ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of Shuganning injection in the treatment of liver injury by observing the clinical outcome of patients with liver injury after treatment with Shuganning injection and comparing it with reduced glutathione （GSH）. MethodsThis study was conducted among 175 patients with liver injury who attended 6 hospitals in China （Beijing YouAn Hospital， Capital Medical University； Nanyang First People’s Hospital； The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University； The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital； The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University； The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University） from April 25， 2019 to February 28， 2022. The patients were divided into experimental group （89 patients treated with Shuganning injection） and control group （86 patients treated with GSH）， and the course of treatment was 4 weeks for both groups. Related indicators were recorded before treatment， after treatment， and after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks， including liver function parameters， blood biochemical parameters， blood lipids， coagulation profiles， liver fibrosis markers， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， and ultrasound findings， as well as adverse events during treatment. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison of observation indicators before treatment， at week 4 of treatment， and after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks. When the efficacy evaluation of TCM syndromes was used as the outcome， a pooled analysis was performed for the effective cases and the markedly effective cases， and a Logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio （OR） and its 95%CI. ResultsAfter 4 weeks of treatment with Shuganning injection， the patients showed significant reductions in TCM syndrome score （P<0.001） and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase， alanine aminotransferase， total bilirubin， and direct bilirubin （all P<0.001） and a significant increase in the level of albumin （P=0.002）， and these significant improvements persisted after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks. Furthermore， compared with the control group， the experimental group had a significantly higher proportion of patients assessed as effective or markedly effective cases （48.31% vs 32.56%， P=0.033）. Compared with the control group， the experimental group had a significantly greater change in TCM syndrome score at weeks 1-4 of treatment and after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks （P<0.05）. At week 4 of treatment， the experimental group had a significantly greater reduction in alanine aminotransferase than the control group （P<0.05）， and at week 8 after drug withdrawal， the experimental group had a significantly greater reduction in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase than the control group （all P<0.05）. One patient in the experimental group （1.12%） experienced an adverse event， which was determined to be associated with the progression of viral hepatitis. ConclusionShuganning injection can effectively improve liver injury， with good long-term efficacy and a low incidence rate of adverse reactions.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the predominant form of chronic liver disease worldwide. This study was designed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of MAFLD within the general Chinese population and to identify the contributory risk factors for liver fibrosis among MAFLD individuals. METHODS: The participants were recruited from a cohort undergoing routine health evaluations at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between May 2019 and March 2023. The diagnosis of MAFLD was based on the established clinical practice guidelines. The fibrosis-4 index score (FIB-4) was employed to evaluate hepatic fibrosis, with a FIB-4 score of ≥1.3 indicating significant fibrosis. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors associated with significant hepatic fibrosis in MAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 22,970 participants who underwent comprehensive medical examinations were included in the analysis. The overall proportion of MAFLD was 28.77% (6608/22,970), with 16.87% (1115/6608) of these patients showing significant fibrosis as assessed using FIB-4. Independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients were male (odds ratio [OR] = 0.676, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.558-0.821), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity (OR = 2.611, 95% CI: 1.557-4.379), body mass index ≥23.00 kg/m 2 (OR = 0.632, 95% CI: 0.470-0.851), blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg (OR = 1.885, 95% CI: 1.564-2.272), and plasma glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L (OR = 1.815, 95% CI: 1.507-2.186) (all P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of MAFLD in an urban Chinese population is 28.77%. About 16.87% of MAFLD patients presented with significant liver fibrosis. Independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients should be noticed.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Adult ; Fatty Liver/pathology* ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Logistic Models ; Urban Population ; East Asian People

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that endangers human health globally. Diagnosis and treatment at an early stage are the keys to receiving radical treatment and improving survival rates. A clinical solution for HCC diagnosis at an early stage is the combination of serum markers and imaging technology. A basic strategy for screening and diagnosis at an early stage with a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio is the alpha-fetoprotein combined with abdominal ultrasound. The HCC diagnostic rate at an early stage can be improved with AFP combined with des-gamma carboxy prothrombin, aldehyde-keto reductase 1B10, liquid biopsy, and imaging tests. The radical treatment for early-stage HCC has entered a new era of diversification. The effectiveness of radical treatment can assist in improving the combined use of small molecule targeted medications and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The prevention and control of liver cancer will move toward a new stage of greater precision and efficiency with the advancement of biotechnology and policy promotion.

The diagnosis of small liver cancer is crucial to improving the survival rate of patients. However, traditional diagnostic methods are highly invasive, so the development of non-invasive diagnostic techniques is particularly important. In recent years, non-invasive diagnostic techniques have shown good prospects in the early-stage detection of liver cancer. Therefore, current research focuses on biomarkers, imaging technologies, and artificial intelligence applications. This article aims to review the latest advances in non-invasive diagnostic technologies, discuss their advantages and challenges in clinical application, and look forward to future research directions so as to provide a reference for further improving the diagnosis rate of small liver cancer.

Objective:To establish and explore a novel model and its clinical application value based on abnormal des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) for the early-stage diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:A total of 420 cases with chronic HBV infection with nodular liver lesions examined by imaging at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to June 2024 were retrospectively selected. They were divided into the HBV-HCC group (182 cases) and the control group (238 cases) according to the current HCC diagnostic criteria. The basic information of patients, liver-related biochemical indicators, serum DCP, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and the efficacy of combined detection in diagnosing early-stage HCC were collected and analyzed. A DSGAA model based on DCP (D) combined with gender (S), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT, G), AFP (A) and age (A) as independent variables was constructed. The diagnostic performance of the novel model was compared with that of the traditional model through nomogram visualization output and calibration curve.Results:The age, sex, hemoglobin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and GGT levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those of the control group ( P<0.05). The positivity detection rate in patients with HBV-HCC was significantly higher in DCP than that of AFP (85.71% vs. 59.89%, P<0.05). The abnormal detection rate of DCP in patients with AFP-negative was 76.7%. The sensitivity for diagnosing HCC was significantly higher in DCP than AFP (73.63% vs. 64.29%, P<0.05), with specificity of 83.6% in all. The specificity for diagnosing early-stage HCC was 89.09%, surpassing that of AFP at 68.06% ( P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the constructed DSGAA diagnostic model was 0.8841, with an optimal cutoff value of 0.377, a sensitivity of 80.22%, and a specificity of 86.13%. The AUC for diagnosing early-stage HCC was 0.8122, with a sensitivity of 66.18%, and a specificity of 86.13%, and the diagnostic efficacy was higher than other models ( P<0.05). Conclusion:DCP has superior diagnostic efficacy for HBV-related HCC, and the DSGAA model is expected to be used as a new method for screening and diagnosing early-stage HBV-related HCC.

Objective:To explore the impact of the Yiqi Huoxue formula combined with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) antiviral therapy on the serum N-glycan abundance in patients with hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis so as to clarify the application value of the oligosaccharide chain test (GT) for dynamic monitoring of the liver fibrosis progression.Methods:Sixty-two cases diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B at the Department of Hepatology, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, between January 2020 and December 2022 were enrolled and divided into a Yiqi Huoxue Formula (YQHX) combined with NAs group and an NAs monotherapy group ( n=31), with 31 cases in each group for a total of 96 weeks of follow-up. Patient's basic clinical characteristics and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were collected. GT was used simultaneously to detect the serum N-glycan profile and abundance changes. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Enumeration data were expressed as number of cases and percentages (%). The χ2 test was used to compare constituent ratios between two or more groups. Correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman method, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results:The proportion of patients was significantly higher in the YQHX combined with NAs group than the NAs monotherapy group [61.29% (19/31) vs. 9.68% (3/31), P<0.05] with no progression in liver fibrosis staging following 96 weeks of follow-up. The abundance of the N-glycan marker peak 8 [triantennary N-glycan (NA3)] had resulted in significant change for liver fibrosis improvements ( P<0.05), which predicts liver fibrosis progression and reversal in populations sensitive to traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusion:The combined application of Yiqi Huoxue formula and NAs can significantly promote the improvement rate of hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis. Serum N-glycan peak 8 may serve as a potential biomarker for monitoring the reversal of hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that endangers human health globally. Diagnosis and treatment at an early stage are the keys to receiving radical treatment and improving survival rates. A clinical solution for HCC diagnosis at an early stage is the combination of serum markers and imaging technology. A basic strategy for screening and diagnosis at an early stage with a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio is the alpha-fetoprotein combined with abdominal ultrasound. The HCC diagnostic rate at an early stage can be improved with AFP combined with des-gamma carboxy prothrombin, aldehyde-keto reductase 1B10, liquid biopsy, and imaging tests. The radical treatment for early-stage HCC has entered a new era of diversification. The effectiveness of radical treatment can assist in improving the combined use of small molecule targeted medications and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The prevention and control of liver cancer will move toward a new stage of greater precision and efficiency with the advancement of biotechnology and policy promotion.

The diagnosis of small liver cancer is crucial to improving the survival rate of patients. However, traditional diagnostic methods are highly invasive, so the development of non-invasive diagnostic techniques is particularly important. In recent years, non-invasive diagnostic techniques have shown good prospects in the early-stage detection of liver cancer. Therefore, current research focuses on biomarkers, imaging technologies, and artificial intelligence applications. This article aims to review the latest advances in non-invasive diagnostic technologies, discuss their advantages and challenges in clinical application, and look forward to future research directions so as to provide a reference for further improving the diagnosis rate of small liver cancer.

Objective:To establish and explore a novel model and its clinical application value based on abnormal des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) for the early-stage diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:A total of 420 cases with chronic HBV infection with nodular liver lesions examined by imaging at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to June 2024 were retrospectively selected. They were divided into the HBV-HCC group (182 cases) and the control group (238 cases) according to the current HCC diagnostic criteria. The basic information of patients, liver-related biochemical indicators, serum DCP, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and the efficacy of combined detection in diagnosing early-stage HCC were collected and analyzed. A DSGAA model based on DCP (D) combined with gender (S), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT, G), AFP (A) and age (A) as independent variables was constructed. The diagnostic performance of the novel model was compared with that of the traditional model through nomogram visualization output and calibration curve.Results:The age, sex, hemoglobin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and GGT levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those of the control group ( P<0.05). The positivity detection rate in patients with HBV-HCC was significantly higher in DCP than that of AFP (85.71% vs. 59.89%, P<0.05). The abnormal detection rate of DCP in patients with AFP-negative was 76.7%. The sensitivity for diagnosing HCC was significantly higher in DCP than AFP (73.63% vs. 64.29%, P<0.05), with specificity of 83.6% in all. The specificity for diagnosing early-stage HCC was 89.09%, surpassing that of AFP at 68.06% ( P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the constructed DSGAA diagnostic model was 0.8841, with an optimal cutoff value of 0.377, a sensitivity of 80.22%, and a specificity of 86.13%. The AUC for diagnosing early-stage HCC was 0.8122, with a sensitivity of 66.18%, and a specificity of 86.13%, and the diagnostic efficacy was higher than other models ( P<0.05). Conclusion:DCP has superior diagnostic efficacy for HBV-related HCC, and the DSGAA model is expected to be used as a new method for screening and diagnosing early-stage HBV-related HCC.

Objective:To explore the impact of the Yiqi Huoxue formula combined with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) antiviral therapy on the serum N-glycan abundance in patients with hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis so as to clarify the application value of the oligosaccharide chain test (GT) for dynamic monitoring of the liver fibrosis progression.Methods:Sixty-two cases diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B at the Department of Hepatology, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, between January 2020 and December 2022 were enrolled and divided into a Yiqi Huoxue Formula (YQHX) combined with NAs group and an NAs monotherapy group ( n=31), with 31 cases in each group for a total of 96 weeks of follow-up. Patient's basic clinical characteristics and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were collected. GT was used simultaneously to detect the serum N-glycan profile and abundance changes. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Enumeration data were expressed as number of cases and percentages (%). The χ2 test was used to compare constituent ratios between two or more groups. Correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman method, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results:The proportion of patients was significantly higher in the YQHX combined with NAs group than the NAs monotherapy group [61.29% (19/31) vs. 9.68% (3/31), P<0.05] with no progression in liver fibrosis staging following 96 weeks of follow-up. The abundance of the N-glycan marker peak 8 [triantennary N-glycan (NA3)] had resulted in significant change for liver fibrosis improvements ( P<0.05), which predicts liver fibrosis progression and reversal in populations sensitive to traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusion:The combined application of Yiqi Huoxue formula and NAs can significantly promote the improvement rate of hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis. Serum N-glycan peak 8 may serve as a potential biomarker for monitoring the reversal of hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis.