To examine the relationship between lipid profile and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), compare the predictive strengths of different lipid indicators to NAFL, and explore the possible mechanisms.

Male workers from a baseline survey of a cohort of workers in southern China were included. Basic information was collected through face-to-face interviews. Plasma concentrations of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were determined using a blood biochemical analyzer. Liver sonography was used to identify NAFL cases. Regression models were used to calculate ORs, and examine the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and lipid profiles. Restricted cubic spline regression with four knots was used to examine the dose-response relationship, and mediation analysis was employed to examine the mediation effect.

h Among the 4016 male workers, 829 (20.64%) were diagnosed with NAFL. Compared with normal lipid profile, individuals with abnormal lipid profile had higher prevalence of NAFL (OR=2.27, 95%CI: 1.85-2.79 for TG; OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.03-2.04 for TC; OR=1.56, 95%CI: 1.21-2.02 for HDL; OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.25-2.18 for LDL; OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.87-2.77 for dyslipidaemia) after adjusting for potential confounders. Dose-response relationships were observed among TG, HDL, and NAFL. In addition, no significant mediation effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) was found in the association between lipid profiles and NAFL.

Abnormal TG, TC, HDL, and LDL levels were all positively associated with NAFL, while CRP has no mediating effect, and TG tended to be a better predictor of NAFL.

To explore serum metabolic changes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) with mild or moderate steatosis and develop a diagnostic index based on liver fat content to differentiate these stages. A total of 149 participants were enrolled from the Nutrition Health Atlas Project in 2019 (Stage 1, n = 92) and 2022 (Stage 2, n = 57). Serum levels of amino acids, free fatty acids (FFAs) and other organic acids were quantified using liquid or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The relationships between serum metabolites and magnetic resonance imaging proton density hepatic fat fraction were analyzed and a predictive model fitting fat fraction was constructed in Stage 1 and validated in Stage 2. Patients with moderate MASLD had significantly higher pyruvic acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid, malic acid, 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid and FFA(C14:0) than mild MASLD. Pathway analysis indicated that liver fat accumulation is associated with alterations in amino acid, FFA metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). The MetalnFF score was developed to discriminate among three groups, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.956 (95 %CI:0.905, 1.00) for MASLD and 0.857 (95 %CI:0.745, 0.968) for moderate MASLD in Stage 1, and was further validated in Stage 2 with an AUC of 0.986 (95 %CI: 0.951, 1.00) and 0.759 (95 %CI:0.607, 0.921), respectively. In the early stages of MASLD, disrupted amino acid, FFAs metabolism and TCA cycle have occurred. As the disease progresses, metabolic disturbances in pyruvate metabolism become more severe. These findings enhance a deeper understanding of pathogenesis and propose MetalnFF score as a potential diagnostic tool.

Steatotic liver disease (SLD), including metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD), has emerged as a leading cause of chronic liver disease in China.

We aimed to provide a comprehensive and updated description of SLD prevalence in China.

We described the prevalence, subgroup distribution, and clinical characteristics of SLD in the Taizhou Study of Liver Diseases (T-SOLID). Additionally, we searched for studies reporting SLD prevalence in five databases. Eligible data were analysed using a generalised linear mixed model. Linear regression was applied to estimate the annual average percentage change (AAPC).

Of the 28,623 participants in T-SOLID, 30.8% were diagnosed with SLD, among which 83.8% were classified as MASLD. Prevalence of SLD increased from 22.1% in 2018 to 36.7% in 2021. The meta-analysis included 792 publications and 17,404,296 subjects. Nationwide, the pooled SLD prevalence rose from 23.8% (95% CI 21.9%-25.9%) during 2001-2010 to 27.9% (26.0%-29.8%) during 2016-2023 in the general population (AAPC = 2.56, p < 0.0001), equating to approximately 402.0 million cases. An increase in SLD prevalence was observed in subpopulations by region, sex, and age, and in high-risk groups. Northeast China had the highest prevalence (35.0%). Males had a higher prevalence rate than females (35.0% vs. 20.6%). SLD prevalence increased with age, ranging from 8.1% in children and adolescents to 31.8% in the elderly. Meta-regression identified calendar period, age, sex, geographical area, and residence area as significant determinants of SLD prevalence.

The ubiquitously rising prevalence of SLD in Chinese populations underscores the urgent need for targeted public health interventions.

To assess the performance and the reproducibility of ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in patients with biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

This study included consecutive adult patients with MASLD who underwent ultrasound with UGAP, 2D-SWE and percutaneous liver biopsy. The median values of 12 consecutive UGAP measurements were acquired by two independent radiologists (R1 and R2). Hepatic steatosis was graded by liver biopsy as: (0) < 5%; (1) 5-33%; (2) > 33-66%; (3) > 66%. Areas under the curve (AUCs) were calculated to determine the diagnostic performance. Inter- and intra-observer reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

A hundred patients (median age 55.0 years old) with MASLD were prospectively enrolled. At histopathology, 70 and 42 patients had grade ≥ 2 and 3 steatosis, respectively. Median UGAP was 0.78 dB/cm/MHz (IQR/Med: 5.55%). For the diagnosis of grade ≥ 2 steatosis, the AUCs of UGAP were 0.828 (95% CI: 0.739, 0.896) for R1 and 0.779 (95% CI: 0.685, 0.856) for R2. The inter- and intra-operator reliability of UGAP were excellent, with an ICC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.87-0.95) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.96), respectively. The median liver stiffness was 6.76 kPa (IQR/Med: 16.30%). For the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis, 2D-SWE had an AUC of 0.862 (95% CI: 0.757, 0.934), and the optimal cutoff value was > 6.75 kPa with a sensitivity of 80.6% and a specificity of 75.7%.

UGAP and 2D-SWE provide a good performance for the staging of steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MASLD with an excellent intra-operator reliability of UGAP.

Question How well do ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) perform for quantifying hepatic steatosis and fibrosis? Findings UGAP had a maximum AUC of 0.828 for the diagnosis of grade ≥ 2 steatosis, and 2D-SWE had an AUC of 0.862 for diagnosing advanced fibrosis. Clinical relevance UGAP and 2D-SWE allow rapid, reproducible, and accurate quantification of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis that can be used for the noninvasive assessment of patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common chronic liver disease that is heterogenous in nature with various drivers and modifiers such as metabolic dysfunction and genetic factors. MASLD and the progressive subtype, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) represent the most rapidly increasing cause of liver-related mortality. There are limited treatment options for patients living with MASLD and MASH, various treatments with an array of different targets are under investigation and one therapeutic has been approved since the initiation of this study. Clinical trials investigating treatments for MASLD and MASH are associated with a high screen failure rate, driven largely by the regulatory required histological inclusion criteria for clinical trial eligibility. Other available clinically utilized biomarkers, typically referred to as non-invasive tests (NITs), can assess both the presence of steatosis and the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD and MASH in the clinic but are not yet approved over histological changes as endpoints for pivotal trials. However, the use of NITs have been demonstrated to increase the likelihood of meeting clinical trial entry criteria. All-Liver Interventional Global Network (ALIGN) is the first described multi-centre global observational screening study aimed at identifying individuals with a high likelihood of MASLD/MASH interested in participating in therapeutic clinical trials using non-invasive methodologies and genetic testing. This study represents a valuable prototype for industry and academic groups looking to evaluate large populations for MASH eligibility and interest in clinical trial participation.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by increased hepatic steatosis with cardiometabolic disease and is a leading cause of advanced liver disease. We review here the genetic basis of MASLD. The genetic variants most consistently associated with hepatic steatosis implicate genes involved in lipoprotein input or output, glucose metabolism, adiposity/fat distribution, insulin resistance, or mitochondrial/ER biology. The distinct mechanisms by which these variants promote hepatic steatosis result in distinct effects on cardiometabolic disease that may be best suited to precision medicine. Recent work on gene-environment interactions has shown that genetic risk is not fixed and may be exacerbated or attenuated by modifiable (diet, exercise, alcohol intake) and nonmodifiable environmental risk factors. Some steatosis-associated variants, notably those in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2), are associated with risk of developing adverse liver-related outcomes and provide information beyond clinical risk stratification tools, especially in individuals at intermediate to high risk for disease. Future work to better characterize disease heterogeneity by combining genetics with clinical risk factors to holistically predict risk and develop therapies based on genetic risk is required.

Amidst the global rise of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), driven by increasing obesity rates, there is a pressing need for precise, non-invasive diagnostic tools. Our research aims to validate MRI Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) utility, compared to liver biopsy, in grading hepatic steatosis in MASLD.

A systematic search was conducted across Embase, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science until January 13, 2024, selecting studies that compare MRI-PDFF with liver biopsy for hepatic steatosis grading, defined as grades 0 (< 5% steatosis), 1 (5-33% steatosis), 2 (34-66% steatosis), and 3 (> 66% steatosis).

Twenty-two studies with 2844 patients were included. The analysis showed high accuracy of MRI-PDFF with AUCs of 0.97 (95% CI = 0.96-0.98) for grade 0 vs ≥ 1, 0.91 (95% CI = 0.88-0.93) for ≤ 1 vs ≥ 2, and 0.91 (95% CI = 0.88-0.93) for ≤ 2 vs 3, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) from 98.74 (95% CI = 58.61-166.33) to 23.36 (95% CI = 13.76-39.68), sensitivity and specificity from 0.93 (95% CI = 0.88-0.96) to 0.76 (95% CI = 0.63-0.85) and 0.93 (95% CI = 0.88-0.96) to 0.89 (95% CI = 0.84-0.93), respectively. Likelihood ratio (LR) + ranged from 13.3 (95% CI = 7.4-24.0) to 7.2 (95% CI = 4.9-10.5), and LR - from 0.08 (95% CI = 0.05-0.13) to 0.27 (95% CI = 0.17-0.42). The proposed MRI-PDFF threshold of 5.7% for liver fat content emerges as a potential cut-off for the discrimination between grade 0 vs ≥ 1 (p = 0.075).

MRI-PDFF is a precise non-invasive technique for diagnosing and grading hepatic steatosis, warranting further studies to establish its diagnostic thresholds.

This study underscores the high diagnostic accuracy of MRI-PDFF for distinguishing between various grades of hepatic steatosis for early detection and management of MASLD, though further research is necessary for broader application.

MRI-PDFF offers precision in diagnosing and monitoring hepatic steatosis. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI-PDFF decreases as the grade of hepatic steatosis advances. A 5.7% MRI-PDFF threshold differentiates steatotic from non-steatotic livers.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is characterised by myocardial dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis in the absence of other cardiac conditions. We aimed to develop and validate a scoring system to identify patients at high risk for reduced global longitudinal strain, a newly proposed marker of myocardial dysfunction in the updated diagnostic criteria for cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.

Prospectively recruited patients with cirrhosis in the training and validation groups underwent identical hepatological and cardiological evaluations, including strain echocardiography. Risk factors for myocardial dysfunction were identified using logistic regression.

In a cohort of 452 consecutive patients, 278 were excluded due to non-cirrhotic cardiomyopathy or conditions potentially affecting strain measurements. The prevalence of reduced global longitudinal strain was 9.8% (13/133) in the training group and 19.5% (8/41) in the validation group. Multivariate logistic regression revealed BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 (OR 7.02), CAP > 260 dB/m (OR 8.53), and age > 57 years (OR 4.68) as independent predictors of reduced myocardial contractility. These variables were combined and weighted based on their beta coefficients to develop the Liver-heart score (CAP > 260 dB/m [2 pts], BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 [2 pts], age > 57 years [1 pt]). The AUC-ROC was 0.84 in the training and 0.83 in the validation cohort. A Liver-heart score of 5 points was associated with increased mortality, observed at 2 years (44.4% vs. 17.3%) and the end of the follow-up period (66.7% vs. 37.7%, HR 1.3, p < 0.01).

The Liver-heart score can accurately rule out reduced myocardial contractility and may be useful for risk stratification in cirrhotic patients.

Early forms of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) include different stages in the progression of compensated liver disease ranging from steatosis to steatohepatitis and fibrosis. ALD has been classically diagnosed at advanced stages more frequently than other liver diseases. This fact probably contributed to the scarcity of studies on early forms of ALD. Recent studies have investigated the prevalence of early ALD in the general population and have described the natural history of alcohol-induced steatosis and fibrosis, which have been linked to worse prognosis compared with early stages of other chronic liver diseases. In addition, studies on screening and early diagnosis of ALD in at-risk populations have shown that these strategies allow early detection and intervention. Of note, up to 28% of the United States population has concurrent alcohol use and metabolic syndrome, and estimated prevalence of advanced fibrosis among heavy drinkers with metabolic syndrome has increased from 3% in the 1990s to more than 10% in the 2010s. Therefore, new challenges and treatment opportunities will emerge for patients with ALD. In this review, we provide an overview of the state of the art in early ALD, focusing on natural history, diagnosis, and management, and provide insights into future perspectives.

This case report highlights the role of ultrasonography in diagnosing a rare right lumbar hernia in a 57-year-old male presenting with a painless lumbar mass. Ultrasound revealed a hypoechoic mass with disrupted fascial continuity. CT imaging was used for confirmation, showing herniated omental fat. The patient underwent successful surgical repair with mesh implantation and experienced an uneventful recovery. This case underscores the diagnostic value of ultrasonography as a non-invasive, real-time imaging modality in identifying lumbar hernias and differentiating them from other soft tissue masses, complemented by CT for comprehensive evaluation. Early diagnosis ensured effective management and favorable outcomes for the patient.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Biochemical, sex hormonal, and anthropometric indicators have been explored for screening NAFLD in PCOS patients. However, the accuracy of NAFLD screening using these indicators in PCOS patients remains uncertain. This study aimed to identify biochemical, sex hormonal, and anthropometric indicators associated with NAFLD in overweight and obese PCOS patients and assess the diagnostic efficacy of combined indicators.

This cross-sectional study (Clinical trial number ChiCTR1900020986; Registration date January 24th, 2019) involved 87 overweight or obese women with PCOS (mean age 29 ± 4 years). Measurements included anthropometric indices, biochemistry, sex hormone levels, and liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF). Correlation analysis, intergroup comparisons, and logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors for NAFLD (PDFF > 5.1%). The receiver operating characteristic curve, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were used to determine cut-off values and evaluate diagnostic accuracy.

Liver PDFF was 7.69% (3.93%, 14.80%) in overweight and obese PCOS patients, with 67.8% diagnosed with NAFLD. NAFLD was associated with increased body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), and triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), glucose, insulin, and free testosterone (FT) levels, and with decreased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels (P < 0.05). Risk factors for NAFLD in PCOS included BMI > 26.8 kg/m2, AC > 88.3 cm, triglyceride > 1.57 mmol/L, TC > 4.67 mmol/L, LDL-C > 3.31 mmol/L, glucose > 4.83 mmol/L, insulin > 111.35 pmol/L, FT > 7.6 pg/mL and SHBG < 25 nmol/L (β = 1.411-2.667, P < 0.005). A multi-indicator model including triglycerides, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, and SHBG showed higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.899, P < 0.001) for screening NAFLD in PCOS patients than single indicators (AUC = 0.667-0.761, P < 0.05).

Overweight and obese PCOS patients have higher incidences of liver PDFF and NAFLD. A multi-indicator model including triglycerides > 1.57 mmol/L, LDL-C > 3.31 mmol/L, glucose > 4.83 mmol/L, insulin > 111.35 pmol/L, and SHBG < 25 nmol/L is highly accurate for screening NAFLD in overweight and obese PCOS patients.

The prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is rising among liver transplant (LT) candidates, many of whom have Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Following LT, untreated obesity often causes recurrent MASLD. We treated patients with obesity with LT and concurrent sleeve gastrectomy (LTSG), aiming to determine long-term impact on obesity, MetS and recurrent MASLD after transplantation.

A multicenter retrospective cohort study analyzed patients undergoing LTSG using a single clinical protocol (n=72), and patients with BMI >30 who underwent LT alone for MASLD (n=185). Follow-up duration was 4-153 (median 41) months for LTSG and 12-161 (median 75) months for LT. Outcomes included mortality, graft loss, BMI, MetS components, allograft steatosis and fibrosis.

Mortality and graft loss were not significantly different between LT and LTSG patients. Post-LTSG patients had significantly lower prevalence of diabetes for >8 years (p<0.05); hypertension decreased from 61.1% to 35.8% (p<0.01). LTSG patients, with average starting BMI of 45.5, had significant weight loss compared to baseline for >9 years (p<0.001). LT-alone patients, average starting BMI 34.0, experienced no significant change in BMI or diabetes. Development of allograft steatosis was significantly lower in LTSG vs LT patients (p=0.004). Fibrosis prevalence was reduced in LTSG vs LT patients 3-10 years postoperatively; although not statically significant, relative risk ratio was 0.46 (p=0.09). One LTSG patient had a gastric sleeve leak; one required hiatal hernia repair. Severe GERD occurred in 11.1% of LTSG patients; risk factors included pre-existing diabetes and GERD.

LTSG results in sustained weight loss, resolution of diabetes and hypertension, and reduced recurrence of steatosis and possibly fibrosis compared to LT alone. It confers no increase in mortality or graft loss.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the umbrella term that comprises metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver, or isolated hepatic steatosis, through to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, the progressive necroinflammatory disease form that can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. MASLD is estimated to affect more than one-third of adults worldwide. MASLD is closely associated with insulin resistance, obesity, gut microbial dysbiosis and genetic risk factors. The obesity epidemic and the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus greatly contribute to the increasing burden of MASLD. The treatment and prevention of major metabolic comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity will probably slow the growth of MASLD. In 2023, the field decided on a new nomenclature and agreed on a set of research and action priorities, and in 2024, the US FDA approved the first drug, resmetirom, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced fibrosis. Reliable, validated biomarkers that can replace histology for patient selection and primary end points in MASH trials will greatly accelerate the drug development process. Additionally, noninvasive tests that can reliably determine treatment response or predict response to therapy are warranted. Sustained efforts are required to combat the burden of MASLD by tackling metabolic risk factors, improving risk stratification and linkage to care, and increasing access to therapeutic agents and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

The Hep-Net position paper comes at a significant time in the history of Metabolically Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) due to the rapid rise in this disease entity in the past decade. Metabolically Associated Fatty Liver Disease, by its very name, encompasses several common metabolic disease entities, top among those being diabetes and obesity. For Pakistan, the situation is serious as it is among the top 10 countries globally regarding the prevalence of obesity and number one in terms of diabetes, with over a quarter of adults affected. There remains slight ambiguity as regards the nomenclature of MAFLD, with western societies preferring to remove the word "fatty" and substitute with `'steatotic" i.e. MASLD. Regardless of names/titles the metabolic nature of the disease and its management remains the same and fortunately, that is something where universal consensus is present. Under the umbrella of Hep-Net, eminent hepatologists from all over Pakistan have pooled their efforts to formulate guidelines that are specifically tailored to the Pakistani population, its specific lifestyle and relevant interventions that are needed to treat fatty/steatotic liver disease. By virtue of its multi-systemic consequences, metabolic fatty liver disease represents the most significant and expensive disease entity, globally. Prevention, through public education and timely intervention in diagnosed cases will serve to avert a healthcare storm that will far outweigh viral hepatitis.

Liver biopsy contribution in patients with unexplained elevation of transaminases is not clearly established. The aim was to study liver biopsy contribution in patients with unexplained elevated transaminases strictly defined according to the current guidelines, reflecting the present clinical practice.

In a retrospective study, we identified all the liver biopsies performed in patients with elevated transaminases for at least six months. Patients with a particular context, or with an identified cause of liver disease were excluded. The biopsies were classified according to the 4 following injury patterns: hepatitic, biliary, steatotic, vascular.

87 patients were included. Liver biopsy showed minimal changes or a normal histology in 48%, a steatotic pattern in 21%, a hepatitic pattern in 13%, a vascular pattern in 8%, a biliary pattern in 1%, and a mixed pattern in 8%. A cause could be determined in 21% of patients with normal histology, 85% with steatosis, 56% with hepatitis, 75% with biliary, but in none with isolated vascular pattern. Liver biopsy had important clinical and therapeutic implications in 15% of patients, with a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Elevation of transaminases > 10 upper normal limit was present in all the patients with confirmed autoimmune hepatitis, but in only 7% of others.

Liver biopsy had important clinical and therapeutic implications in 15% of patients. However, the majority of patients had minimal changes without a cause, or minor vascular lesions of uncertain significance.

Data regarding the prevalence of hepatic fibrotic burden across the spectrum of hypothyroidism are scarce. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of liver fibrotic burden across the spectrum of hypothyroidism.

30,091 individuals who attended a Health Management Centre between 2019 and 2021 were cross-sectionally analyzed. Participants were categorized as having strict-normal thyroid function, low-normal thyroid function, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). Significant and advanced fibrosis were defined as liver stiffness measurement in VCTE of 8.1-9.6 and 9.7-13.5 kPa, respectively.

Among both men and women, low-normal thyroid function group, subclinical hypothyroidism group, and overt hypothyroidism group all have more liver fibrosis present, including mild fibrosis, significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis, than the strict-normal thyroid function group. The low-normal thyroid function group have the similar liver fibrotic burden to the subclinical hypothyroidism group. The highest liver fibrotic burden was noted in the overt hypothyroidism group. Both significant and advanced liver fibrosis were significantly associated with low-normal thyroid function, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism in both men and women.

Liver fibrotic burden are highly prevalent in subjects with overt hypothyroidism. Moreover, fibrotic burden increased across the spectrum of hypothyroidism even within the low normal thyroid function. These results suggested that screening for liver fibrosis in patients with hypothyroidism is necessary.

As rates of obesity rise worldwide, incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is increasing, worsening the burden of healthcare systems. The council of the Federation of International Societies for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (FISPGHAN) identified the topic of MASLD epidemiology, treatment, and prevention as a global priority issue to be addressed by an expert team, with the goal to describe feasible and evidence-based actions that may contribute to reducing MASLD risk. The FISPGHAN member societies nominated experts in the field. The FISPGHAN council selected and appointed members of the expert team and a chair. The subtopics included in this manuscript were chosen through a consensus of the experts involved. We review the epidemiology, natural history, and screening and management. We further expand to relevant public health measures aimed at MASLD prevention, including identifying interventions that could reduce risk factors (environmental and iatrogenic), optimize maternal and newborn health, and support healthier lifestyles for older children and adolescents on a local, national, and international scale. While recognizing that various aspects of population health and public policy can shape MASLD risk, we also review what we can do on an individual level to support our patients to reduce the significant burden of this ever rising disease in pediatrics.

This study investigates the subclasses of metabolic syndrome (Mets) and their relationship with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and the probable predictive role of serum vitamin D and CRP levels.

This community-based, cross-sectional study was performed on adults in the framework of the Amol cohort prospective study (AmolCPS). Mets was defined as Adult Treatment Panel III criteria (ATP III) and ultrasound was used to diagnose NAFLD. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were conducted, and biochemical measurements were assessed after fasting. Data analysis included Latent class analysis, two-tailed χ2 statistics, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression using Mplus (version 7.4) and spss (version 26) softwares.

The study involved 2308 participants, with a mean age of 43.17 ± 12.30 years. Mets prevalence was 25.64%, with three identified classes: Mets with Hypertension (HTN), Mets without HTN (Non-HTN), and Low Risk. Mets with HTN had a high probability of at least four components, particularly high SBP. Non-HTN had at least three high probable components, especially high TG and low HDL but not high SBP and DBP. The low-risk class had a low probability of all components except low HDL in women. Serum vitamin D and CRP levels did not significantly predict Mets classes in men, while CRP level significantly predicted the HTN class in women (OR:1.03, CI:1.004-1.067). Both HTN, and Non-HTN Mets classes significantly increased the odds of NAFLD compared to the low risk class, especially in women (HTN class OR: 4.20 vs 2.94; non-HTN class OR: 5.60 vs 3.12 in women and men respectively).

The latent class analysis in northern Iran identified three Mets classes: HTN, Non-HTN, and low-risk, with hypertension playing a crucial role in determining these classes. These classes were stronger predictors of NAFLD in women. Serum CRP and vitamin D levels did not emerge as significant predictors of the classes, except for serum CRP in the HTN class among women.

Skeletal muscle alterations (SMAs) are being increasingly recognized in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and appear to be associated with deleterious outcomes in these patients. However, their actual prevalence and pathophysiology remain to be elucidated.

To determine the prevalence of SMAs and to assess the significance of circulating myokines as biomarkers in patients with MASLD.

Skeletal muscle strength and muscle mass were measured in a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 62 patients fulfilling MASLD criteria, recruited from the outpatient clinics of a tertiary level hospital. The degree of fibrosis and liver steatosis was studied using abdominal ultrasound and transitional elastography. Anthropometric and metabolic characteristics as well as serum levels of different myokines were also determined in the MASLD cohort. Statistical analysis was performed comparing results according to liver fibrosis and steatosis.

No significant differences were found in both skeletal muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass in patients with MASLD between different stages of liver fibrosis. Interestingly, serum levels of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) were significantly higher in patients with MASLD with advanced hepatic fibrosis (F3-F4) than in those with lower fibrosis stages (F0-F2) (197.49 ± 198.27 pg/mL vs 95.62 ± 83.67 pg/mL; P = 0.049). In addition, patients with MASLD with severe hepatosteatosis (S3) exhibited significantly higher serum levels of irisin (1116.87 ± 1161.86 pg/mL) than those with lower grades (S1-S2) (385.21 ± 375.98 pg/mL; P = 0.001).

SMAs were uncommon in the patients with MASLD studied. Higher serum levels of irisin and FGF21 were detected in patients with advanced liver steatosis and fibrosis, respectively, with potential implications as biomarkers.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver disorder strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction, particularly in elderly populations where it presents with higher prevalence and severity. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and NAFLD in older adults, focusing on the independent effect of hyperuricemia on NAFLD risk. We enrolled 469 individuals aged ≥ 65 years who underwent community health checkups. The exposure variable was baseline SUA levels, while the outcome variable was the occurrence of NAFLD. Covariates included age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, diabetes status, lipids (TC, TG, LDL, HDL), glycemic indices (FPG, HBA1C), and physical activity. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to estimate the independent effect of SUA levels and hyperuricemia on NAFLD. Hyperuricemia was significantly associated with increased NAFLD risk (adjusted OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.28-3.67). Stratified analysis revealed a stronger association in individuals with elevated triglycerides (TG ≥ 2.26 mmol/L, OR 7.07, 95% CI 1.72-29.18). However, the association between SUA as a continuous variable and NAFLD risk was attenuated after adjusting for metabolic factors. Hyperuricemia independently increases NAFLD risk in older adults, particularly in those with elevated triglycerides, suggesting a potential synergistic effect. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating SUA assessments into routine metabolic evaluations and developing targeted interventions to mitigate NAFLD risk.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease that can trigger the metabolic syndrome. Early prevention and treatment of NAFLD is still a huge challenge for patients and clinicians. The aim of this study was to develop and validate machine learning (ML)-based predictive models. The model with optimal performance would be developed as a set of simple arithmetic tools for predicting the risk of NAFLD individually.

Statistical analyses were performed in 2428 individuals extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, cycle 2017-2020.3) database. Feature variables were selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Seven ML algorithms, including logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and multilayer perceptron (MLP), were used to construct models based on the feature variables and evaluate their performance. The model with the best performance was transformed into a diagnostic predictive nomogram (DPN). The DPN was developed into an online calculator and an Excel algorithm tool. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and subgroup analyses were used to compare and assess the predictive abilities of the DPN and six existing NAFLD predictive models, including the ZJU index, the hepatic steatosis index (HSI), the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), the Framingham steatosis index (FSI), the fatty liver index (FLI), and the visceral adiposity index (VAI).

Among the 2428 participants, the prevalence of NAFLD was 47.45%. LASSO regression identified eight variables from 39 variables, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG), diabetes, hypertension, uric acid (UA), and race. Among the models constructed by the seven algorithms mentioned above, the LR-based model performed the best, demonstrating outstanding performance in terms of area under the curve (AUC, 0.823), accuracy (0.754), precision (0.768), specificity (0.804), and positive predictive value (0.768). It was then transformed into the DPN, which was successfully developed as an online calculator and an Excel algorithm tool. The diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.856, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.839-0.874, and AUC 0.823, 95% CI 0.793-0.854, respectively) and net clinical benefit of DPN in the training and validation sets were superior to those of the ZJU, HSI, TyG, FSI, FLI, and VAI. The results were maintained in subgroup analyses.

The LR model based on ML was developed, exhibiting good performance. DPN can be used as an individualized tool for rapid detection of NAFLD.

Background/Objectives: It has been shown that the use of statins in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) worsens hyperglycemia and hemoglobin A1c levels but may help in the preservation of pancreatic β-cell function. The potential role of a high pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) in this process has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to investigate whether the liver fat fraction (LFF) and PFF in T2DM patients is affected by statin therapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a total of 140 T2DM patients, including both those who were receiving (n = 70) and those who were not receiving (n = 70) statin therapy. The mapping of the LFF and PFF utilizing the IDEAL-IQ sequence was conducted in magnetic resonance imaging. Results: In T2DM patients who used statins, the median PFF was higher compared to those who did not use statins (8.4 vs. 6.2%, p = 0.021), while the median LFF was found to be similar (8.4 vs. 8.9, p = 0.572). Variations in PFF were associated with the use of various statins (non-statin group: 6.2 vs. atovastatin: 8.7 vs. rosuvastatin: 3.2 vs. pitavastatin: 9.2, p = 0.004). The multivariable regression analysis indicated that insulin usage decreased log(LFF) by a factor of 0.16-fold (ꞵ ± SE = -0.16 ± 0.05, p = 0.010), and rosuvastatin usage reduced log(PFF) by 0.16-fold (ꞵ ± SE = -0.16 ± 0.07, p = 0.025), irrespective of other risk factors. Furthermore, the use of atorvastatin (ꞵ ± SE = 0.17 ± 0.06, p = 0.011) and pitavastatin (ꞵ ± SE = 0.19 ± 0.07, p = 0.008) were independently associated with an increase in log(PFF). Conclusions: In patients with T2DM, statin use did not show a significant effect on the liver fat fraction, but it caused differences in the pancreatic fat fraction. The observation of a lower pancreatic fat fraction in patients taking a rosuvastatin and atorvastatin dose of 40 mg/day suggests that different types and doses of statins may have varying effects on pancreatic fat accumulation.

Background/Objectives: Previous studies suggested a link between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and steatotic liver disease, now termed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aimed to identify the association of active H. pylori infection and the new concept of MASLD in a longitudinal cohort. Methods: We reviewed 1497 health examinees who had two endoscopic biopsies for H. pylori activity without hepatic steatosis at the baseline abdominal ultrasonography. Subjects were classified into four groups based on H. pylori activity. Multivariable Cox models assessed the link between active H. pylori infection status and incident MASLD. Results: Over a median follow-up of 31.1 months, 247 subjects (16.5%) developed MASLD. The groups were: H. pylori naïve (n = 57, 15.6%), de novo (n = 31, 15.3%), eradicated (n = 32, 16.1%), and persistent (n = 127, 17.4%). The H. pylori persistent group had a higher risk of MASLD compared to naïve group (hazard ratio: 1.41; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.96; p-value = 0.045). The association between H. pylori infection and incident MASLD was significant only with ongoing infection. Conclusions: Persistent H. pylori infection increases the risk of MASLD, indicating that active infection may contribute to MASLD development. Eradicating active H. pylori infection might help lower the incidence of MASLD.

The global increase in obesity-related metabolic disorders has led to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) emerging as one of the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Despite growing concerns, the exact pathogenesis of MASLD remains unclear and no definitive treatments have been made available. Consequently, the need for comprehensive research on MASLD is more critical than ever. Gaining insight into the mechanisms of the disease can lay the groundwork for identifying new therapeutic targets and can facilitate the development of diagnostic tools that enable the early detection and intervention of MASLD. Research has discovered a multifactorial etiology for MASLD, suggesting that potential therapeutic strategies should be considered from a variety of perspectives. This review delves into the pathogenesis of MASLD, current diagnostic approaches, potential therapeutic targets, the status of clinical trials for emerging drugs, and the most promising treatment methods available today. With a focus on therapeutic targets, the aim is to offer fresh insights and guide for future research in the treatment of MASLD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and obesity increases risk of cardiovascular disease. This cohort study examines the prognostic value of MASLD, across body weight categories, in a secondary preventative acute myocardial infarction (AMI) cohort.

Patients with AMI were stratified into four phenotypes-obesity MASLD, non-obesity MASLD, obesity non-MASLD, non-obesity non-MASLD. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate determinants of long-term all-cause mortality.

Of 5702 patients, majority were in the non-obesity non-MASLD group (66.7%), followed by obesity MASLD (16.1%), non-obesity MASLD (11.2%) and non-obesity MASLD (6.0%). Across the four phenotypes, obesity MASLD had the highest cardiometabolic burden, followed by non-obesity MASLD. Non-obesity MASLD had the highest risk of heart failure (p = 0.034), cardiogenic shock (p < 0.001), and all-cause long-term mortality (p = 0.019). The non-obesity MASLD (HR 1.400, 95%CI 1.077-1.820, p = 0.012) and obesity MASLD phenotypes (HR 1.222, 95%CI 1.005-1.485, p = 0.044) were independently associated with long-term all-cause mortality.

Obesity and non-obesity MASLD phenotypes were predictors of all-cause mortality following AMI, with an even larger magnitude of mortality risk in the non-obesity MASLD group. The recognition of MASLD and its body weight phenotypes will be beneficial in the prognostication following AMI.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) decreases hepatic lipogenesis in animal models, and FGF21 analogues decrease serum triglycerides (TG) in adults in phase-2 trials. On the other hand, serum FGF21 is associated with higher TG in observational studies of people with obesity, raising a sort of paradox. We tested the hypothesis that FGF21 is induced by TG in youth with obesity, as a compensatory mechanism.

We recruited 159 children/adolescents with obesity (80 males, 12.7 ± 2.1 years). Besides serum FGF21 and lipid dosages, we genotyped the Pro446Leu variant at glucokinase regulator (GCKR) as a known marker of genetically increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, and we used it as an instrumental variable to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between FGF21 and TG, according to a Mendelian randomization analysis.

The Pro446Leu variant increased circulating TG (β = +0.35, p < 0.001), which was positively associated with circulating FGF21 (β = +0.42, p < 0.001). The Pro446Leu variant increased FGF-21 (β = +0.14, p = 0.031) with the expected slope (β-coefficient) in case of association entirely mediated by TG: 0.35 (slope between Pro446Ala and TG) × 0.42 (slope between TG and FGF21) = 0.14.

Hepatic lipogenesis, marked by GCKR-modulated triglycerides, is significantly associated with increased serum FGF-21 in children/adolescents with obesity.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the pediatric population has emerged as a significant health concern due to its alarming rise in prevalence. In children, the characteristics of the disease differ from those seen in adults. NAFLD may progress to more severe liver disease in children compared to adults with similar profiles. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis; its invasive nature and high cost limit its use as a first-line tool. Alternatively, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging-estimated liver proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), have shown a good correlation with the degree of histological steatosis, although their use is limited by high costs and limited accessibility. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), integrated with vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) (FibroScan®), is a novel non-invasive, accessible, and effective method for diagnosing hepatic steatosis. In this article, we reviewed the existing literature on the diagnostic accuracy of CAP in pediatric NAFLD. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched. Seven relevant studies were identified, conducted in pediatric hospital populations with specific demographic characteristics. Two of these studies compared CAP with liver biopsy, one compared CAP with liver biopsy and MRI-PDFF, and the remaining four compared CAP with MRI. Overall, CAP proved to be accurate in detecting the presence or absence of fatty infiltration, positioning it as a promising tool to simplify the diagnosis of NAFLD in children. However, further studies in larger populations are needed to confirm these findings and facilitate its implementation in routine clinical practice.

There is a new awareness of the widespread nature of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its connection to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This has catalyzed collaboration between cardiologists, hepatologists, endocrinologists, and the wider multidisciplinary team to address the need for earlier identification of those with MASLD who are at increased risk for CVD. The overlap in the pathophysiologic processes and parallel prevalence of CVD, metabolic syndrome, and MASLD highlight the multisystem consequences of poor cardiovascular-liver-metabolic health. Metabolic dysfunction and associated insulin resistance, together with the predilection for ectopic fat deposition in the liver and surrounding tissues, are associated with elevated risk of endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammatory response, and ectopic fat deposition in the epicardium. This complex pathophysiology can accelerate atherogenic dyslipidemia, atherogenesis, diastolic dysfunction, valvular calcification, and cardiac arrhythmias. Despite the mounting evidence of mechanistic pathways underpinning MASLD and CVD, current recommendations have not clearly focused upon MASLD as a risk factor or target for intervention in CVD. We have brought together a diverse range of international experts committed to promoting cardiovascular-liver-metabolic health and related outcomes across the globe. The overarching goal of this document is to offer a construct for clinicians in the cardiovascular field with regards to (1) diagnosis and screening of MASLD through the use of noninvasive serum and imaging tests; (2) screening for CVD in all individuals with MASLD regardless of established atherosclerotic risk factors; and (3) the approach to management of MASLD with respect to prevention of CVD through lifestyle, as well as pharmacologic and surgical strategies. To achieve this, the modified Delphi method was applied and a series of evidence-based quality standard recommendations have been identified.

Introduction: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) stems from disrupted lipid metabolism in the liver, often linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. In Mexico, where obesity affects 36.9% of adults, MASLD prevalence has risen, especially with metabolic syndrome affecting 56.31% by 2018. MASLD can progress to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), affecting 5.27% globally, leading to severe complications like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Background: Visceral fat distribution varies by gender, impacting MASLD development due to hormonal influences. Insulin resistance plays a central role in MASLD pathogenesis, exacerbated by high-fat diets and specific fatty acids, leading to hepatic steatosis. Lipotoxicity from saturated fatty acids further damages hepatocytes, triggering inflammation and fibrosis progression in MASH. Diagnosing MASLD traditionally involves invasive liver biopsy, but non-invasive methods like ultrasound and transient elastography are preferred due to their safety and availability. These methods detect liver steatosis and fibrosis with reasonable accuracy, offering alternatives to biopsy despite varying sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: MASLD as a metabolic disorder underscores its impact on public health, necessitating improved awareness and early management strategies to mitigate its progression to severe liver diseases.

To explore the connection between metabolic parameters and the severity of hepatic steatosis determined through ultrasound in elderly individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

4,663 senior individuals who were 65 years of age or older were included in this research. They were examined physically at the Ninghai Street Community Health Service Center in Yantai City between June 7, 2021, and October 15, 2021. There were two categories of individuals identified: the MAFLD group (n = 2,985) and the non-MAFLD group (n = 1,678). Based on liver ultrasonography results, individuals in the MAFLD group were further separated into three groups: mild (n = 2,104), moderate (n = 766), and severe (n = 115). To identify indicators of risk for the severity of hepatic steatosis, metabolic data was contrasted between the groups employing logistic regression.

In comparison to the non-MAFLD group, the MAFLD group showed significantly elevated levels of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, gender, age, lipid profile, alanine transaminase (ALT), and fasting blood glucose (FBG; p < 0.05). Among individuals with MAFLD, there was a positive correlation between BMI, FBG, ALT, and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels and the severity of hepatic steatosis (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that BMI, female gender, FBG, ALT, triglycerides (TG), and serum uric acid (SUA) constituted risk factors for increased severity of hepatic steatosis in MAFLD.

The severity of hepatic steatosis in elderly MAFLD patients is significantly correlated with female gender, BMI, ALT, FBG, TG, and SUA.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the extremely usual reason of chronic liver disease, extending from simple hepatic steatosis (HS), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Though orlistat is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for long-duration management of obesity, few cases of severe hepatic insult were declared. Melatonin is an efficient antioxidant; it also regulates metabolic processes that lead to fat accumulation and obesity.

The current research aimed to compare the impact of orlistat, melatonin, and their combination on the structural changes of the hepatic tissue of adult male albino rats supplied with high fat diet (HFD).

Thirty adult male albino rats divided into five groups. Liver specimens were divided into two parts. One-half was processed to obtain paraffin blocks, and the other half was processed to obtain semithin sections. Morphometric study and statistical analysis were done.

Hepatic tissue from the HFD group showed steatosis, ballooning, and inflammation and all these parameters were moderately improved - except for inflammation which worsened with therapy. Combined orlistat and melatonin-treated groups showed marked improvement of all parameters as well as marked improvement in the hepatic fibrosis.Orlistat/Melatonin combination therapy is both safe and effective in comparison to orlistat and melatonin monotherapy.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation and predictive value of TyG and related parameters with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) MAFLD. This study retrospectively included individuals who underwent health examinations and abdominal ultrasound from July 2021 to June 2024 at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, China. A total of 71,299 subjects' clinical and laboratory data were extracted, the correlation between TyG and related parameters and MAFLD was analyzed via univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods, and the nonlinear relationship between the TyG index and the risk of MAFLD was explored via restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. The predictive value of TyG and related parameters for MAFLD was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curve (AUC). TyG and related parameters were positively correlated with MAFLD, and the results remained unchanged after adjustment for the corresponding parameters. RCS analysis revealed a significant dose‒response relationship between TyG and related parameters and MAFLD. ROC curve analysis revealed AUC values of 0.83 (0.82-0.83), 0.92 (0.91-0.92), 0.90 (0.90-0.91), and 0.87 (0.87-0.88) for TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHR, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that the TyG index and related parameters had greater predictive value in the female, younger, and BMI < 23.7 populations.

The presence of hepatic steatosis (HS) is a crucial histological parameter for evaluating the suitability of liver transplantation. However, to date, no studies have used contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to diagnose and grade HS in brain-dead donors. This study aimed to detect and quantify hepatic microcirculatory perfusion in brain-dead donors using CEUS and to assess the utility of CEUS in the diagnosis and grading of HS.

This prospective study enrolled 88 livers from brain-dead donors (44 with HS and 44 without HS) aged ≥18 years between June 2020 and January 2024. The donors had a mean age of 45.42±9.59 years, and 70 were male (79.5%). CEUS was conducted on the livers of the brain-dead donors 24 h before organ procurement, and time-intensity curves were generated. The main measures included the arrival time, time-to-peak, peak intensity of the hepatic artery (PIHA), peak intensity of the portal vein (PIPV), and peak intensity of the liver parenchyma (PILP), and hepatorenal index (HRI). Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the significant factors associated with HS, and the areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate diagnostic performance.

The PIHA (P<0.001), PIPV (P<0.001), and PILP (P=0.001) were significantly shorter in the steatosis group than the non-steatosis group. The one-way analysis of variance revealed significant decreases in the PIHA (P<0.001), PIPV (P<0.001), and PILP (P<0.001) as HS grades increased. The multivariate regression analysis indicated that the PIHA was an independent factor for both HS [odds ratio (OR) =0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-0.99, P=0.01] and moderate-to-severe HS (OR =0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.99, P=0.009). The AUC values of the PIHA and HRI for diagnosing moderate-to-severe HS were 0.88 and 0.69, respectively. The optimal cut-off value of the PIHA for diagnosing moderate-to-severe HS was 173.04, with a sensitivity of 92.9% (13 of 14 livers), specificity of 68.9% (51 of 74 livers), and positive and negative predictive values of 36.1% and 98.1%, respectively.

CEUS showed promising results in the diagnosis and grading of HS in brain-dead donors. The PIHA, a CEUS-derived parameter, could serve as a diagnostic tool for moderate-to-severe HS.

Abdominal point-of-care ultrasound is an essential diagnostic tool for internal medicine physicians. It can identify intraperitoneal free fluid, evaluate the liver for size, presence of steatosis, and assessment for possible cirrhosis. Diagnosing cholelithiasis or cholecystitis can expedite care. Physical examination for mild splenomegaly may be insensitive. In such cases, sonographic measurements may provide a more definitive diagnosis. With the proper training, these organs can be evaluated at the bedside and guide clinical decision making.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to nearly a third of the Western population and has been inconsistently associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to quantify the correlation of NAFLD with all major vascular diseases, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.

We searched PubMed and Embase for studies looking at the relationship between NAFLD and cardiovascular diseases published through September 2023. The parameters we used to assess cardiovascular diseases include acute coronary syndrome, brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and carotid stenosis (>50%). Data from these studies were then collected and meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model. RevMan v5.4 was used for statistical analysis.

We interrogated a total of 114 publications which met our inclusion criteria. NAFLD patients showed statistically significant reduction in FMD% [MD: -4.83 (95% CI: -5.84 to 3.81, p < .00001)] and increased serum ADMA [MD: 0.08 (95% CI: 0.05-0.11, p < .00001)]. Mean CIMT was also increased in NAFLD patients [MD 0.13 (95% CI: 0.12-0.14, p < .00001)]. NAFLD showed a higher prevalence of pathological CIMT [MD: 0.11 (95% CI: 0.10-0.12, p < .00001)] and increased carotid plaques [OR: 2.08 (95% CI: 1.52-2.86, p < .00001)]. Furthermore, we demonstrated statistically significant increase in cardiovascular diseases among NAFLD patients compared to controls [OR: 1.92 (95% CI: 1.53-2.41, p < .00001)].

NAFLD is a strong predictor for endothelial dysfunction, subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Further studies are required to determine whether incidental findings of fatty liver on abdominal ultrasonography should prompt the need for detailed assessment of other CVD risk factors.

Individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) who are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are critical to identify and manage. We aimed to assess whether the risk of CVD in patients with MASLD differed according to the type or number of cardiometabolic risk factors.

This longitudinal cohort study involved 5674 adults who underwent at least two health checkups between 2004 and 2021. Steatotic liver disease (SLD) was assessed using ultrasonography and participants with SLD were classified as having either non-MASLD or MASLD. CVD risk was evaluated using coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression as measured using multidetector computed tomography scans.

Over an average 5.8-year follow-up period, patients with MASLD exhibited faster CAC progression than those with non-MASLD (18% vs 11%, P < 0.01). MASLD with any cardiometabolic risk factor exacerbated CAC progression; however, the degree of CAC progression was similar among the different risk components. The adjusted ratios (95% CI) of CAC progression rates comparing non-MASLD with MASLD with one, two, three, four, and five cardiometabolic risk factors were 1.02 (0.99, 1.06), 1.04 (1.01, 1.08), 1.07 (1.03, 1.10), 1.08 (1.05, 1.11), and 1.11 (1.07, 1.15), respectively.

In individuals with MASLD, all cardiometabolic risk factors contributed to the deterioration of coronary atherosclerosis, with no specific factor exerting a dominant influence. Coronary atherosclerosis progression is directly associated with the cumulative number of cardiometabolic risk factors. Therefore, identifying and managing an increasing number of these factors is imperative in clinical practice, even when MASLD is diagnosed based on only one risk factor.