1.Impact of visceral fat area on significant liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and establishment of a predictive model
Jingkai YUAN ; Fengming ZHAO ; Huangqi LIN ; Meijie SHI ; Huanming XIAO ; Yubao XIE ; Xiaoling CHI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):312-318
ObjectiveTo investigate whether visceral fat area (VFA) is an independent risk factor for significant liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on clinical data, and to establish an effective diagnostic model. MethodsA total of 222 NAFLD patients who attended Department of Hepatology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from January 2021 to April 2025 were enrolled, and according to liver stiffness measurement (≥8 kPa or not), they were divided into significant fibrosis group and non-significant fibrosis group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed at a ratio of 1∶1 to balance the baseline data between the two groups. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation of VFA and other indicators with significant liver fibrosis; univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify whether VFA was an independent risk factor for significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to assess the predictive performance of related indicators. ResultsA total of 45 patients with significant liver fibrosis and 177 patients without significant liver fibrosis were enrolled, and after PSM, 90 patients (45 pairs) were finally included in analysis. Compared with the non-significant fibrosis group, the significant fibrosis group had significantly higher levels of body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and VFA, as well as a significantly higher proportion of patients with visceral fat obesity or three or more metabolic risk factors (all P<0.05). VFA, BMI, AST, and HbA1c were strongly correlated with significant liver fibrosis (all r>0.5, all P <0.05), and ALT, GGT, UA, FBG, and CAP were significantly positively correlated with significant liver fibrosis (r=0.3 — 0.5, all P<0.05). VFA (odds ratio [OR]=1.040, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.018 — 1.062, P<0.05), FBG (OR=2.372, 95%CI: 1.199 — 4.691, P<0.05), and AST (OR=1.032, 95%CI: 1.003 — 1.058, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients. The new diagnostic model based on VFA, FBG, and AST (with an area under the ROC curve [AUC] of 0.907) had a significantly better performance than aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (AUC=0.834), fibrosis-4 (AUC=0.660), triglyceride-glucose index (AUC=0.656), and NAFLD fibrosis score (AUC=0.768) in predicting significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients (all P<0.05). ConclusionVFA is an independent risk factor for significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients, and the noninvasive diagnostic model based on VFA, FBG, and AST can effectively predict the onset of significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.
2.Value of different noninvasive diagnostic models in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices with significant portal hypertension in compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis
Cheng LIU ; Jiayi ZENG ; Mengbing FANG ; Zhiheng CHEN ; Bei GUI ; Fengming ZHAO ; Jingkai YUAN ; Chaozhen ZHANG ; Meijie SHI ; Yubao XIE ; Xiaoling CHI ; Huanming XIAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):263-268
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of different noninvasive diagnostic models in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices since there is a high risk of esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension, and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices. MethodsA total of 108 patients with significant portal hypertension due to compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who attended Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to November 2023 were enrolled, and according to the presence or absence of esophageal and gastric varices under gastroscopy, they were divided into esophageal and gastric varices group (GOV group) and non-esophageal and gastric varices group (NGOV group). Related data were collected, including age, sex, imaging findings, and laboratory markers. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; the least significant difference t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of five scoring models, i.e., fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), LOK index, LPRI, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR). The binary logistic regression method was used to establish a combined model, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was compared between the combined model and each scoring model used alone. The Delong test was used to compare the AUC value between any two noninvasive diagnostic models. ResultsThere were 55 patients in the GOV group and 53 patients in the NGOV group. Compared with the NGOV group, the GOV group had a significantly higher age (52.64±1.44 years vs 47.96±1.68 years, t=0.453, P<0.05) and significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase [42.00 (24.00 — 17.00) U/L vs 82.00 (46.00 — 271.00) U/L, Z=-3.065, P<0.05], aspartate aminotransferase [44.00 (32.00 — 96.00) U/L vs 62.00 (42.50 — 154.50) U/L,Z=-2.351, P<0.05], and platelet count [100.00 (69.00 — 120.00)×109/L vs 119.00 (108.50 — 140.50)×109/L, Z=-3.667, P<0.05]. The ROC curve analysis showed that FIB-4, LOK index, LPRI, and AAR used alone had an accuracy of 0.667, 0.681, 0.730, and 0.639, respectively, in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices (all P<0.05), and the positive diagnostic rates of GOV were 69.97%, 65.28%, 67.33%, and 58.86%, respectively, with no significant differences in AUC values (all P>0.05), while APRI used alone had no diagnostic value (P>0.05). A combined model (LAF) was established based on the binary logistic regression analysis and had an AUC of 0.805 and a positive diagnostic rate of GOV of 75.80%, with a significantly higher AUC than FIB-4, LOK index, LPRI, and AAR used alone (Z=-2.773,-2.479,-2.206, and-2.672, all P<0.05). ConclusionFIB-4, LOK index, LPRI, and AAR have a similar diagnostic value for esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension, and APRI alone has no diagnostic value. The combined model LAF had the best diagnostic efficacy, which provides a certain reference for clinical promotion and application.
3.Analysis on clinical characteristics and pathological characteristics of 6 cases of congenital liver fibrosis
Yubao XIE ; Junmin JIANG ; Huanming XIAO ; Meijie SHI ; Pengtao ZHAO ; Yingxian LI ; Xiaoling CHI
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(20):3055-3059,3064
Objective To explore the clinical features,imaging and pathological characteristics of the patients with congenital liver fibrosis(CHF).Methods The medical case data of 6 patients with pathological-ly diagnosed CHF in this hospital from January 2011 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed,and the clini-cal menifastations,laboratory indicators,imaging characteristics,pathological manifestations,treatment and outcomes were summarized.Results The clinical classification in 6 cases of CHF was mainly portal hyperten-sion(66.67%),and the most common clinical manifestations and signs were hepatosplenomegaly(83.33%),melena(50.00%)and abdominal distension(33.33%).Total bil irubin was normal,and only 2 cases(33.33%)were mildly elevated.The prothrombin time was in the normal range in 4 cases(66.67%),and mild abnormality in 2 cases(33.33%).Imaging showed abnormal liver morphology in 6 cases,spleen enlarge-ment in 5 cases(83.33%),portal vein widening in 3 cases(50.00%),diffuse dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts in 2 cases(33.33%),and complicating Caroli disease in 1 case(16.67%).The pathological manifesta-tions were normal liver parenchymal cells,periportal fibrosis,and manifold-manifold bridging-like fibrosis.Six cases received the conventional liver protection therapy,3 cases underwent splenectomy+pericardia vascular dissection,the median follow-up time was 68.2 months,1 case died due to liver failure,and 5 cases were rela-tively stable.Conclusion The patients with hepatic disease whose portal hypertension is inconsistent to the degree of hepatic function damage,especially those complicating polycystic kidney disease should perfect the liver puncture pathological examination and genetic testing to clarify the diagnosis,and conduct the genetic counseling and intervention treatment as soon as possible.
4.Role of traditional Chinese Medicine in prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis: Current status, challenges, and thoughts
Meijie SHI ; Huanming XIAO ; Yubao XIE ; Sheng LI ; Folai ZENG ; Xiaoling CHI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2023;39(6):1280-1286
In recent years, significant breakthroughs have been made in the research on the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis. In terms of clinical research, several multicenter randomized double-blind controlled studies have been conducted with liver pathological changes as the main efficacy evaluation indicator, which have improved the level of evidence in clinical research on the TCM prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis. As for basic research, in-depth studies have been conducted on the mechanism of action of TCM in intervening against liver fibrosis at various levels, including the effect on HSC activation, apoptosis and autophagy, inhibition of liver inflammatory injury, immunoregulation, and inhibition of hepatic sinusoidal capillarization, thereby highlighting the advantages and research difficulties of TCM through "multiple components, targets, and pathways". Under the guidance of Implementation Plan for the Major Projects of Revitalizing and Developing TCM, it is crucial to conduct high-quality clinical and basic research on TCM in the treatment of liver fibrosis, produce high-quality industry achievements, and thus help TCM to be recognized around the world.
5.Advances and thoughts in traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis
Huanming XIAO ; Meijie SHI ; Yubao XIE ; Xiaoling CHI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2023;39(2):260-266
Liver fibrosis is a necessary intermediate process from the progression of chronic hepatitis B to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. In recent years, breakthroughs have been made in the research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis. For the purpose of improving clinical outcome, multidisciplinary industry-university-research studies are conducted to explain the biological basis of TCM syndromes of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis, and establishment and development of a non-invasive diagnostic model with TCM characteristics, optimization of TCM/integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment regimens, and elaboration on the scientific connotation of TCM treatment can help TCM for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis to enter the global world.
6.Clinical Experience of Treating Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease with Huangqi (Radix Astragali) in Lingnan (岭南) Area
Zhiheng CHEN ; Bowen GAO ; Chaozhen ZHANG ; Meijie SHI ; Huanming XIAO ; Yubao XIE ; Xiaoling CHI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;64(17):1819-1823
Based on the unique syndrome characteristics of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in Lingnan (岭南) area, this paper discussed the clinical experience of Huangqi (Radix Astragali) in the treatment of MAFLD in Lingnan area. It is summarized that spleen deficiency and yang weakness, and internal accumulation of damp-turbidity are the source of the disease, and at the early stage, Huangqi, commonly 15~30 g, could be used to fortify the spleen and warm the earth, thereby making the deficiency fire latent, as well as raise the clear and warm the exterior so as to inhibit damp-turbidity; medication needs to be progressively supplemented, and can be used together with Taizishen (Radix Pseudostellariae), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Fuling (Poria), and Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae) to back up the earth and inhibit dampness. Qi stagnation and blood constraint, yin dampness and heat accumulation are the pathogenesis of disease progression. Huangqi should be taken to invigorate the spleen and flourish the liver, unblock yang, and move stagnation. The dosage is often maintained at 30~60 g, to circulate the qi and unblock yang qi in the middle jiao (焦), usually combined with Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) and Yujin (Radix Curcumae) integrating warm and cool medicinals. Stubborn turbid and fat condensing in the liver is a severe stage of the disease and may be concurrent with various pathogens such as dampness, phlegm, and heat, for which 60~90 g Huangqi should be used to invigorate blood and disperse fat, reinforce healthy qi and expel pathogens, often with medicinals that can disperse fat and direct the turbid downward such as Shanzha (Fructus Crataegi), Juemingzi (Semen Cassiae), Lulutong (Fructus Liquidambaris) and Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis). When prescribing, it is suggested to combine with other medicinals according to the season, thereby adjusting the ascending and descending of the property of Huangqi, thereby conforming to the nature of the four seasons.
7.Application of imaging evaluation in endovascular recanalization of non-acute symptomatic intracranial large artery occlusion
Qiuxia XIE ; Zhongxian YANG ; Min LUO ; Yubao LIU
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2022;30(1):32-36
Many studies have shown that endovascular recanalization is feasible for the treatment of non-acute symptomatic intracranial large artery occlusion. However, its incidence of perioperative complications is relatively high. Appropriate imaging evaluation can better observe the occluded segments of the vessels before procedure, thereby guiding the choice of clinical treatment.
8.Clinical observation of mucosal injury after high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Dianzhi WANG ; Li LI ; Wenpeng HAO ; Zhanying WANG ; Yubao BAI ; Ying WANG ; Yunxing XIE ; Binghong HAN ; Harbin Jun MA
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2020;29(5):271-274
Objective:To investigate mucosal injury after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) chemotherapy in treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and to analyze the association with methotrexate blood concentration, risk stratification and clinical efficacy.Methods:The data of 95 children with ALL who received 539 times of HD-MTX chemotherapy in the First Hospital of Harbin from November 2015 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and the association of mucosal injury with methotrexate blood concentration, disease risk degree and clinical efficacy was also analyzed.Results:Among 95 children who received 539 times of HD-MTX chemotherapy, the total incidence of mucosal injury was 8.4% (45/539); the incidence of mucosal injury was 4.6% (11/239), 7.6% (8/105), 13.3% (26/195), respectively in the low-risk group, middle-risk group and high-risk group. With the elevation of disease risk, the incidence of mucosal injury was increased ( χ2 = 10.787, P < 0.05). There was no correlation of the degree of mucosal injury with methotrexate blood concentration and disease risk degree (all P > 0.05), and the mucosal injury was not related with the clinical efficacy ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:After the application of HD-MTX in children with ALL, adjustment of the dose of rescue drug by monitoring of methotrexate blood concentration can improve the safety of therapeutic drugs.
9.Effect of TET2 gene mutation on the curative efficacy of myelodysplastic syndromes in children
Yubao BAI ; Dianzhi WANG ; Zhanying WANG ; Wenpeng HAO ; Ying WANG ; Yunxing XIE ; Binghong HAN ; Jun MA
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2020;29(7):415-418
Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect of low-dose arsenous acid/tretinoin with or without low-dose cytarabine induction regimen on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with TET2 gene mutation in children.Methods:Nine children with MDS who were hospitalized at the First Hospital of Harbin from March 2009 to April 2018 were collected, including 3 cases of refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC), 4 cases of MDS with excess of blasts type Ⅰ (MDS-EBⅠ) and 2 cases of MDS with excess of blasts type Ⅱ (MDS-EBⅡ). The next-generation gene sequencing method (NGS) was applied to detect the TET2 gene mutation in bone marrow cells of children with MDS. The low-dose arsenous acid/tretinoin with or without low-dose cytarabine induction regimen was adopted to conduct tiered therapy on children with MDS. The clinical efficacy was assessed in line with the MDS response evaluation criteria adopted by the MDS International Working Group (IWG) in 2006.Results:Among the 9 patients, the short-term clinical efficacy was observed in 8 cases. Two patients with TET2 gene mutation achieved the short-term clinical efficacy of bone marrow complete remission (mCR) and hematological improvement (HI). Among 7 patients without TET2 gene mutation, 4 patients obtained CR, 1 patients obtained mCR and HI, and 1 patients obtained stable disease (SD) in terms of the short-term clinical efficacy.Conclusion:The low-dose arsenous acid/tretinoin with or without low-dose cytarabine regimen may be beneficial to MDS children with TET2 gene mutation.
10.Sensitivity and Specificity of MDFS Scoring System in Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B
Guangjun TIAN ; Hongcai LIANG ; Zehao LU ; Minling CAO ; Yubao XIE ; Yingxian LI ; Xiaoling CHI ; Pengtao ZHAO ; Huanming XIAO ; Shuduo WU ; Junmin JIANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2017;34(4):469-474
Objective To establish a simple scoring system for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and to observe its sensitivity and specificity. Methods Two hundred and thirty-three patients diagnosed as CHB by liver biopsy were divided into model group (N = 154) and validation group (N = 79). The general information, biochemical parameters and imaging data of all patients were observed. With hepatic fibrosis being obvious or not as the end point of primary study in the model group, we established a simple scoring system for the diagnosis. The cut-off, sensitivity and specificity of the system were tested in the model group by ROC curve, and its diagnostic efficacy was tested in the validation group. Results(1) A simple scoring system for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis called MDFS was established in the model group, and the dimensions of the system included sex, HBV-DNA, Fibroscan (FS) value and splenomegaly. In MDFS, male, HBV-DNA≥ 107 U/mL,FS value≥7.3 kPa, and splenomegaly were assigned 1 point, -2 points, 3 points, and 2 points respectively. (2) The best cut-off value in MDFS was 2 points.(3) ROC curve of the model group indicated that the specificity and sensitivity were 92.86% and 54.76% respectively, the area under curve(AUC) was 0.790, and the Youden index was 0.4762. In the validation group, the diagnostic cut-off value was over 2 points, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were 52.17%, 82.35%, 2.96, and 0.58 respectively. (4) The scoring results of MDFS for different traditional Chinese medical syndromes of CHB showed that the scores of blood stasis blocking collaterals > damp-heat accumulation > deficiency of spleen and kidney yang> liver depression and spleen deficiency = stagnation of liver Qi. Conclusion The MDFS diagnostic scoring system has medium efficiency. The specificity of MDFS is relatively high and MDFs has a relatively low misdiagnosis rate for the diagnosis of obvious hepatic fibrosis in CHB. The MDFS is expected to be a noninvasive and simple diagnosing way for hepatic fibrosis in CHB.

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