ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship between Kupffer cells (KCs) and liver diseases.MethodsThe related literatures about the research progress of KCs in liver diseases in recent years were collected and analyzed.ResultsKCs were an important component of the monocyte-macrophage system. In a specific environment, activated KCs participated in a variety of inflammatory reactions, immune tolerance, and damage to hepatocytes by presenting antigens, secreting cytokines and chemokines, phagocytosis, and so on. KCs could not only be activated into M1 to promote inflammatory reaction and aggravate hepatocyte injury, but also could be activated to M2 to play an anti-inflammatory effect and improve liver injury. The role of KCs in liver diseases was very complex, but it also had potential research value.ConclusionKCs can affect the progression of liver diseases through many mechanisms and can provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.
Fibropolycystic liver diseases (FLDs) is a rare genetic disorder, including bile duct hamartomas, congenital hepatic fibrosis, polycystic liver disease, Caroli’s disease, and choledochal cysts. Fibropolycystic liver diseases has received little clinical attention and exhibits a variety of imaging manifestations, leading to a high likelihood of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Through this case, we delineate the characteristic imaging manifestations of the disease and its underlying pathological mechanisms. Our objective is to enhance readers' comprehension of the disease and thereby reduce the rate of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of the disease.
Objective To summarize the current progress in diagnosis and treatment of polycystic liver disease, and provide ideas for further research direction and clinical practice of polycystic liver disease. Method The domestic and foreign literature about polycystic liver disease was reviewed, screened, and summarized. Results The diagnosis, evaluation, and classification of polycystic liver disease were mainly performed clinically by abdominal ultrasound and CT. Surgical treatment was the main treatment, including aspiration sclerotherapy, fenestration, segmental hepatectomy, and liver transplantation. Conclusions The classification and evaluation scheme of polycystic liver disease needs to be improved, and its medical treatment still needs further research. Estrogen receptor and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor are promising therapeutic targets.
Objective To summarize the mechanism and research progress of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) in various liver diseases and related drug development, providing theoretical basis for further mechanism exploration and clinical application. Method The literatures on the mechanism of KLF2 in liver diseases at home and abroad were collected and summarized. Results KLF2 was widely distributed and had various functions in human body, mainly regulating the growth, differentiation and function of endothelial cells, inhibiting pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic gene expression, and participating in important physiological processes such as liver inflammation, oxidative stress and thrombosis, and affecting the occurrence and development of various liver diseases. The regulation of KLF2 expression by statins had been widely used in the treatment of liver diseases. Conclusion KLF2 regulates the expression of related molecules through a variety of pathways and affects the functions of various cells in the liver, which is the focus of research on improving liver injury.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application value of imaging techniques in the noninvasive diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), with a view to providing a reference basis for early screening and precise diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThe literature on research progress of ultrasound, CT, MRI and other imaging techniques in the diagnosis of MAFLD in recent years were reviewed and the advantages, limitations, and clinical application prospects of different methods were analyzed. ResultsThe core of MAFLD diagnosis lies in the early non-invasive assessment of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Current imaging techniques such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI are used in the diagnosis of MAFLD. Ultrasound is convenient and cost-effective, but its accuracy is operator-dependent; CT can quantify liver fat content, but carries radiation risks; MRI-derived proton density fat fraction is currently the reference standard for non-invasive diagnosis, offering high accuracy, yet it is more costly and has limited accessibility. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis can improve diagnostic performance, but their clinical utility still requires further validation. ConclusionsCurrent imaging techniques such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI play significant roles in the non-invasive diagnosis of MAFLD, with each method having its own advantages. Clinical selection should consider accuracy, accessibility, and economic factors. Future research should focus on optimizing existing technologies, exploring multimodal imaging integration, and developing artificial intelligence assisted diagnostics to enhance early detection rates and guide personalized treatment.
ObjectiveObjective To summarize the latest research progress on the copper death mechanism in metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and to provide new avenues for the treatment of MAFLD. MethodsWe reviewed recent domestic and international research on copper and copper death in MAFLD, and summarized the role of copper death mechanisms in the pathogenesis of MAFLD and related treatments. ResultsCopper death is primarily caused by abnormal intracellular copper accumulation binding to acylated proteins in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, leading to protein oligomerization, downregulation of iron-sulfur cluster protein expression, triggering a toxic stress response, and ultimately cell death. The occurrence and progression of MAFLD are closely associated with genes associated with the copper death pathway. Imbalanced copper metabolism can lead to insulin resistance, causing abnormalities in blood glucose and lipid metabolism, promoting fat accumulation in the liver, and ultimately contributing to the development of MAFLD. Targeting genes involved in the copper death pathway can delay the progression of MAFLD. ConclusionThe occurrence and progression of MAFLD are closely linked to the copper death signaling pathway, with copper metabolism imbalance as a core component. This pathway not only directly leads to hepatocyte death but also triggers insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism, jointly driving the progression of MAFLD. Therefore, targeted regulation of the copper death pathway is a novel therapeutic strategy to slow the progression of MAFLD.
Objective To investigate the changes of indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (ICGR15) of autologous peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in end-stage liver disease (end-stage liver, disease, ESLD) patients with different Child-Pugh grades during before and after transplantation of 3, 6, 12, 36, and 60 months. Methods The CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells transplantation were performed in 60 cases of advanced liver cirrhosis with different Child-Pugh grades who were ineffectively treated with strictly conservative treatment and complied with the criterion of liver transplantation. The ICGR15 were performed before transplantation and in 3, 6, 12, 36 and 60 months after transplantation. And the results of each time point in each Child-Pugh classification group were compared, and the rate of change of ICGR15 value were compared between each Child-Pugh classification group. Results The ICGR15 values of the Child-Pugh grading groups all decreased with time. In Child A group, there were respectively significant differences between the 6 months, 12 months, 36 months, and 60 months groups after transplantation and preoperative and 3 months groups after transplantation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between preoperative and 3 months group after transplantation (P>0.05), and there was significant difference between the 12 months and the 60 months group after transplantation (P<0.05). As same as Child A group, there were also significant differences between that time groups in the Child B group (P<0.05), but there were also significant differences between the 3 months group after transplantation and preoperative (P<0.05), and there were respectively significant differences between the 6 months and 12 months, 36 months, and 60 months group after transplantation in the Child B group (P<0.05). Also in the Child C group, there were significant differences between that time groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between preoperative and 3 months group after transplantation (P>0.05), and there were respectively significant differences between the 6 months and 12 months, 36 months, and 60 months group after transplantation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of ICGR15 between Child-Pugh classification groups. Conclusion Autologous peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells transplantation can effectively improve the liver function reserve capacity of ESLD patients and improve the safety of operation for a long time.
Objective To investigate the risk factors for end-stage liver disease (ESLD) complicated with fungal esophagitis (FE). Methods The clinical data of ESLD patients who underwent gastroscopy during their hospitalization in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The ESLD patients with FE were selected as the study group, and the ESLD patients without FE during the same period were included as the control group by 1∶2 propensity score matching method. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of ESLD complicated with FE. Results A total of 75 ESLD patients with FE and 150 ESLD patients without FE were enrolled. There was no significant difference in age, gender, decompensated cirrhosis, liver cancer, diabetes mellitus, or etiology of ESLD between the two groups (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that longer hospital stay [odds ratio (OR)=1.115, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.069, 1.164)], with invasive procedures [OR=10.820, 95%CI (4.393, 26.647)], and higher total bilirubin [OR=1.015, 95%CI (1.005, 1.024)] were risk factors for ESLD complicated with FE (P<0.05). In the study group, 41 patients were treated with antifungal drugs, and 4 of them developed invasive fungal infection. Among the 34 patients who did not receive antifungal drugs, 10 developed invasive fungal infection. Conclusions ESLD patients with longer hospital stay, worse liver function, and invasive procedures are more likely to develop FE, and regular gastroscopy should be performed. Once FE is found, active antifungal treatment should be taken to reduce the occurrence of invasive fungal infection and improve the prognosis of patients.
Objective To summarize advances in the application of machine learning in the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. Method The recent literatures on the progress of machine learning in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of liver diseases were reviewed. Results Machine learning could be used to diagnose and categorize substantial liver lesions, tumourous lesions and rare liver diseases at an early stage, which could facilitate clinicians to take timely and appropriate treatment measures. Machine learning was helpful in informing clinicians in choosing the best treatment decision, which was conducive to reducing medical risks. It could also help to determine the prognosis of patients in a comprehensive manner, and provide assistance in formulating early rehabilitation treatment plans, adjusting follow-up strategies and improving future prognosis. Conclusions Multiple types of machine learning algorithms have achieved positive results in the clinical application of liver diseases by constructing different prediction models, and have great potential and excellent prospects in multiple aspects such as diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of liver diseases.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease and its possible clinical application value.MethodThe current literatures about the preventive and therapeutic effects of phytochemicals on alcoholic liver disease at home and abroad were reviewed.ResultsPhyto- chemicals could prevent and treat alcoholic liver disease by reducing inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, and improving lipid metabolism. They had the advantage of multi-targets.ConclusionPhytochemicals play an important role in the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease, and it also lay a solid foundation for translational medicine.