Article
Parasitology
Deping Cao, Emad Shamsan, Bofan Jiang, Haining Fan, Yaogang Zhang, Mustafa Abdo Saif Dehwah
Summary: The study found that cocultures of Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces and human hepatic stellate cells resulted in morphological changes and increased expression levels of hepatic fibrosis-related proteins. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis induced by AE infection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Amany A. Sayed, Amel M. Soliman, Mohamed Marzouk, Faten F. Mohammed, Shreen Desouky
Summary: This study assessed the therapeutic potential of bromelain in regression of TAA-induced liver fibrosis. The findings showed that bromelain inhibited HSC proliferation in vitro and induced a significant restoration of liver function and attenuation of fibrotic biomarkers in vivo through its antioxidant pathway.
Article
Cell Biology
Kiara Gaeberlein, Sarah K. Schroeder, Indrajit Nanda, Claus Steinlein, Thomas Haaf, Eva M. Buhl, Patrick Sauvant, Vincent Sapin, Armand Abergel, Ralf Weiskirchen
Summary: The rat hepatic stellate cell line PAV-1, established two decades ago, is a cellular model for studying hepatic retinoic acid metabolism. Despite being able to store retinyl esters and synthesize retinoic acid, this cell line has been overlooked. Genetically characterized established cell lines, like PAV-1, are valuable for biomedical research as working with in vivo models becomes more complicated.
Article
Cell Biology
Pramudi Wijayasiri, Stuart Astbury, Philip Kaye, Fiona Oakley, Graeme J. Alexander, Timothy J. Kendall, Aloysious D. Aravinthan
Summary: This study reveals a direct relationship between hepatocyte senescence and hepatic stellate cell activation in liver fibrosis. The activation of human HSCs by media derived from senescent HepG2 cells indicates the involvement of factors secreted by senescent hepatocytes in driving liver fibrosis.
Review
Neurosciences
Dakota R. Kamm, Kyle S. McCommis
Summary: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in the normal liver and in response to injury. They are activated during liver injury and produce extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. In the absence of injury, HSCs are in a quiescent state and store retinoids or vitamin A-containing metabolites. They also enhance the inflammatory response and express growth factors crucial for liver development and regeneration. Recent studies have identified diverse phenotypic alterations and unique subpopulations of HSCs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maximilian Schinagl, Tamara Tomin, Juergen Gindlhuber, Sophie Honeder, Raphael Pfleger, Matthias Schittmayer, Michael Trauner, Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
Summary: This study investigated the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) through an increase in growth medium serum concentration, revealing cellular processes involved in HSC transformation. Activated HSC showed increased production of ribosomal proteins and proteins related to migration and cell cycle control, along with a decrease in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis proteins. The findings provide insights into HSC activation characteristics and present a accessible model for studying HSC activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aude Angelini, JoAnn Trial, Alexander B. Saltzman, Anna Malovannaya, Katarzyna A. Cieslik
Summary: The study focuses on the impaired myofibroblast development in aging male heart due to stiffer extracellular matrix (ECM), and shows decreased actin polymerization, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Kindlin-2 expressions in old male cardiac fibroblasts. Manipulation of Kindlin-2 levels reversed the defective phenotype, and inhibition of overactivated ERK1/2 rescued actin polymerization and α-SMA expression. However, old female cardiac fibroblasts retained normal mechanosensing pathway.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Claudio Humeres, Arti V. Shinde, Anis Hanna, Linda Alex, Silvia C. Hernandez, Ruoshui Li, Bijun Chen, Simon J. Conway, Nikolaos G. Frangogiannis
Summary: Repair of the infarcted heart requires TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling in cardiac myofibroblasts, but it needs to be tightly regulated to prevent excessive fibrosis and adverse remodeling.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ying-Ju Lai, Feng-Chun Tsai, Gwo-Jyh Chang, Shang-Hung Chang, Chung-Chi Huang, Wei-Jan Chen, Yung-Hsin Yeh
Summary: This study reveals a mechanistic link between TGF-β-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and atrial fibrosis through the miR-181b/Sema3A/LIMK/p-cofilin signaling pathway, and suggests blocking miR-181b and increasing Sema3A as potential strategies for AF therapeutic intervention.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Peschl, Tatjana Seitz, Judith Sommer, Wolfgang Thasler, Anja Bosserhoff, Claus Hellerbrand
Summary: Hepatic fibrosis involves increased expression of BMP13, which activates smad1/5/9 and ERK pathways to promote the proliferation and expression of fibrogenic factors in hepatic stellate cells. Depletion of BMP13 inhibits the proliferation and expression of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells. Therefore, BMP13 may serve as a novel fibrosis marker and therapeutic target for chronic liver disease patients.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rui Li, Qunxiang Ong, Chi Chun Wong, Eagle S. H. Chu, Joseph J. Y. Sung, Xiaoyong Yang, Jun Yu
Summary: This study evaluated the role of OGT in HSCs and its consequent role in liver fibrosis. The results suggest that OGT functions as a negative regulator of HSC activation by promoting SRF O-GlcNAcylation to protect against liver fibrosis.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
James K. Carter, Scott L. Friedman
Summary: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of liver disease worldwide, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form characterized by significant hepatocellular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Recent research has shown that heightened immune cell activity and chronic inflammation play crucial roles in the development of NASH, with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) being the key drivers of fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Respiratory System
Fabrice Antigny, Helene Le Ribeuz, Marc Humbert, David Montani
Summary: Loss of CFTR function leads to endothelial cell dysfunction, and reduced CFTR expression in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension might contribute to the pathogenesis of PAH.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yong-Joo Park, Dong-Min Kim, Hye-Been Choi, Mi-Ho Jeong, Seung-Hwan Kwon, Ha-Ryong Kim, Jong-Hwan Kwak, Kyu-Hyuck Chung
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that dendropanoxide (DPX) extracted from Dendropanax morbifera has anti-fibrotic effects on hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). DPX was able to suppress the expression of fibrotic markers and deposition of extracellular matrix in a mouse model of hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride. The researchers also demonstrated that DPX inhibits HSC activation by inhibiting autophagy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengchao Yan, Ye Xie, Jia Yao, Xun Li
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between alpha-SMA expression and collagen secretion in liver fibrosis, proposing a dual-mode transition model for myofibroblasts in fibrotic liver. The model reasonably explains collagen deposition and expansion in the initial stage of liver fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Shu-Yein Ho, Mei-Hsia Yuan, Po-Hong Liu, Chia-Yang Hsu, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Jia- Liao, Chien-Wei Su, Chia-Lin Wang, Ming-Chih Hou, Teh-la Huo
Summary: Patients with cryptogenic HCC have larger tumor burden and advanced cancer stage at disease presentation compared to those with viral HCC. ALBI and EZ-ALBI scores are robust models to evaluate liver functional reserve for these patients independent of treatment modality.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Cole-Hunter, Jiawei Zhang, Rina So, Evangelia Samoli, Shuo Liu, Jie Chen, Maciej Strak, Kathrin Wolf, Gudrun Weinmayr, Sophia Rodopolou, Elizabeth Remfry, Kees de Hoogh, Tom Bellander, Jorgen Brandt, Hans Concin, Emanuel Zitt, Daniela Fecht, Francesco Forastiere, John Gulliver, Barbara Hoffmann, Ulla A. Hvidtfeldt, Karl-Heinz Jockel, Laust H. Mortensen, Matthias Ketzel, Diego Yacaman Mendez, Karin Leander, Petter Ljungman, Elodie Faure, Pei-Chen Lee, Alexis Elbaz, Patrik K. E. Magnusson, Gabriele Nagel, Goran Pershagen, Annette Peters, Debora Rizzuto, Roel C. H. Vermeulen, Sara Schramm, Massimo Stafoggia, Klea Katsouyanni, Bert Brunekreef, Gerard Hoek, Youn-Hee Lim, Zorana J. Andersen
Summary: In this study, the link between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically PM2.5, and mortality from Parkinson's Disease (PD) was investigated in seven European cohorts. The results suggest that long-term exposure to PM2.5 may contribute to PD mortality, even at levels below current EU air pollution limits.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Won-Mook Choi, Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip, Grace Lai-Hung Wong, W. Ray Kim, Leland J. Yee, Craig Brooks-Rooney, Tristan Curteis, Harriet Cant, Chien-Hung Chen, Chi-Yi Chen, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Young-Joo Jin, Dae Won Jun, Jin-Woo Kim, Neung Hwa Park, Cheng-Yuan Peng, Hyun Phil Shin, Woo Shin, Yao-Hsu Yang, Young-Suk Lim
Summary: This study compared the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) versus entecavir (ETV) treatment. The results showed that patients receiving TDF had a significantly lower HCC risk, especially those with HBeAg positivity.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chia-Ju Li, Tien-En Chang, Ming-Chih Hou, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Pei-Chang Lee, Nai-Wen Chang, Yu-Jen Chen, Fa-Yuah Lee
Summary: During the lockdown period from May 16 to July 26, 2021, patients had longer hospital stays and higher biliary tract enzyme levels, indicating more severe disease. However, ERCP could be safely and successfully performed even during the lockdown period without causing an increase in procedure-related complications and mortality.
JOURNAL OF THE CHINESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chia-Chu Fu, Cheng-Yi Wei, Chi-Jen Chu, Pei-Chang Lee, Teh-Ia Huo, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Yee Chao, Ming-Chih Hou, Jaw-Ching Wu, Chien-Wei Su
Summary: This study retrospectively enrolled 2198 patients with HCC and normal serum AFP levels. The results showed that liver functional reserve, anti-viral therapy, tumor size, vascular invasion, and treatment modalities were prognostic factors for HCC patients with normal serum AFP levels, while serum AFP levels themselves were not associated with prognosis.
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yong-Wen Leow, Wah-Kheong Chan, George Boon-Bee Goh, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong, Jian Gao Fan, Young Seok Kim, Seung Up Kim, Atsushi Nakajima, Wai-Kay Seto, I-Cheng Lee, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Yoon Jun Kim, Jang Jae Young, Wan Cheng Chow
Summary: We conducted a clinical study on patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to compare the severity, metabolic profile, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of patients with and without hepatic steatosis, as well as patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study found that a high proportion (59%) of CHB patients had hepatic steatosis. There was a gradual increase in liver function indicators, liver stiffness measurement, metabolic syndrome prevalence, and CVD risk from CHB patients without hepatic steatosis to CHB patients with hepatic steatosis to NAFLD patients. Therefore, CHB patients with hepatic steatosis should be diagnosed and managed according to their metabolic risk factors for better long-term outcomes.
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Thomas Talbot, Antonio D'Alessio, Matthias Pinter, Lorenz Balcar, Bernhard Scheiner, Thomas U. Marron, Tomi Jun, Sirish Dharmapuri, Celina Ang, Anwaar Saeed, Hannah Hildebrand, Mahvish Muzaffar, Claudia A. M. Fulgenzi, Suneetha Amara, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Anuhya Gampa, Anjana Pillai, Yinghong Wang, Uqba Khan, Pei-Chang Lee, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Bertram Bengsch, Dominik Bettinger, Yehia Mohamed, Ahmed Kaseb, Tiziana Pressiani, Nicola Personeni, Lorenza Rimassa, Naoshi Nishida, Masatoshi Kudo, Arndt Weinmann, Peter R. Galle, Ambreen Muhammed, Alessio Cortellini, Arndt Vogel, David J. Pinato
Summary: Different treatment strategies after the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include continuing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), switching to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and stopping anticancer therapy. This study found that continuing ICI treatment and sequential treatment of ICI and TKI were effective strategies. However, intrahepatic growth and new vascular invasion were associated with poorer prognosis.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Chih-Wei Huang, Bethany C. Y. Wu, Phung Anh Nguyen, Hsiao-Han Wang, Chih-Chung Kao, Pei-Chen Lee, Annisa Ristya Rahmanti, Jason C. Hsu, Hsuan-Chia Yang, Yu-Chuan Jack Li
Summary: This study demonstrates the application of artificial empathy based on facial emotion recognition to evaluate doctor-patient relationships. The results showed that doctors expressed more emotions than patients, and patients felt happier towards the end of the session, indicating a good doctor-patient relationship.
COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Te-Sheng Chang, Chung-Feng Huang, Hsing-Tao Kuo, Ching-Chu Lo, Chien-Wei Huang, Lee-Won Chong, Pin-Nan Cheng, Ming-Lun Yeh, Cheng-Yuan Peng, Chien-Yu Cheng, Jee-Fu Huang, Ming-Jong Bair, Chih-Lang Lin, Chi-Chieh Yang, Szu-Jen Wang, Tsai-Yuan Hsieh, Tzong-Hsi Lee, Pei-Lun Lee, Wen-Chih Wu, Chih-Lin Lin, Wei-Wen Su, Sheng-Shun Yang, Chia-Chi Wang, Jui-Ting Hu, Lein-Ray Mo, Chun-Ting Chen, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Chun-Chao Chang, Chia-Sheng Huang, Guei-Ying Chen, Chien-Neng Kao, Chi-Ming Tai, Chun-Jen Liu, Mei-Hsuan Lee, Pei-Chien Tsai, Chia-Yen Dai, Jia-Horng Kao, Han-Chieh Lin, Wang-Long Chuang, Chi-Yi Chen, Kuo-Chih Tseng, Chao-Hung Hung, Ming-Lung Yu
Summary: The study analyzed the data of Taiwanese patients with chronic hepatitis C infection receiving 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir therapy. The results showed good treatment efficacy with minimal adverse events. This is of great significance for the treatment of patients with compensated cirrhosis.
HEPATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Ying-Yeh Chen, David Gunnell, Chia-Kai Wu, Ya-Hui Hu, Pei-Chen Lee
Summary: By analyzing national registers in Taiwan, we found that parents who experienced the death of a child had an increased risk of mortality. This risk was higher for bereaved mothers than fathers. The cause of the child's death did not affect the risk, but parents whose child died from unexpected causes were at greater risk. Additionally, the risk was higher when the child was older than 1 year at the time of death.
PSYCHOSOMATIC MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chien-Hui Liu, Jiun-Yi Wang, Kun-Chia Chang, Ming-Chung Ko, Pei-Chen Lee, Chih-Ching Liu
Summary: Patients with young-onset dementia (YOD) are at increased risks of adverse outcomes after hospitalization for motor vehicle crash injury (MVCI). This retrospective cohort study found that YOD patients had higher rates of ICU admission, respiratory failure, in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and hospital costs compared to MVCI patients without YOD.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Shu-Yein Ho, Po-Hong Liu, Chia-Yang Hsu, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Jia- Liao, Chien-Wei Su, Ming-Chih Hou, Teh-Ia Huo
Summary: Liver functional reserve is critical in managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. This study compared four albumin-based liver reserve models (ALBI/EZ-ALBI/PALBI/PAL) versus MELD in HCC patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and found that all four albumin-based models were better prognostic tools than MELD scores. Among them, PALBI score was the best model for evaluating liver reserve.
Article
Oncology
Y. Linda Wu, Grace van Hyfte, Umut Ozbek, Marlene Reincke, Anuhya Gampa, Yehia I. Mohamed, Naoshi Nishida, Brooke Wietharn, Suneetha Amara, Pei-Chang Lee, Bernhard Scheiner, Lorenz Balcar, Matthias Pinter, Arndt Vogel, Arndt Weinmann, Anwaar Saeed, Anjana Pillai, Lorenza Rimassa, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Mahvish Muzaffar, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Ahmed O. Kaseb, Masatoshi Kudo, David J. Pinato, Celina Ang
Summary: Beta blocker use was not associated with overall survival, progression-free survival, or objective response rate in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Ya-Wen Hung, I-Cheng Lee, Chen-Ta Chi, Rheun-Chuan Lee, Chien-An Liu, Nai-Chi Chiu, Hsuen-En Hwang, Yee Chao, Ming-Chih Hou, Yi-Hsiang Huang
Summary: This study investigated the influence of radiologic morphology on the outcomes of initial and subsequent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results showed that radiologic morphology was significantly associated with treatment response rate and overall survival. Systemic therapy should be considered for patients with unfavorable radiologic patterns of intermediate-stage HCC after TACE.
Article
Surgery
Hsin-Ju Tsai, Ming-Ju Wu, Cheng-Hsu Chen, Sheng-Shun Yang, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Yan-Zin Chang, Horng-Rong Chang, Teng-Yu Lee
Summary: This hospital-based retrospective cohort study found that the prophylaxis strategy for HBV reactivation in kidney transplant recipients with resolved HBV infection remains unclear. The absence of anti-HBs antibody and the use of high-dose steroids were identified as independent risk factors for HBV reactivation. Therefore, the strategy of HBV antiviral prophylaxis may be defined according to the risk stratification.
TRANSPLANT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
