Background/Aims Oral anticoagulants may reduce risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with compensated cirrhosis, but well-powered randomized trials are missing. We aimed to estimate the effect of oral anticoagulants on risk of hepatic decompensation and major bleeding in patients with compensated cirrhosis and atrial fibrillation.
Methods Observational data from Swedish healthcare registers 2011-2022 were used to emulate a target trial of oral anticoagulants in patients with compensated cirrhosis and newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. Inverse-probability weighted marginal structural models were used to compare 5-year risks of hepatic decompensation and non-portal hypertension-related major bleeding in initiators versus non-initiators of oral anticoagulants.
Results The study included 1,160 patients (715 men [61.6%]; median [p25-p75] age of 73 years [67-79]). The 5-year risk of hepatic decompensation was 10.4% (33/383) in initiators and 16.6% (112/777) in non-initiators (risk ratio [RR]=0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.33-0.92), corresponding to a number needed to treat of 17 (95%CI=9-112). The risk reduction was primarily driven by a reduced risk of ascites (RR=0.58, 95%CI=0.26-0.90). The risk of major bleeding was 19.0% (63/383) in initiators and 19.8% (149/777) in non-initiators (RR=0.96, 95%CI=0.64-1.28). Risks were similar between treatment groups regarding fatal, intracranial, gastrointestinal, and other bleedings.
Conclusions In this nationwide observational study, patients with compensated cirrhosis and atrial fibrillation who initiated oral anticoagulants had lower risk of hepatic decompensation, and similar risk of major bleeding compared to non-initiators. The results suggest oral anticoagulants are safe in patients with compensated cirrhosis and may improve prognosis. Randomized trials are warranted to confirm these results.
The overlapping epidemics of chronic viral hepatitis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) present a complex challenge in modern hepatology. In chronic hepatitis B, a unique "steatosis paradox" emerges: while isolated hepatic steatosis provides a suppressive microenvironment that promotes hepatitis B viral clearance, the concomitant systemic cardiometabolic burden acts dose-dependently to drive fibrogenesis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conversely, chronic hepatitis C and host metabolic dysfunctions exhibit synergistic destruction. Hepatitis C virus actively hijacks lipid metabolism and induces insulin resistance. Even after viral eradication via direct-acting antivirals, residual steatosis and glycemic abnormalities remain formidable drivers of HCC. Consequently, the traditional virocentric paradigm is no longer sufficient. Clinical management should pivot toward precision risk stratification and a multidisciplinary dual-target approach, equally prioritizing sustained viral suppression and aggressive metabolic remission. This review summarizes the divergent virus-MASLD interactions, optimal clinical strategies, current challenges and future opportunities.
Background/Aims In adults with steatotic liver disease (SLD), the hepatic impact of transitioning between combustible cigarettes (CCs) and noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs) remains unclear. We examined CC-NNTP transitions and liver-related events (LREs).
Methods From the Korean National Health Insurance Service, 502,198 adults with SLD and at least one cardiometabolic risk factor completing health screenings during both 2012-2013 and 2019-2020 were followed through December 2023. Seven mutually exclusive groups were defined by CC status and NNTP use; the primary outcome was LRE, including hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis. Cox proportional hazards regression, propensity-score matching (PSM), and counterfactual mediation analysis were performed.
Results Among 502,198 participants (mean age 57.9 years; 65.6% male), 2,549 LREs occurred over a median 3.0-year follow-up. Compared with never-smokers, continuous CC smokers without NNTP use had the highest LRE risk (aHR, 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.34-1.70), followed by CC initiators (1.45; 1.17-1.79) and CC quitters (1.28; 1.12-1.46) without NNTPs. CC quitters with NNTP use showed a lower LRE risk than continuous CC smokers without NNTP use in the full cohort (aHR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.43-0.99), but this association was not statistically significant under PSM (aHR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.39-1.09). Within-group PSM of NNTP versus nonuse was nonsignificant across all CC categories.
Conclusions CC cessation was associated with lower LRE risk than continued CC smoking, even among those who transitioned to NNTPs. However, NNTP use showed no independent protective association, supporting complete tobacco/nicotine abstinence as the preferred goal.
Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, associated with considerable clinical and economic burden. Early detection and timely intervention of Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) remains a key cornerstone of management. Traditionally, histopathology assessment is central to the characterization of MASH disease activity and fibrosis, albeit with inherent limitations. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has provided transformative tools to augment many aspects of MASH diagnostics, including histology assessment. New technologies enabling digitalization of pathology slides and allowing for further AI assisted model analysis have helped to address some of the previous limitations. In this review, we highlight the key AI assisted digital pathology tools, including utility, performance and clinical impact. Limitations and real-world considerations in adopting these AI tools are also explored.
Background & aims The age-related decline in liver regenerative capacity worsens outcomes for elderly patients with liver disease or undergoing liver surgery, and therapeutic options are limited. The RNA modification N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), catalyzed by N-acetyltransferase 10 (Nat10), is implicated in regeneration; however, its role in the aged liver remains unknown.
Methods We quantified Nat10/ac4C levels in human and murine livers across ages and correlated them with regenerative capacity. Function was assessed via hepatocyte-specific knockout, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene manipulation, and pharmacological inhibition. Mechanisms were defined using integrated ac4C-specific immunoprecipitation sequencing (ac4C-seq), ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq), and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).
Results Hepatic Nat10 and ac4C levels decreased with age. Disruption of Nat10/ac4C impaired liver regeneration, whereas their augmentation enhanced it. Multi-omics integration linked ac4C to coordinated changes in mRNA abundance, stability, and translation. Mechanistically, Nat10 installed ac4C on Parp10 mRNA to enhance its stability and translational efficiency. Upregulated Parp10 inhibited GSK3β, thereby activating pro-regenerative β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, we identified the age-related decline in Nat10 was attributed to loss of its transcriptional driver, ATF3. Pharmacological induction of ATF3 restored Nat10 expression and rescued regeneration in aged liver.
Conclusion Our study highlights the critical role of Nat10 in liver regeneration via mRNA ac4C-manner and identifies its age-related decline as a reversible impairment. Targeting this presents a promising therapeutic strategy for stimulating regeneration in the aged liver.
Kyungyeon Jung, Gi-Ae Kim, Jieun Woo, Jin Youn, Eun-Young Choi, Sungho Bea, Ahhyung Choi, Ju Hwan Kim, Heejoon Jang, Dong Hyeon Lee, Sae Kyung Joo, Ju-Young Shin, Won Kim
Clin Mol Hepatol 2026;32(3):1364-1378. Published online June 9, 2026
Background/Aims Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) downregulates angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the cellular entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and may reduce acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. However, it remains unknown whether UDCA prevents long COVID outcomes in patients with steatotic liver disease (SLD)—a population vulnerable to adverse outcomes. We investigated the association between pre-infection UDCA use and risk of long COVID outcomes in patients with SLD.
Methods We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Korean COVID-19 registry linked to National Health Insurance Service claims data (2019–2022). Patients with SLD (fatty liver index ≥30) who experienced COVID-19 were included. Exposure was defined as at least one UDCA prescription within the 90 days preceding infection. Outcomes of interest were 20 incident long COVID conditions across eight organ systems assessed ≥84 days post-infection. After propensity score (PS) fine stratification, hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox regression.
Results Among 469,108 patients with SLD and COVID-19, 23,560 (5.0%) were UDCA users. After PS fine stratification weighting, UDCA use was not associated with reduced risk for most long COVID outcomes. A protective association was observed for atrial fibrillation (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.30–0.88), whereas increased risks were found for type 2 diabetes mellitus (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.09–1.42) and epilepsy (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09–2.61).
Conclusions Pre-infection UDCA use was not associated with reduced risk for most long COVID outcomes in patients with SLD. The observed associations warrant cautious interpretation given potential residual confounding and surveillance bias.
Background/Aims Iron-corrected T1 (cT1) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived biomarker of hepatic fibro-inflammation. This study aimed to investigate whether high cT1 values are associated with an increased risk of extrahepatic malignancy in a large prospective cohort.
Methods We included 24,003 cancer-free participants from the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank with liver MRI and complete covariate data. Incident extrahepatic malignancy was assessed over a median follow-up of 4.28 years. Multivariable Fine–Gray subdistribution hazard models were used to evaluate the association between cT1 and extrahepatic cancer risk, accounting for competing risks and adjusting for demographic, metabolic, and liver-related factors.
Results During follow-up, 1,144 participants developed extrahepatic malignancies. In the multivariable analysis, higher cT1 was independently associated with increased extrahepatic cancer risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.116; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.033–1.205; per standard deviation increase; P=0.005). Older age (HR 1.512; 95% CI 1.402–1.631) and male sex (HR 1.388; 95% CI 1.220–1.578) were also significant predictors (P<0.001). The fibrosis-4 score showed a modest positive association (HR 1.032; 95% CI 1.004–1.062; P=0.026), whereas MRI-proton density fat fraction demonstrated an inverse association (HR 0.906; 95% CI 0.832–0.987; P=0.024). When dichotomized at 771 ms, elevated cT1 was associated with a higher cumulative incidence of extrahepatic malignancy (6.1% vs. 4.6%, P=0.002).
Conclusions Elevated cT1 is independently associated with an increased risk of future extrahepatic malignancy, suggesting that it may reflect systemic disease processes related to cancer risk. These findings highlight the potential relevance of cT1 beyond liver-specific outcomes; however, further validation is required before clinical implementation.
Yu Shi, Ruoqi Zhou, Seung Up Kim, Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip, Salvatore Petta, Elisabetta Bugianesi, Masato Yoneda, Manuel Romero-Gomez, Emmanuel Tsochatzis, Philip Newsome, Hannes Hagström, George Boon-Bee Goh, Wah-Kheong Chan, José-Luis Calleja, Jerome Boursier, Arun J. Sanyal, Jian-Gao Fan, Laurent Castera, Victor de Lédinghen, Michelle Lai, Xiao-Dong Zhou, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong, Ming-Hua Zheng, on behalf of VCTE-Prognosis Study Group
Clin Mol Hepatol 2026;32(3):1333-1348. Published online May 20, 2026
Background/Aims Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is a key tool for risk stratification in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet static thresholds fail to capture dynamic transition across risk strata. We aimed to characterize LSM-risk transitions and develop a time-updated, individualized model for predicting state transitions, liver-related events and death (LREs/death).
Methods In a real-world MASLD cohort, we applied a multi-state, time-homogeneous Markov model to quantify annual transition probabilities and mean state occupancy times across LSM-defined low-, intermediate-, and high-risk strata. A Markov model incorporating age, sex, type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension was used to generate individualized, time-updated risk trajectories and probabilities of LREs/death.
Results Among 11,514 MASLD individuals with ≥2 vibration-controlled transient elastography assessments, the low-risk category demonstrated notable stability, with 92% remaining unchanged at 1 year and a mean occupancy time of 8.43 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.94–8.95). Contrarily, the intermediate-risk category was highly dynamic, with only 39% remaining unchanged after 1 year and a mean occupancy time of 0.92 years (95% CI 0.88–0.96). T2D, hypertension, and obesity substantially shorten low-risk occupancy time, whereas antidiabetic medication was associated with more favorable transitions. Finally, we developed a dynamic, multi-state Markov model integrating longitudinal LSM-defined risk states with relevant covariates to generate individualized predictions of state transitions and risks of LREs/death.
Conclusions LSM-based strata in MASLD represent distinct and meaningful dynamic trajectories. In particular, the marked instability of the intermediate-risk state supports more frequent reassessment. By quantifying transition pathways and time-updated risks of LREs/death, this model may inform the personalized surveillance intervals and risk-adapted management.
Background/Aims Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) represents an unmet clinical need due to its increasing incidence, aggressive biology, and limited treatment options. The extremely low-response rates to current systemic regimens and the emergence of adaptive resistance to targeted therapies underscore the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Given that the lineage-defining transcription factors SOX9 and YAP1 are central regulators of cholangiocyte and iCCA identity, we investigated their functional roles as potential therapeutic vulnerabilities across multiple preclinical models.
Methods Patient tissue-microarray analysis, Sleeping Beauty hydrodynamic tail vein injection–based iCCA models, and Cre-mediated inducible gene deletion systems were used to investigate the roles of Sox9 and Yap1. Deep-learning– based prediction, RNA-seq, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and immunohistochemistry analyses were performed to delineate transcriptional networks and downstream effectors associated with SOX9/ YAP1 signaling.
Results Dual deletion of Sox9 and Yap1 effectively eradicated advanced iCCA while preserving intrahepatic bile ducts, regardless of oncogenic drivers. Mechanistically, SOX9 and YAP1 transcriptionally compensated for each other when one was absent, and ILF2 and MGAT5 were identified as key downstream effectors mediating this compensatory mechanism. Loss of Ilf2 and Mgat5 suppressed iCCA, whereas overexpression of Ilf2 following Sox9/Yap1 co-deletion restored tumor development, indicating that ILF2 can functionally substitute for YAP1 and SOX9 in sustaining iCCA.
Conclusions Co-targeting SOX9 and YAP1 offers a promising and safe broad-spectrum preventive/therapeutic approach for iCCA, potentially overcoming resistance to YAP1 inhibition. The adaptive resistance mechanism identified may extend to other malignancies, providing insights for addressing the advanced resistance to YAP1-TEAD-directed therapies.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has recently gained attention as a risk factor for primary liver cancer and extrahepatic cancers. Increasing evidence shows that MASLD creates a fibrotic, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that supports metastatic growth, making it a risk factor for liver metastasis from extrahepatic tumors, such as colorectal cancer. In steatotic liver, tumor-stromal interactions promote colorectal liver metastasis through several mechanisms, including extracellular vesicles enriched with oncogenic microRNAs, hyaluronan synthase 2-mediated hyaluronic acid production by activated hepatic stellate cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophage infiltration, and Yes-associated protein-dependent tumor signaling. In this review, we summarize key pathways involved in a pre- and pro-metastatic niche in the liver, such as extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular communication, feed-forward loops between tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts, and hyaluronic acid-induced extracellular matrix remodeling and immune cell modulation, all of which impair antitumor immunity and promote immune escape. We also discuss how targeting hyaluronic acid synthesis, interleukin-1 signaling, or CXCR2 can restore antitumor immunity and improve responses to programmed cell death protein-1 blockade. These therapeutic approaches may offer promising benefits for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
Hepatitis B flare is a common complication of chronic hepatitis B and is defined as an increase in HBV viral load associated with abnormal alanine aminotransferases (ALT), the consensus being an ALT level ≥5 times the upper limit of normal. The immunopathogenesis is related to induction of inflammatory cells and cytokines by the rise in HBV DNA. There are multiple causes of flares, and they carry the risk of progression to hepatic decompensation and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) with associated mortality, potentially requiring liver transplantation. Initial assessment should exclude other causes of liver dysfunction and determine severity and prognosis. General prognostic models of ACLF are useful but the COSSH-ACLF II score is specific to HBV. Early initiation of nucleos(t)ide analogues is crucial, even in severe HBV flares; it can reduce mortality by 73.6%. Once jaundice and coagulopathy occur, salvage by antivirals is challenging, and liver transplantation should be considered. However, many patients may not be suitable candidates for transplant or donor livers may not be available, as is common in Asia. Recently, there has been increasing evidence of the benefits of adjunctive therapies such as corticosteroids and plasma exchange, but there are associated risks and these approaches should be considered rescue therapies in severe HBV flares or ACLF. Liver transplant is the ultimate intervention when these other strategies fail. In summary, HBV flares are clinically serious events that can lead to hepatic decompensation, ACLF, and the need for a donor liver; however, strategies for rescue should be considered before liver transplantation.
Background/Aims Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy.
Methods We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues.
Results We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts.
Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.
Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Advances in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive regimens have markedly improved early post-transplant survival. However, long-term outcomes remain compromised by HCC recurrence, chronic rejection, metabolic complications, and de novo malignancies. Recurrence of HCC after LT remains a major clinical challenge, with available prognostic models providing limited accuracy in risk stratification. Simultaneously, systemic therapies for unresectable HCC have rapidly advanced, particularly with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), providing new opportunities and unique challenges in transplant settings. With ICIs carrying a risk of acute and potentially fatal rejection and lacking controlled data on efficacy or safety in the post-transplant setting, tyrosine kinase inhibitors currently represent a standard option for post-transplant recurrence. Novel biomarkers, such as donor-derived cell-free DNA and the gut microbiome, are emerging as potential tools to refine risk stratification and guide immunosuppression. Furthermore, innovative immunotherapies, including oncolytic viruses and mRNA vaccines, are being explored as tumor-specific approaches. Collectively, these advances may reshape future management of LT recipients.
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Clin Mol Hepatol 2026;32(3):1201-1224. Published online January 27, 2026
Background/Aims Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Aberrant DNA methylation, which is primarily maintained by DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), has been linked to metabolic dysregulation; however, its contribution to MASLD pathogenesis remains poorly defined. This study aimed to elucidate the role of DNMT1-mediated methylation in transcriptional regulation during MASLD progression and to determine whether DNMT1 inhibition can reverse disease-associated epigenetic and transcriptional alterations.
Methods We conducted integrated analyses of the liver transcriptome (n=131) and DNA methylome (n=106) of patients with biopsy-proven MASLD. We evaluated the effect of DNMT1 inhibition with 5-aza-4′-thio-2′-deoxycytidine (Aza-TdC) on a diet-induced MASLD mouse model. Multiomics approaches, including DNA methylome profiling, lipidomics, RNA sequencing, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, were applied to elucidate the role of DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation in regulating pathogenic gene expression.
Results DNA methylome profiling revealed increased methylation variability associated with increased DNMT1 expression in MASLD patients. DNMT1 inhibition ameliorated dysregulated lipid metabolism by reducing hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation and inflammation. Aza-TdC treatment partially reversed MASLD-related hypermethylation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α)- and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα)-regulated genes, restoring their transcriptional activity. Notably, Aza-TdC reactivated the gluconeogenic enzyme-encoding gene phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), which was hypermethylated and transcriptionally repressed in MASLD. Targeted DNA methylation of the PCK1 promoter using CRISPRoff confirmed the direct epigenetic regulation of PCK1 expression.
Conclusions Targeting DNMT1 may mitigate lipid dysregulation and inflammation by reversing hypermethylation and restoring HNF4α- and PPARα-dependent gene transcription, highlighting DNMT1 as a potential therapeutic target for MASLD.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) imposes a major health and economic burden worldwide, with disproportionate effects in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Surveillance in high-risk populations, typically using semiannual ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein testing, has been shown to be cost-effective by enabling earlier detection and improving survival. Yet, its overall value is reduced by poor adherence and the limited sensitivity of ultrasound, particularly in patients with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease. Emerging approaches—including abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging, multi-biomarker models (e.g., gender, age, AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP), and liquid biopsy assays such as methylated DNA markers—demonstrate greater diagnostic accuracy and potential economic advantages compared with conventional methods. Integration of artificial intelligence into imaging may further enhance efficiency and reduce downstream costs. Moving toward precision surveillance, guided by individualized risk stratification that incorporates etiology, fibrosis stage, and molecular profiles, can optimize allocation of resources and maximize cost-effectiveness at the population level. Interventions to improve adherence, including mailed outreach and behavioral economic incentives, have shown both clinical benefit and cost savings, underscoring the role of implementation science. Because socioeconomic disparities influence both access and outcomes, economic models must explicitly address equity to achieve sustainable impact. Future research should prioritize prospective trials that evaluate not only clinical performance but also the real-world cost-effectiveness of novel technologies and stratified surveillance strategies. For LMICs, adapting proven models into affordable, context-appropriate programs is essential. By combining prevention, precision risk assessment, innovative technologies, and equitable implementation, HCC surveillance can deliver both clinical and economic value, reducing the global burden of disease.
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Background/Aims Various expanded criteria (EC) for liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been proposed to avoid the narrow nature of the Milan criteria (MC). To investigate which EC predicts more favorable outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), we conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA).
Methods A database search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, to identify studies comparing OS and RFS between patients within the MC and those exceeding the MC but within the EC. Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled using a random-effects NMA and validated in an in-house cohort of 1,008 LT recipients.
Results Among 22,466 articles identified, 35 studies with 45 pairwise comparisons were included in the NMA along with 8 different EC. The University of California San Francisco (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.19–1.71), Up-to-Seven (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15–1.97), and Hangzhou criteria (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.11–2.57) showed inferior OS to the MC. The MC ranked highest for both OS and RFS, followed by Metroticket 2.0 for OS and the Asan criteria for RFS. In the validation cohort, both Metroticket 2.0 and AFP model yielded more favorable HCC-specific mortality than other EC.
Conclusions Several EC, of which those of Metroticket 2.0 were the best, yielded comparable outcomes to the MC. AFP-based EC such as Metroticket 2.0 and AFP model appeared to be useful in both the NMA and the validation cohort, suggesting a potential role in identifying selected low-risk patients beyond the MC.
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Background/Aims Patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) face elevated cardiovascular risks. However, optimal oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) selection for this population remains unclear.
Methods Using the Korean National Health Information Database, we conducted a target trial emulation comparing cardiovascular outcomes among patients with T2DM and MASLD (defined by fatty liver index ≥30) who initiated sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, or sulfonylureas with metformin. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke.
Results Among 71,071 patients (331,726 person-years), SGLT2 inhibitor users experienced a significantly lower MACE risk compared to sulfonylurea users (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio [aSHR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31–0.62). SGLT2 inhibitors also demonstrated a lower MACE risk compared to thiazolidinediones (aSHR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39–0.96) and DPP-4 inhibitors (aSHR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42–0.83). Cardiovascular mortality risk was notably reduced with SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulfonylureas (aSHR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03–0.50), thiazolidinediones (aSHR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04–0.86), and DPP-4 inhibitors (aSHR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06–0.84). Mediation analysis revealed that MASLD regression accounted for 8.7% of the total cardiovascular benefit when comparing SGLT2 inhibitors to sulfonylureas.
Conclusions In patients with concurrent T2DM and MASLD, SGLT2 inhibitors demonstrated better cardiovascular outcomes compared to other OADs. These findings suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors may be the preferred OAD choice for cardiovascular risk reduction in this high-risk population.
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Background/Aims Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is one of the most essential metabolites in cell metabolism but its function and concentration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive and controversial.
Methods A comprehensive analysis of acetyl-CoA levels and acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) expression across a range of samples, including patient specimens from both hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive and HBV negative HCC individuals, HBV-transgenic mouse HCC models, and multiple cell lines. Furthermore, to evaluate the functional significance of ACSS2 in HBV-related HCC, we implemented both genetic and pharmacological inhibition strategies targeting ACSS2. Molecular mechanism and mitophagy assessment were revealed by cleavage under target and tagmentation sequencing, RNA sequencing, bioinformatic analyses, transmission electron microscopy and JC-1 staining.
Results Our study revealed a distinct metabolic signature of HBV-related HCC, marked by elevated acetyl-CoA, which was driven by ACSS2. ACSS2 was upregulated by the carbohydrate response element-binding protein in HBV-related HCC. Furthermore, ACSS2 improved tumor cell proliferation, an effect that was dependent on its enzymatic activity. Mechanistically, ACSS2-induced acetyl-CoA accumulation activated voltage-dependent anion channels 1 transcription through increased H3K27ac occupancy, which subsequently promoted mitophagy and HBV-related HCC tumorigenesis. Notably, targeting ACSS2 by depletion or inhibition with a catalytic inhibitor significantly suppressed tumor growth.
Conclusions These findings not only illustrate the interplay between metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic modification, and tumorigenesis in the context of HBV infection, but also highlight ACSS2 as a novel metabolic vulnerability in HBV-related HCC. Therefore, targeting ACSS2 could be a novel strategy against HBV-related HCC.
Malnutrition and sarcopenia are highly prevalent and robustly associated with reduced quality of life, disease progression, and poor outcomes, including complications and mortality, in patients with cirrhosis. Their pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving inadequate dietary intake and malabsorption, impaired liver functional reserves, altered energy, protein, and ammonia metabolism, systemic inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and lifestyle or environmental influences. Despite extensive research, unresolved issues remain regarding optimal diagnostic criteria, as current approaches vary and lack global standardization. Regarding the diagnostic criteria for malnutrition, the usefulness of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria has been proposed by international nutrition societies. However, evidence supporting their applicability in hepatology remains insufficient. For sarcopenia, differences in disease concept and diagnostic methods among societies indicate that no unified diagnostic standard exists, and clinicians should approach diagnosis with an understanding of the strengths and limitations of each method. Nutritional strategies emphasize adequate energy and protein intake, late evening snacks, and branched-chain amino acid supplementation, while deficiencies in micronutrients require tailored replacement. Nutritional therapy alone has limited effect on sarcopenia, but when combined with exercise it improves muscle mass, physical performance, and outcomes. Comprehensive approaches integrating optimized nutrition, micronutrient support, and structured exercise are essential to alleviate the burden of malnutrition and sarcopenia and to improve prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. This review addresses malnutrition and sarcopenia in cirrhosis by highlighting their prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical impact, and approaches for screening and diagnosis, and by emphasizing personalized nutritional, pharmacological, and exercise interventions to improve patient outcomes.
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Background/Aims Previous studies have identified a substantial degree of agreement between the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) populations, but the same notion may not apply to normal-weight patients with a lower cardiometabolic risk burden. This study aims to investigate the cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF) distributions between normal-weight and overweight/obese MASLD, the agreement between historical NAFLD and MASLD, and to compare the risk of liver-related events (LREs) and all-cause mortality in normal-weight versus overweight or obese MASLD.
Methods This study included participants with steatotic liver disease (SLD) from five cohorts in China (Hong Kong), South Korea, and the United States. Participants were recruited from settings including both hospitals and communities. Individuals were classified into normal-weight and overweight/obese groups.
Results This study included 33,793 participants with SLD from five cohorts, of whom 20,893 and 20,701 patients met the diagnosis of NAFLD and MASLD, respectively. Normal-weight patients with NAFLD demonstrated a lower CMRF distribution compared to those with overweight/obese NAFLD. In the community-based cohorts, the proportions with 0 CMRF ranged from 9.0 to 26.7% among normal-weight NAFLD patients, representing the discrepancy between MASLD and NAFLD definitions. Compared with the overweight/obese MASLD, the normalweight MASLD had increased all-cause mortality (normal-weight vs. overweight/obese, 23.44 and 13.80 per 1,000 person-years; P<0.001) but not LREs (2.81 and 2.59 per 1,000 person-years; P=0.54) in the Hong Kong Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System cohort.
Conclusions Normal-weight individuals with NAFLD demonstrated a lower distribution of CMRFs, resulting in the incomplete agreement between historical NAFLD and MASLD.
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