence are therefore very important. AIM: To develop and validate a scale that can rapidly assess the adherence of patients with NAFLD to lifestyle interventions. METHODS: The Exercise and Diet Adherence Scale (EDAS) was designed based on compilation using the Delphi method, and its reliability was subsequently evaluated. Demographic and laboratory indicators were measured, and patients completed the EDAS questionnaire at baseline and after 6 months. The efficacy of the EDAS was evaluated in the initial cohort. Subsequently, the efficacy of the EDAS was internally verified in a validation cohort. RESULTS: The EDAS consisted of 33 items in six dimensions, with a total of 165 points. Total EDAS score correlated significantly with daily number of exercise and daily reduction in calorie intake (P < 0.05 each), but not with overall weight loss. A total score of 116 was excellent in predicting adherence to daily reduction in calorie intake (> 500 kacl/d), (sensitivity/specificity was 100.0%/75.8%), while patients score below 97 could nearly rule out the possibility of daily exercise (sensitivity/specificity was 89.5%/44.4%). Total EDAS scores ≥ 116, 97-115, and < 97 points were indicative of good, average, and poor adherence, respectively, to diet and exercise recommendations. CONCLUSION: The EDAS can reliably assess the adherence of patients with NAFLD to lifestyle interventions and have clinical application in this population.

Unveiling global research trends and hotspots on mitochondria in NAFLD from 2000 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has garnered significant attention in the past decade as a prevalent chronic liver condition. Despite a growing body of evidence implicating mitochondria in NAFLD development, comprehensive bibliometric analyses within this research domain are scarce. This study aims to provide a thorough overview of the knowledge framework and key research areas related to mitochondria in the context of NAFLD, utilizing bibliometric techniques. METHODS: A comprehensive search of publications on mitochondria in NAFLD from 2000 to 2023 was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix" were employed for a precise assessment of the literature. RESULTS: Examining 2530 articles from 77 countries, primarily led by the United States and China, revealed a consistent increase in publications on mitochondria's role in NAFLD. Leading research institutions include the University of Coimbra, the University of Missouri, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Notably, the International Journal of Molecular Sciences emerged as the most popular journal, and Hepatology was the most frequently cited. With contributions from 14,543 authors, Michael Roden published the highest number of papers, and A. J. Samyal was the most frequently cocited author. Key focus areas include investigating mitochondrial mechanisms impacting NAFLD and developing therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondria. Emerging research hotspots are associated with keywords such as "inflammation," "mitochondrial dysfunction," "autophagy," "obesity," and "insulin resistance." CONCLUSION: This study, the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis, synthesizes research trends and advancements in the role of mitochondria in NAFLD. Insights derived from this analysis illuminate current frontiers and emerging areas of interest, providing a valuable reference for scholars dedicated to mitochondrial studies.

Direct-acting antivirals failed to reduce the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in hepatitis C virus associated cirrhosis: A real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) revolutionized the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated disease achieving high rates of sustained virological response (SVR). However, whether DAAs can reduce the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis who are at high risk have not been concluded. AIM: To investigate the effect of DAAs on the occurrence of HCC in patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis after achieving SVR. METHODS: Of 427 inpatients with HCV-associated cirrhosis were enrolled in Tianjin Second People's Hospital from January 2014 to April 2020. 118 patients weren't received antiviral treatment with any reasons named non-antiviral treatment group, and 236 patients obtained from the 309 DAAs treatment patients according to the propensity score matching named DAAs treatment group. Demographic information and laboratory data were collected from baseline and the following up. Kaplan-Meier curve and Log-Rank test were used to compare the incidence and cumulative incidence of HCC between the two groups. Cox proportional risk regression was used to re-evaluate the risk factors for HCC. RESULTS: HCC incidence was 4.68/100PY (95%CI, 3.09-6.81) in the DAAs treatment group, while it was 3.00/100PY (95%CI, 1.50-5.37) in the non-antiviral treatment group, and the relative risk was 1.82 (95%CI, 0.93-3.53, P > 0.05). The incidence of HCC at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 3.39%, 6.36%, 8.47% and 10.17% in the DAAs treatment group, and it was 0%, 0%, 3.39% and 9.32% in the non-antiviral treatment group, respectively. Age > 58 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.089; 95%CI, 1.033-1.147; P = 0.002] and liver stiffness measurement > 27.85 kPa (HR = 1.043; 95%CI, 1.022-1.065; P = 0.000) were risk factors for HCC in all patients (n = 427), and DAAs treatment didn't show protective efficacy. CONCLUSION: DAAs treatment seems failed to reduce the incidence of HCC occurrence in HCV-associated cirrhosis in 48 months, and even increased the incidence of HCC in 36 months.

ACT001 Alleviates chronic kidney injury induced by a high-fat diet in mice through the GPR43/AMPK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Roughly 10 -15% of global populace suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD). A major secondary disease that can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is obesity-associated kidney disease (ORG). Although clinical management strategies are currently available, morbidity and mortality rates are increasing. Thus, new solutions are needed. Intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation, and aberrant intestinal metabolites have all been linked to ORG. PURPOSE: ACT001 has anti-inflammatory, redox-regulatory and antitumour activities. The current study was designed to examine how ACT001 affects ORG and analyze the fundamental processes. METHODS: A high-fat diet (HFD) was used to generate ORG in female C57BL/6 J mice. ORG mice were divided into three groups at random: HFD, HFD + ACT001, HFD + polyphosphocholine (PPC). To assess renal and colonic damage, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were used. Following that, renal inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid deposition, colonic inflammation, and intestinal permeability were evaluated by protein blotting, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. Lastly, the SCFAs content was assessed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry. RESULTS: Mice in the HFD group displayed more severe albuminuria, glomerular hypertrophy, renal oxidative damage, inflammation, and lipid accumulation than mice with the normal diet (ND) group, as well as lower levels of intestinal SCFA valproic acid, colonic inflammation, and tight junction protein downregulation. ACT001 treatment restores the content of valproic acid in intestinal SCFAs, promotes the binding of SCFAs to renal GPR43, activates the AMPK signalling pathway. Therefore, it promotes the Nrf2-Keap1 signalling pathway and inhibits the NF-κB signalling pathway. SCFAs, additionally, augment colonic GPR43 concentrations, diminishing NLRP3 inflammasome expression and restoring ZO-1 and occludin protein levels. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to look at ACT001's potential as a treatment for obesity-related kidney disease. Regulating GPR43 and AMPK signalling pathways, By controlling the GPR43 and AMPK signalling pathways, ACT001 improves colitis and the intestinal mucosal barrier, decreases renal lipid deposition, and suppresses inflammation and oxidative stress in the kidneys. According to this study, ACT001 could be a viable ORG therapy option.

Hollow multishelled heterostructures with enhanced performance for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry based metabolic diagnosis.

High-performance metabolic diagnosis-based laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) improves the precision diagnosis of diseases and subsequent treatment. Inorganic matrices are promising for the detection of metabolites by LDI-MS, while the structure and component impacts of the matrices on the LDI process are still under investigation. Here, we designed a multiple-shelled ZnMn2O4/(Co, Mn)(Co, Mn)2O4 (ZMO/CMO) as the matrix from calcined MOF-on-MOF for detecting metabolites in LDI-MS and clarified the synergistic impacts of multiple-shells and the heterostructure on LDI efficiency. The ZMO/CMO heterostructure allowed 3-5 fold signal enhancement compared with ZMO and CMO with the same morphology. Furthermore, the ZMO/CMO heterostructure with a triple-shelled hollow structure displayed a 3-fold signal enhancement compared to its nanoparticle counterpart. Taken together, the triple-shelled hollow ZMO/CMO exhibits 102-fold signal enhancement compared to the commercial matrix products (e.g., DHB and DHAP), allowing for sensitive metabolic profiling in bio-detection. We directly extracted metabolic patterns by the optimized triple-shelled hollow ZMO/CMO particle-assisted LDI-MS within 1 s using 100 nL of serum and used machine learning as the readout to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma from healthy controls with the area under the curve value of 0.984. Our approach guides us in matrix design for LDI-MS metabolic analysis and drives the development of a nanomaterial-based LDI-MS platform toward precision diagnosis.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics analysis of the effect of ACT001 on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

ACT001 is a novel sesquiterpene lactone derivative that has been shown to have significant antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of ACT001 on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is unknown. Methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet induced NASH model in C57BL/6J mice. Steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis-related indices of serum and liver tissues were detected by fully automated biochemical analyzer, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, flow cytometry, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson and immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that ACT001 reduced serum lipid and inflammatory factor levels, attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, and inhibited hepatic oxidative stress and activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory vesicles in NASH mice. In addition, 381 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 162 up-regulated and 219 down-regulated proteins, were identified in the MCD group and ACT001 high-dose group using isotope labeling relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technique analysis. Among these DEPs, five proteins associated with NAFLD were selected for real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) validation, and the results were consistent with proteomics. In conclusion, ACT001 has a therapeutic effect on NASH, and the results of proteomic analysis will provide new ideas for the mechanism study of ACT001 for NASH treatment.

Regression in hepatic fibrosis in elderly Chinese patients with hepatitis C receiving direct-acting antiviral treatment.

BACKGROUND: Patients infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are recommended to receive treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), which have been certified to obtain a high sustained virological response (SVR). However, little is known about the benefits of successful anti-viral treatment to elderly patients with hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to assess degree of fibrosis in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with DAAs, and to evaluate the correlations between identified factors associated with these changes. METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled elderly patients with CHC who received DAAs in Tianjin Second People's Hospital from April 2018 to April 2021. The degree of liver fibrosis was assessed using serum biomarkers and transient elastography (TE) expressed as the liver stiffness (LSM), while the hepatic steatosis was evaluated by controlled attenuated parameter (CAP). Changes in factors related to hepatic fibrosis were examined following treatment with DAAs, and associated prognostic factors were further evaluated. RESULTS: We included 347 CHC patients in our analysis, where 127 of these were elderly patients. For the elderly group, the median LSM was 11.6 (7.9-19.9) kPa, and this value was significantly reduced to 9.7 (6.2-16.6) kPa following DAA treatment. Similarly, GPR, FIB-4 and APRI indices were significantly reduced from 0.445 (0.275-1.022), 3.072 (2.047-5.129) and 0.833 (0.430-1.540) to 0.231 (0.155-0.412), 2.100 (1.540-3.034) and 0.336 (0.235-0.528), respectively. While in younger patients, the median LSM reduced from 8.8 (6.1-16.8) kPa to 7.2 (5.3-12.4) kPa, and the trends of GPR, FIB-4 and APRI were also consistent. The CAP in younger patients increased with statistical significance, but we did not observe any significant change in CAP for the elderly group. Based on multivariate analysis, age, LSM, and CAP before baseline were identified as determinants for LSM improvement in the elderly. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that elderly CHC patients treated with DAA had significantly lower LSM, GPR, FIB-4, and APRI values. DAA treatment did not significantly change CAP. Furthermore, we observed correlations between three noninvasive serological evaluation markers and LSM. Finally, age, LSM, and CAP were identified as independent predictors of fibrosis regression in elderly patients with CHC.

Hepatocyte apoptosis fragment product cytokeratin-18 M30 level and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis risk diagnosis: an international registry study.

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is limited by its inherent invasiveness and possible sampling errors. Some studies have shown that cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) concentrations may be useful in diagnosing NASH, but results across studies have been inconsistent. We aimed to identify the utility of CK-18 M30 concentrations as an alternative to liver biopsy for non-invasive identification of NASH. METHODS: Individual data were collected from 14 registry centers on patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and in all patients, circulating CK-18 M30 levels were measured. Individuals with a NAFLD activity score (NAS) ≥5 with a score of ≥1 for each of steatosis, ballooning, and lobular inflammation were diagnosed as having definite NASH; individuals with a NAS ≤2 and no fibrosis were diagnosed as having non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL). RESULTS: A total of 2571 participants were screened, and 1008 (153 with NAFL and 855 with NASH) were finally enrolled. Median CK-18 M30 levels were higher in patients with NASH than in those with NAFL (mean difference 177 U/L; standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.87 [0.69-1.04]). There was an interaction between CK-18 M30 levels and serum alanine aminotransferase, body mass index (BMI), and hypertension ( P  < 0.001, P  = 0.026 and P  = 0.049, respectively). CK-18 M30 levels were positively associated with histological NAS in most centers. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) for NASH was 0.750 (95% confidence intervals: 0.714-0.787), and CK-18 M30 at Youden's index maximum was 275.7 U/L. Both sensitivity (55% [52%-59%]) and positive predictive value (59%) were not ideal. CONCLUSION: This large multicenter registry study shows that CK-18 M30 measurement in isolation is of limited value for non-invasively diagnosing NASH.

An-Luo-Hua-Xian Pill Improves the Regression of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Entecavir.

Background and Aims: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can cause liver fibrosis and lead to cirrhosis and cancer. As the effectiveness of antiviral therapy to reverse liver fibrosis is limited, We aimed to evaluate the effect of An-Luo-Hua-Xian pill (ALHX) on fibrosis regression in CHB patients treated with entecavir (ETV). Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with CHB were randomly treated with ETV alone or combined with ALHX (ETV+ALHX) between October 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020. Demographic, laboratory, and liver histology data before and after 78 weeks of treatment were collected. The Ishak fibrosis score (F) was used and fibrosis regression required a decrease in F of ≥1 after treatment. Results: A total of 780 patients were enrolled, and 394 with a second liver biopsy after treatment were included in the per-protocol population, 132 in ETV group and 262 in ETV+ALHX group. After 78 weeks of treatment, the fibrosis regression rate in the ETV+ALHX group was significantly higher than that of the ETV group at baseline F≥3 patients: 124/211 (58.8%) vs. 45/98 (45.9%), p=0.035. The percentage of patients with a decreased liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was higher in the ETV+ALHX group: 156/211 (73.9%) vs. 62/98 (63.%), p=0.056. Logistic regression analysis showed that ETV combined with ALHX was associated with fibrosis regression [odds ratio (OR)=1.94, p=0.018], and a family history of hepatocellular carcinoma was on the contrary. (OR=0.41, p=0.031). Conclusions: ETV combined with ALHX increased liver fibrosis regression in CHB patients.

Levels of HBV RNA in chronic HBV infected patients during first-line nucleos(t)ide analogues therapy.

BACKGROUND: Serum HBV RNA has been considered a potential biomarker in monitoring the prognosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, Real-life cohort studies on the profile of HBV RNA in chronic HBV infected patients during first-line nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) are lacking. We aimed to investigate HBV RNA dynamic pattern and clinical value chronic HBV infected patients under NA therapy. METHODS: HBV RNA and clinical assessments were measured in 82 treatment-naïve chronic HBV infected patients. These enrolled patients were categorized into HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infected (n = 53) and HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infected (n = 29). Of these, there were 59, 46, and 30 chronic HBV infected patients completed the follow-up clinical assessments at 12, 24, and 48 weeks of NAs therapy, respectively. RESULTS: In treatment-naïve patients, there was a positive correlation between HBV RNA and HBV DNA, HBsAg (r = 0.602 and 0.502. P < 0.05). The median level of HBV DNA was higher than HBV RNA by 1.64 log10 copies/mL. The mean level of serum HBV RNA was 4.62 (IQR: 3.05-5.82) log10 copies/mL at baseline, and the median level of HBV RNA was 2.88 (IQR: 0-4.67), 2.71 (IQR: 0-4.22), and 2.96 (IQR: 0-4.32) log10 copies/mL at week 12, 24, and 48, respectively. HBV RNA showed a positive linear correlation with HBV DNA at 12, 24, and 48 weeks of NA treatment (r = 0.640, 0.715, and 0.656 respectively, P < 0.05). In patients who were treated 48 weeks NAs, 67% had quantifiable HBV RNA while only 37% had quantifiable HBV DNA. CONCLUSION: HBV RNA has signature profiles in different stages of chronic HBV infected patients receiving first-line NAs. During antiviral treatment, HBV RNA can still monitor the virus activity in patients whose serum HBV DNA cannot be detected.

A Novel Noninvasive Diagnostic Model of HBV-Related Inflammation in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection Patients With Concurrent Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background and Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CBI) with concurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice, and it is quite important to identify the etiology when hepatitis occurs. A noninvasive diagnostic model was constructed to identify patients who need antihepatitis B virus (HBV) therapies [histologic activity index (HAI) ≥ 4] in patients with CBI with concurrent NAFLD by analyzing clinical routine parameters. Approach and Results: In total, 303 out of 502 patients with CBI with concurrent NAFLD proven by liver biopsy from January 2017 to December 2020 in the Tianjin Second People's Hospital were enrolled and they were divided into the HBV-related inflammation (HBV-I) group (HAI ≥ 4,176 cases) and the non-HBV-I group (HAI < 4,127 cases) according to hepatic pathology. The univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed on the two groups of patients, and then the HBV-I model of patients with CBI with concurrent NAFLD was constructed. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were used to evaluate the parameters of the regression formula. Another 115 patients with CBI with concurrent NAFLD proven by liver biopsy from January 2021 to January 2022 were enrolled as the validation group. There were some statistical differences in demographic data, biochemical indicators, immune function, thyroid function, virology indicator, and blood routine indicators between the two groups (P < 0.05) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in the HBV-I group was significantly higher than those in the non-HBV-I group (P < 0.05). While controlled attenuation parameters (CAP) in the HBV-I group were lower than those in the non-HBV-I group (P < 0.05); (2) We developed a novel model by logistic regression analysis: HBV-I = -0.020 × CAP + 0.424 × LSM + 0.376 × lg (HBV DNA) + 0.049 × aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the accuracy rate was 82.5%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) is 0.907, the cutoff value is 0.671, the sensitivity is 89.30%, the specificity is 77.80%, the positive predictive value is 90.34%, and the negative predictive value is 81.89%; (3) The AUROC of HBV-I in the validation group was 0.871 and the overall accuracy rate is 86.96%. Conclusion: Our novel model HBV-I [combining CAP, LSM, lg (HBV DNA), and AST] shows promising utility for predicting HBV-I in patients with CBI with concurrent NAFLD with high sensitivity, accuracy, and repeatability, which may contribute to clinical application.

Clinical value of thyroid related hormones combined with neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: In sufferers with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the differences of thyroid associated hormones and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in different liver pathological groups have been compared. METHODS: Patients with NAFLD diagnosed by liver biopsy in our hospital from July 2012 to February 2019 were selected. All subjects were divided into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) team and non-NASH group, no/mild fibrosis group (F0-1) and significant fibrosis group (F2-4). The differences of thyroid related hormones and NLR in these groups were in contrast, respectively. For the TSH, we conducted further evaluation based on gender. RESULTS: The TSH and NLR in NASH patients were significantly higher than non-NASH patients, but there was no considerable difference in free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) between the 2 groups. In the gender-based subgroup analysis, the variations of TSH between the 2 groups were nonetheless statistically significant (P < .05). The TSH and NLR in the significant fibrosis group were higher than these in the non/mild liver fibrosis group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < .05), but there was no large difference in FT3 and FT4 between the 2 groups (P > .05). In addition, in the gender-based subgroup analysis and further multivariable analysis, the variations of TSH between the 2 groups were still statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were closely associated to the severity of NAFLD, suggesting that this simple available laboratory index may additionally be incorporated into the future noninvasive diagnostic scoring model to predict the incidence of NASH and the degree of fibrosis.

Metabolic Disorders Combined with Noninvasive Tests to Screen Advanced Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with metabolic disorders. This study aimed to explore the role of metabolic disorders in screening advanced fibrosis in NAFLD patients. METHODS: A total of 246 histologically-proven NAFLD patients were enrolled across 14 centers. We compared the severity of fibrosis in patients with different components of metabolic disorders. Based on standard noninvasive tests and metabolic disorders, we developed new algorithms to identify advanced fibrosis. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was frequent in NAFLD patients (133/246, 54%). Patients with MetS had a higher proportion of significant fibrosis (p=0.014) and higher LSM values (9.2 kPa, vs. 7.4 kPa, p=0.002) than those without MetS. Patients with more metabolic disorders had higher fibrosis stages (p=0.017). Reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (odds ratio [OR]: 2.241, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-5.002, p=0.049) and raised fasting glucose (OR: 4.500, 95% CI: 2.083-9.725, p<0.001) were significantly associated with advanced fibrosis. Using these two metabolic disorders as a screening tool, a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 92%, 81% and 83% was achieved, respectively. With the new algorithms combining metabolic disorders with noninvasive measurements, the number of patients requiring liver biopsy was reduced, especially in combination with the Fibrosis-4 score and metabolic disorders (36% to 17%, p<0.001). In addition, this stepwise algorithm could achieve a high accuracy (85%) and high negative predictive value (93%). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic disorders should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis. With further validation and investigation, new algorithms could be recommended in primary care units to spare patients from unnecessary referral and liver biopsies.