ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） on the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing emergency endoscopic therapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding， as well as independent influencing factors for the prognosis of liver cirrhosis patients without HCC after emergency endoscopic therapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding. MethodsA total of 117 liver cirrhosis patients without HCC and 119 liver cirrhosis patients with HCC who underwent emergency endoscopic therapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2017 to July 2023 were enrolled. Basic information including age and sex was collected from all patients， as well as the presence or absence of chronic diseases such as hypertension， diabetes， and coronary heart disease， the time of emergency endoscopy after admission， and liver function parameters including international normalized ratio， albumin， creatinine， sodium， total bilirubin， alanine aminotransferase， and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous variables between two groups， and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous variables between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical variables between groups. The covariance analysis and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for comparison of outcome variables after control of baseline variables， and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted for each group. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed for survival time in the non-HCC group to investigate the independent influencing factors for survival time， and then the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and the log-rank test were performed to validate such independent influencing factors and analyze the independent influencing factors for secondary outcomes. ResultsCompared with the non-HCC group， the HCC group had significantly higher red blood cell transfusion units （6.00［2.00～9.00］ vs 4.00［1.75～7.00］， Z=-2.050， P=0.040， F=4.869， adjusted P=0.028）， a significantly shorter survival time （29.77±16.01 days vs 38.07±11.43 days， t=4.574， P<0.001， F=17.294， adjusted P<0.001）， and a significantly higher 5-day rebleeding rate （22.69% vs 6.84%， χ²=11.736， P<0.001， adjusted P=0.021）. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the risk of 42-day mortality in the HCC group was 3.897 （95% confidence interval ［CI］： 2.338 ‍— 6.495， P<0.001） times that in the non-HCC group. The multivariate Cox regression analysis of the non-HCC group showed that the total length of hospital stay （hazard ratio ［HR］=0.793， 95%CI： 0.644 ‍— ‍0.976， P=0.029） was an independent protective factor for 42-day survival. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that a length of hospital stay of >9 days was beneficial for the prognosis of patients （HR=4.302， 95%CI： 1.439 — 12.870， P=0.037）. Blood sodium level （odds ratio ［OR］=0.523， 95%CI： 0.289 ‍— ‍0.945， P=0.032） and MELD-Na score （OR=0.495， 95%CI： 0.257 ‍— ‍0.954， P=0.036） were independent protective factors against 5-day rebleeding， while AST level was an independent risk factor for 5-day rebleeding （OR=1.023， 95%CI： 1.002 ‍— ‍1.043， P=0.028） and in-hospital death （OR=1.036， 95%CI： 1.001‍— ‍1.073， P=0.045）. ConclusionLiver cirrhosis patients with variceal bleeding and HCC tend to have a worse prognosis， and for the non-HCC group， in-hospital mortality rate increases with the increase in AST level. The total length of hospital stay is an independent protective factor for survival time in the non-HCC group， and it is recommended to appropriately prolong the length of hospital stay for such patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of mitochondrial translational initiation factor 2 （MTIF2） gene methylation and its association with the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. MethodsMethSurv and EWAS Data Hub were used to perform the standardized analysis and the cluster analysis of MTIF2 methylation samples， including survival curve analysis， methylation signature analysis， the association of tumor signaling pathways， and a comparative analysis based on pan-cancer database. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison between two groups； a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to perform the univariate and multivariate survival analyses of methylation level at the CpG site. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to investigate the survival differences between the patients with low methylation level and those with high methylation level， and the Log-likelihood ratio method was used for survival difference analysis. ResultsGlobal clustering of MTIF2 methylation showed that there was no significant difference in MTIF2 gene methylation level between different races， ethnicities， BMI levels， and ages. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the patients with N-Shore hypermethylation of the MTIF2 gene had a significantly better prognosis than those with hypomethylation （hazard ratio ［HR］=0.492， P<0.001）， while there was no significant difference in survival rate between the patients with different CpG island and S-Shore methylation levels （P>0.05）. The methylation profile of the MTIF2 gene based on different ages， sexes， BMI levels， races， ethnicities， and clinical stages showed that the N-Shore and CpG island methylation levels of the MTIF2 gene decreased with the increase in age， and the Caucasian population had significantly lower N-Shore methylation levels of the MTIF2 gene than the Asian population （P<0.05）； the patients with clinical stage Ⅳ had significantly lower N-Shore and CpG island methylation levels of the MTIF2 gene than those with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ （P<0.05）. Clinical validation showed that the patients with stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ HCC had a significantly lower methylation level of the MTIF2 gene than those with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ HCC and the normal population （P<0.05）. ConclusionN-Shore hypomethylation of the MTIF2 gene is a risk factor for the development and progression of HCC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the chemosensitization effect of gallic acid （GA） combined with sorafenib （Sora） on hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and related mechanisms. MethodsHepG2 cells were randomly divided into control group， GA group， Sora group， and GA+Sora group. CCK8 assay was used to measure cell viability； CompuSyn software was used to analyze combination index （CI）； colony formation assay was used to evaluate the colony formation ability of cells； flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis； wound healing assay and Transwell chamber assay were used to observe the migration and invasion abilities of cells； Western Blot was used to measure the expression matrix metalloproteinase 2 （MMP-2）， matrix metalloproteinase 9 （MMP-9）， and apoptosis-related proteins. HepG2 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into the lower right back of mice， and 6 days later， the mice were divided into control group， GA group， Sora group， and GA+Sora group. Tumor size and body weight were measured once a week， and drug intervention was performed for 21 days. Then the nude mice were sacrificed， and tumor weight was measured. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThe mean IC₅₀ values of GA and Sora for the treatment of HepG2 cells for 48 hours were 123.47±5.16 μmol/L and 9.87±0.98 μmol/L， respectively， and when Sora was combined with 70 μmol/L GA （IC₃₀）， IC₅₀ decreased to 2.06±0.35 μmol/L； the CI value was<1 for Sora at different concentrations combined with 70 μmol/L GA. The number of cell colonies was 234.0±20.4， 147.0±12.1， 129.3±13.3， and 73.0±7.6， respectively， in the four groups， and the GA+Sora group had a significantly lower number of cell colonies than the control group， the GA group， and the Sora group （all P<0.05）. After 48 hours of treatment， the cell apoptosis rate was 1.98%±0.29%， 15.17%± 1.56%， 18.65%±1.48%， and 34.60%±5.36%， respectively， in the four groups， and the GA+Sora group had a significantly higher cell apoptosis rate than the control group， the GA group， and the Sora group （all P<0.05）. After 24 hours of treatment， the cell migration rate was 55.59%±5.08%， 29.34%±4.36%， 21.80%±5.16%， and 6.47%±2.75%， respectively， in the four groups， and the GA+Sora group had a significantly lower cell migration rate than the control group， the GA group， and the Sora group （all P<0.05）. After 48 hours of treatment， the number of transmembrane cells was 223.7±13.0， 168.3±10.9， 155.3±29.1， and 62.7±19.7， respectively， in the four groups， and the GA+Sora group had a significantly lower number of transmembrane cells than the control group， the GA group， and the Sora group （all P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the GA group， the Sora group， and the GA+Sora group had significant reductions in the protein expression levels of MMP-2， MMP-9， and Bcl-2 （all P<0.05） and significant increases in the protein expression levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 （all P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the GA， Sora， and GA+Sora groups had significant reductions in tumor volume and weight （all P<0.05）， and compared with the Sora group， the GA+Sora group had significant reductions in tumor volume and weight in nude mice （both P<0.05）. ConclusionGA can increase the sensitivity of HepG2 cells to Sora chemotherapy， possibly by promoting cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration and invasion after combination with Sora.

ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of Biejia Decoction Pill on the proliferation， migration， and aerobic glycolysis of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） using cell experiments， as well as related mechanisms. MethodsHuman liver cancer cell line Huh7 was selected， and Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank serum group， inhibitor group， and high-， middle-， and low-dose Biejia Decoction Pill groups. Rat serum containing the drug was prepared for the incubation of Huh7 cells. CCK8 assay and scratch assay were used to explore the effect of Biejia Decoction Pill on the proliferation and migration of HCC cells； glycolytic rate-limiting enzymes and metabolites were measured to explore the effect of Biejia Decoction Pill on aerobic glycolysis of liver cancer cells； RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to explore the effect of Biejia Decoction Pill on the mRNA expression， related proteins， and phosphorylation of the protein kinase B （AKT）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test or the Dunnett’s T3 test were used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the blank serum group， the Biejia Decoction Pill groups had significant reductions in OD value， migration rate during different periods of time， glycolytic rate-limiting enzymes （hexokinase， phosphofructokinase， pyruvate kinase）， and glycolytic metabolites （pyruvate， lactic acid， ATP） （all P<0.05）. RT-qPCR results showed that compared with the blank serum group， the high-， middle-， and low-dose Biejia Decoction Pill groups had a significant reduction in the mRNA expression level of mTOR， and the high- and low-dose Biejia Decoction Pill groups had a significant reduction in the mRNA expression level of AKT （all P<0.05）. Western blot results showed that compared with the blank serum group， the high-， middle-， and low-dose Biejia Decoction Pill groups had significant reductions in the expression levels of mTOR-related proteins and phosphorylated proteins， and the high- and middle-dose Biejia Decoction Pill groups had significant reductions in the expression levels of AKT-related proteins and phosphorylated proteins （all P<0.05）. ConclusionThis study preliminarily verifies that the serum containing Bijia Decoction Pill can inhibit the aerobic glycolysis of human hepatoma Huh7 cells， thereby inhibiting their proliferation and migration， possibly by inhibiting the expression of the proteins related to the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the etiology and clinical features of intrahepatic cholestasis and the diagnostic value of whole exome sequencing （WES） through a retrospective analysis of the medical history， pathological results， and gene sequencing data of 62 patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 480 patients who underwent WES due to unexplained liver function abnormalities in Nanjing Second Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023， among whom 62 patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis were selected based on laboratory data， and a confirmed diagnosis was made based on imaging data， pathological findings， and gene sequencing data. The patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis were analyzed in terms of demographic features， clinical manifestation， etiology spectrum， and genetic profile. ResultsA total of 62 patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis were included， among whom there were 35 male patients and 27 female patients， with a median age of 42 （7 — ‍77） years. WES was used to make a definite diagnosis in 21 patients （33.87%）， among whom the patients with familial intrahepatic cholestasis accounted for the highest proportion of 52.38% （11/21）； genetic metabolic disorders were excluded by WES in 34 patients， with drug-induced liver injury and sepsis-associated liver injury accounting for the highest proportion of 55.88% （19/34）， followed by primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis accounting for 20.59% （7/34） and intrahepatic bile duct stones accounting for 17.65% （6/34）， while the patients with a lack of confirmed diagnosis accounted for 11.29% （7/62）. A total of 21 novel mutation sites which were not reported in previous articles were identified in this study. ConclusionGenetic metabolic disorders constitute a significant proportion of unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis， and WES plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis.

ObjectiveTo divide the muscle into different subzones according to different density ranges using the stratified analysis on the basis of myosteatosis， and to investigate the effect of muscle density changes on complications （Clavien-Dindo grade ≥Ⅲ） after orthotopic liver transplantation （OLT）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the medical records of 145 patients who underwent OLT in The First Hospital of Jilin University from May 2013 to September 2020， and with the plain CT scan images of the largest level of lumbar 3 vertebrae of each patient as the original data， Neusoft Fatanalysis software was used to measure related muscle parameters. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. The chi-square test or Fisher test was for comparison of categorical data between two groups. RIAS software was used to extract clinical features and perform analysis and modeling， and three machine learning models of logistic regression （LR）， support vector machine （SVM）， and random forest （RFC） were constructed. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve， the calibration curve， and the decision curve were plotted for each model to calculate the area under the ROC curve （AUC）， sensitivity， specificity， precision， F1 score， and accuracy. ResultsThe three machine learning models of LR-C， SVM-C， and RFC-C were established based on the 7 clinical features before muscle stratification analysis， among which the RFC-C model had an AUC of 0.803， a sensitivity of 0.588， and a specificity of 0.778 in the test set. Among the models of LR-CS， SVM-CS， and RFC-CS established based on the 16 clinical features after muscle stratification analysis， the LR-CS and SVM-CS models had an AUC of 0.852 in the test set， with a sensitivity of 0.765 and 0.706， respectively， and a specificity of 0.889 and 0.926， respectively. Comparison of the AUC， sensitivity， specificity， precision， F1 score， and accuracy of each model in the test set before and after muscle stratification analysis showed that there were improvements in the parameters of the predictive model after muscle stratification analysis. Comparison of the decision curves and calibration curves of each predictive model showed that the LR-CS and SVM-CS models had good efficacy in predicting postoperative complications （Clavien-Dindo grade≥Ⅲ） in OLT patients. ConclusionOn the basis of myosteatosis， the division of the muscle into different subzones according to different densities using the stratified analysis has a certain value in predicting postoperative complications in patients with OLT.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of laminin subunit α3 （LAMA3） on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， invasion， and metastasis abilities of pancreatic cancer （PC）. MethodsA comprehensive analysis was performed for tumor- and EMT-related databases to identify the EMT genes associated with PC， especially LAMA3. The methods of qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression level of LAMA3 in PC tissue and cell lines； immunofluorescence assay was used to determine the localization of LAMA3 in PANC-1 cells； Transwell assay was used to investigate the effect of LAMA3 on the invasion and migration abilities of PC cells. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups. ResultsThe analysis of the TCGA database identified 3 EMT-related oncogenes for PC， i.e.， LAMA3， AREG， and SDC1. The LASSO-Cox regression model showed that LAMA3 had the most significant impact on the prognosis of PC （risk score=0.256 1×LAMA3+0.043 1×SDC1+0.071 4×AREG）. The Cox model and nomogram showed that the high expression of LAMA3 was an independent risk factor for the poor prognosis of PC （hazard ratio=1.32， 95% confidence interval： 1.07‍ ‍—‍ 1.62， P<0.01）. Experimental results showed that there was a significant increase in the expression of LAMA3 in pancreatic cancer tissue compared with the normal pancreatic tissue. Compared with the HPDE cell line， there were varying degrees of increase in the expression of LAMA3 in pancreatic cancer AsPC-1， BxPC-3， PANC-1， MIA PaCa-2， and SW1990 cell lines， with the highest expression level in PANC-1 cells. The enrichment analysis showed that LAMA3 was associated with the biological processes and signaling pathways such as EMT， collagen metabolism， extracellular matrix degradation， the TGF-β pathway， and the PI3K pathway. After the knockdown of LAMA3， there were significant reductions in the expression levels of N-Cadherin， Vimentin， and Snail， while there was a significant increase in the expression level of E-Cadherin. Transwell assay showed that there were significant reductions in the invasion and migration abilities of PANC-1 cells after the knockdown of LAMA3. ConclusionLAMA3 is highly expressed in PC and can promote the EMT， invasion， and migration of PC cells， and therefore， LAMA3 may be used as a novel diagnostic marker and a new therapeutic target for PC.

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection， also known as Beger surgery， has a high incidence rate of bile duct injury after surgery， while the treatment modality for bile duct injury depends on the severity of the injury， and endoscopic therapy is often challenging in case of severe bile duct injury. Recently a patient with biliary fistula after Beger surgery was admitted to Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital， Westlake University， and successful diagnosis and treatment were achieved through oral choledochoscopy-assisted percutaneous-endoscopic rendezvous technique.

As a common infectious disease in China， chronic hepatitis B is hepatocyte injury and inflammatory necrosis due to immune response caused by hepatitis B virus （HBV）. Helicobacter pylori （Hp） is a Gram-negative helicobacter that colonizes and persists in the human gastric mucosa. In recent years， an increasing number of studies have confirmed the close association between Hp infection and HBV-related liver diseases. This article reviews the articles on Hp infection and HBV-related liver diseases in recent years and discusses the association between Hp infection and HBV-related liver diseases， which shows the association between Hp infection and HBV-related liver diseases. The susceptibility to Hp in chronic hepatitis B patients increases with the progression of hepatitis B， and at the same time， Hp infection may increase the incidence rate of esophageal variceal rupture and hemorrhage and the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. Therefore， the screening and treatment of Hp infection in patients with HBV-related liver diseases should be taken seriously in clinical practice.

Hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection can cause acute or chronic infection， while untreated patients can develop into liver cirrhosis or liver cancer， thereby leading to death. As one of the most important organelles of cells， the maintenance of the normal morphology and function of mitochondria is the basis for ensuring various physiological activities in cells， and physiological activities， such as mitochondrial dynamics， mitophagy， injury， and oxidative phosphorylation， can affect the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis. HBV infection can affect mitochondrial homeostasis. This article summarizes the research advances in mitochondrial homeostasis and HBV infection from the four aspects of mitochondrial dynamics， mitophagy， mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation， and mitochondrial injury and discusses the association between the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and HBV infection， in order to provide a theoretical basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of HBV infection and identifying the potential therapeutic targets for HBV.