Recently， the American College of Gastroenterology （ACG） released the clinical guidelines on perioperative risk assessment and management of patients with cirrhosis， proposing a comprehensive approach for perioperative risk assessment and management in these patients. The guidelines mainly focus on the severity of liver diseases， extrahepatic comorbidities， and surgery-specific factors， with an emphasis on individualized risk stratification using validated risk assessment tools （such as the VOCAL-Penn score） for patients with cirrhosis. This article gives an excerpt of the key statements in the guidelines.

Recently， Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver published the recommendations for the diagnosis and management of non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis （NCPF）/idiopathic portal hypertension （IPH）. The guidelines mainly elaborate on the definition， diagnosis， histological features， natural history， and management of NCPF/IPH， in order to strengthen the understanding of NCPF/IPH-related issues and establish a global consensus. This article makes an excerpt of the key statements in the guidelines.

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of the combined ac-tion of high-fat diet-induced obesity and the aflatoxin B1(AFB1)on hepatic oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.Thirty-six rats of similar weight and 4 weeks old were randomly divided into 4 groups,with 9 rats in each group:the blank control group(basal diet),the AFB1 group(0.4 mg/kg AFB1+basal diet),the HFD group(high-fat diet),and the HFD+AFB1 group(high-fat diet+0.4 mg/kg AFB1).Histological changes and lipid deposition were observed via hematox-ylin-eosin(HE)staining and Oil Red O staining.Levels of oxidative stress and inflammation-relat-ed factors were measured using commercial assay kits.The relative protein expression levels of factors involved in the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway were assessed by Western blot analysis.The HE staining results showed that in the AFB1 group,the liver cells exhibited widespread watery de-generation,with shrunk and ruptured nuclei,inflammatory cells infiltration,and increased fibrosis.In the HFD group,liver cell fatty degeneration was observed,with cytoplasmic lipid droplet infil-tration.In the portal area,liver fibrosis was seen,with liver cell necrosis and inflammatory cell in-filtration in the fibrotic area,accompanied by lipofuscous granules.When HFD was applied to the AFB1 group,the abnormal state of liver interstitial and interstitial spaces was further aggravated,and a large number of lipid droplets appeared.The Oil Red O staining results showed that there were large numbers of dark red lipid droplets in the liver tissue of the HFD group,which were fused in strands.In the AFB1 group,lipid droplets could also be observed in the liver tissue of rats,but the number and degree were significantly less than those in the HFD group.The number and degree of red lipid droplets in the liver tissue of rats in the HFD+AFB1 group were higher than those in the AFB1 group and the HFD group.HFD exacerbated AFB1-induced oxidative stress by elevating ROS,MDA levels,and decreasing the expression of antioxidant stress factors such as CAT,SOD,Nrf2,HO-1,NQO1,and GCLC.Furthermore,the combined effect of HFD and AFB1 further significantly increased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2,IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β in the body.In summary,HFD treatment significantly exacerbated liver oxidative stress and in-flammatory responses in rats exposed to AFB1 through the Nrf2-keap1 signaling pathway.

Purpose To investigate interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity in patients with neuropsychological systemic lupus erythematosus(NPSLE)during resting state and its relationship with clinical indicators and neuropsychological scales.Materials and Methods This prospective study enrolled 35 patients with NPSLE and 31 healthy controls(control group)from Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University(June 2020 to March 2023).All participants underwent resting state functional MRI and completed neuropsychological assessments including mini-mental state examination,Montreal cognitive assessment,hospital anxiety and depression scale,fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions,along with laboratory tests(C3,C4,IgA,IgM,IgG).Image preprocessing and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC)calculations were performed using DPABI V7.0 on Matlab R2013b.Between-group differences in VMHC values were compared,and correlations between VMHC values in significant regions and neuropsychological/clinical data were analyzed.Results The NPSLE group demonstrated significantly lower mini-mental state examination and Montreal cognitive assessment scores compared with those in control group(t=-6.297,-7.001,both P=0.001).Patients with NPSLE exhibited significantly decreased VMHC values in bilateral parahippocampal gyri,precentral gyri,middle frontal gyri,and medial/paracingulate gyri compared with those in control group(family-wise error corrected,voxel-level P<0.001,cluster-level P<0.05).In the NPSLE group,VMHC values in precentral gyri showed positive correlation with IgA levels(r=0.351,P=0.039),while VMHC values in medial/paracingulate gyri positively correlated with IgA(r=0.345,P=0.043)and negatively with C4(r=-0.368,P=0.030).Conclusion Patients with NPSLE demonstrate abnormal interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity,and the correlation between imaging metrics and clinical data in differential brain regions may facilitate early diagnosis of NPSLE while providing novel insights into the neuropathological mechanisms of cerebral injury.

Purpose To investigate interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity in patients with neuropsychological systemic lupus erythematosus(NPSLE)during resting state and its relationship with clinical indicators and neuropsychological scales.Materials and Methods This prospective study enrolled 35 patients with NPSLE and 31 healthy controls(control group)from Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University(June 2020 to March 2023).All participants underwent resting state functional MRI and completed neuropsychological assessments including mini-mental state examination,Montreal cognitive assessment,hospital anxiety and depression scale,fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions,along with laboratory tests(C3,C4,IgA,IgM,IgG).Image preprocessing and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC)calculations were performed using DPABI V7.0 on Matlab R2013b.Between-group differences in VMHC values were compared,and correlations between VMHC values in significant regions and neuropsychological/clinical data were analyzed.Results The NPSLE group demonstrated significantly lower mini-mental state examination and Montreal cognitive assessment scores compared with those in control group(t=-6.297,-7.001,both P=0.001).Patients with NPSLE exhibited significantly decreased VMHC values in bilateral parahippocampal gyri,precentral gyri,middle frontal gyri,and medial/paracingulate gyri compared with those in control group(family-wise error corrected,voxel-level P<0.001,cluster-level P<0.05).In the NPSLE group,VMHC values in precentral gyri showed positive correlation with IgA levels(r=0.351,P=0.039),while VMHC values in medial/paracingulate gyri positively correlated with IgA(r=0.345,P=0.043)and negatively with C4(r=-0.368,P=0.030).Conclusion Patients with NPSLE demonstrate abnormal interhemispheric homotopic functional connectivity,and the correlation between imaging metrics and clinical data in differential brain regions may facilitate early diagnosis of NPSLE while providing novel insights into the neuropathological mechanisms of cerebral injury.

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of the combined ac-tion of high-fat diet-induced obesity and the aflatoxin B1(AFB1)on hepatic oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.Thirty-six rats of similar weight and 4 weeks old were randomly divided into 4 groups,with 9 rats in each group:the blank control group(basal diet),the AFB1 group(0.4 mg/kg AFB1+basal diet),the HFD group(high-fat diet),and the HFD+AFB1 group(high-fat diet+0.4 mg/kg AFB1).Histological changes and lipid deposition were observed via hematox-ylin-eosin(HE)staining and Oil Red O staining.Levels of oxidative stress and inflammation-relat-ed factors were measured using commercial assay kits.The relative protein expression levels of factors involved in the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway were assessed by Western blot analysis.The HE staining results showed that in the AFB1 group,the liver cells exhibited widespread watery de-generation,with shrunk and ruptured nuclei,inflammatory cells infiltration,and increased fibrosis.In the HFD group,liver cell fatty degeneration was observed,with cytoplasmic lipid droplet infil-tration.In the portal area,liver fibrosis was seen,with liver cell necrosis and inflammatory cell in-filtration in the fibrotic area,accompanied by lipofuscous granules.When HFD was applied to the AFB1 group,the abnormal state of liver interstitial and interstitial spaces was further aggravated,and a large number of lipid droplets appeared.The Oil Red O staining results showed that there were large numbers of dark red lipid droplets in the liver tissue of the HFD group,which were fused in strands.In the AFB1 group,lipid droplets could also be observed in the liver tissue of rats,but the number and degree were significantly less than those in the HFD group.The number and degree of red lipid droplets in the liver tissue of rats in the HFD+AFB1 group were higher than those in the AFB1 group and the HFD group.HFD exacerbated AFB1-induced oxidative stress by elevating ROS,MDA levels,and decreasing the expression of antioxidant stress factors such as CAT,SOD,Nrf2,HO-1,NQO1,and GCLC.Furthermore,the combined effect of HFD and AFB1 further significantly increased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2,IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β in the body.In summary,HFD treatment significantly exacerbated liver oxidative stress and in-flammatory responses in rats exposed to AFB1 through the Nrf2-keap1 signaling pathway.

Objective:In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with previous 96-week treatment with tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), we investigated the safety profile of sequential TMF treatment from 96 to 144 weeks.Methods:Enrolled subjects that previously assigned (2:1) to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo for 96 weeks received extending or switching TMF treatment for 48 weeks. Safety profiles of kidney, bone, metabolism, body weight, and others were evaluated.Results:666 subjects from the initial TMF group and 336 subjects from TDF group with at least one dose of assigned treatment were included at week 144. The overall safety profile was favorable in each group and generally similar between extended or switched TMF treatments from week 96 to 144. In subjects switching from TDF to TMF, the non-indexed estimated glomerular filtration rate (by non-indexed CKD-EPI formula) and creatinine clearance (by Cockcroft-Gault formula) were both increased, which were (2.31±8.33) ml/min and (4.24±13.94) ml/min, respectively. These changes were also higher than those in subjects with extending TMF treatment [(0.91±8.06) ml/min and (1.30±13.94) ml/min]. Meanwhile, switching to TMF also led to an increase of the bone mineral density (BMD) by 0.75% in hip and 1.41% in spine. On the other side, a slight change in TC/HDL ratio by 0.16 (IQR: 0.00, 0.43) and an increase in body mass index (BMI) by (0.54±0.98) kg/m 2 were oberved with patients switched to TMF, which were significantly higher than that in TMF group. Conclusion:CHB patients receiving 144 weeks of TMF treatment showed favorable safety profile. After switching to TMF, the bone and renal safety was significantly improved in TDF group, though experienceing change in metabolic parameters and weight gain (NCT03903796).

Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)is a cholestatic disease characterized by chronic progressive bile duct inflammation and has a low incidence rate and poor prognosis in China.There is still no drug therapy that can change the course of PSC,and liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for PSC,with a 5-year survival rate of 85%after transplantation.Drug therapy for PSC is facing great challenges based on the current status of PSC.At present,drugs for the treatment of PSC are in the stage of clinical trials and have shown certain application prospect,among which ursodeoxycholic acid is the most widely studied and commonly used drug.In addition,there are many emerging drugs in the pipeline.This article summarizes the latest advances in drug therapy for PSC.

Objective:To evaluate the current situation of interventional treatment for children with tic disorder and family needs for interventions and to analyze the factors influencing intervention needs.Methods:This cross-sectional study encompassed 362 children and their families who sought medical attention at Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, from October 2022 to January 2023.Factors influencing their intervention needs were analyzed.Results:A total of 362 children were surveyed.The main therapies of family concern included medication and behavioral intervention.Currently, the predominant therapy employed in the care of these children was medication (102/126, 80.9%), not with standing the fact that 77.8% of parents expressed discontent with its efficacy.Of the children and families included in the survey, 276 (76.2%) gave responses delineating their specific intervention needs.The paramount among these was the need for social support, with the score of (2.69±0.96) points.Multiple linear regression analysis revealed the notable influence of the duration of the ailment, the presence of comorbidities, the gravity of the disorder, the monthly household income, parental anxiety levels, and concerns germane to the therapeutic regimen on the family needs for interventions (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The extant therapeutic approaches applied in tic disorder exhibit a discernable constraint in terms of efficacy.Parents evince a pronounced yearning for interventions.These needs are contingent upon a spectrum of determinants.Clinicians are advised to consider the family needs for interventions when formulating therapeutic strategies, so that they can propound bespoke intervention plans to ameliorate therapeutic outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of 18F-fluorodexoyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in distinguishing benign from malignant tumors in patients with cardiac tumors. Methods:Between January 2015 and September 2018, 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in 3 678 patents in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, and 51 of them (51/3 678, 1.39%) were diagnosed as cardiac tumors. Finally, 28 patients (10 males, 18 females; mean age (52±14) years, age range: 18-84 years) with pathological results were included. According to pathological results, patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1 with primary benign cardiac tumor ( n=9), group 2 with primary malignant cardiac tumor ( n=9), group 3 with lymphoma ( n=6) and group 4 with secondary malignant cardiac tumor ( n=4). All patients underwent early (60 min) 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging and 22 patients (6, 7, 6, 3 patients in group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 respectively) underwent delayed (120 min) imaging. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) and target/backgroud ratio (TBR) of 4 groups in early imaging and delayed imaging were calculated and compared with one-way analysis of viariace and Scheffe Post-hoc test. TBR were calcualted as SUV max/mean standardized uptake value (SUV mean) in the liver. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed. Results:SUV max during early imaging, defined SUV max(early), was 2.6±1.5, 9.9±4.0, 20.5±6.1, 9.2±5.8 in group 1-4 respectively ( F=21.39, P<0.01), the value of group 1 was lower than that of group 2 and 3, and the value of group 3 was the highest (all P<0.005). TBR early was 1.1±0.6, 4.1±1.6, 9.4±2.6, 3.7±2.0 in the 4 groups ( F=29.15, P<0.01), the value of group 1 was lower than that of group 2 and 3, and the value of group 3 was the highest (all P<0.005). SUV max in delayed imaging (SUV max(delay)) was 2.4±1.2, 11.0±5.9, 25.8±7.7, 13.7±7.7 respectively in the 4 groups ( F=16.01, P<0.01). TBR delay was also significantly different among the 4 groups (1.3±0.7, 5.5±2.9, 14.4±4.9, 7.9±5.0; F=14.78, P<0.01), the value of group 3 was higher than that of group 1 and 2 (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed optimal cut-off values for indicating malignancy were: SUV max(early)=4.2, TBR early=1.6, SUV max(delay)=4.6, TBR delay=1.9. The corresponding sensitivities, specificities, accuracies were 19/19, 8/9, 96.4%(27/28); 19/19, 7/9, 92.9%(26/28); 16/16, 6/6, 100%(22/22); 16/16, 5/6, 95.5%(21/22), respectively. Conclusions:18F-FDG PET/CT imaging can accurately diagnose malignant cardiac tumors. Delayed imaging can further improve the accuracy for diagnosis of malignant cardiac tumors.