International Hepatology

The Combined GlHep&SHC 2024 was recently held in Singapore. This conference brings together elite scholars in the field of liver disease from around the world to discuss the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in liver disease. Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounting for 90% of all liver cancers. During the conference, our magazine invited Dr Ken Liu from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia to conduct an exclusive interview on HCC related issues.

The Combined GlHep&SHC 2024 will be held in Singapore from July 25th to 28th, 2024. This conference brings together elite scholars in the field of liver disease from around the world to discuss the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in liver disease. Hepatology Digest invited Dr Vincent Wong from The Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct in-depth discussions on the epidemiology of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), lean MAFLD, and other related issues.

Recently, the Combined GlHep&SHC 2024 was held in Singapore. This conference covers various aspects of liver disease research and provides an interdisciplinary communication platform for experts and scholars. During the conference, Hepatology Digest conducted an exclusive interview with Professor Lim Seng Gee from the National University Hospital of Singapore, asking him to introduce the current status of liver disease in Singapore, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and other related topics.

From July 25 to 28, 2024, the Combined GIHep & SHC 2024 was held in Singapore. Dr. Jidong Jia from Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, participated in the Chronic Hepatitis B symposium and delivered a remarkable presentation on the new Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B (2022 Edition) (hereinafter referred to as the "New Guidelines"). Hepatology Digest conducted an exclusive interview with Professor Jia to discuss the highlights of his presentation.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant public health challenge in China, with the majority of HCC patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Postoperative survival rates for HBV-related HCC patients are often poor. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of HBV-related HCC urgently require comprehensive management. China has achieved remarkable success in primary prevention of hepatitis B. Regular screening and early treatment in high-risk populations are crucial to reducing HCC mortality. Antiviral treatment is an important measure for secondary and tertiary prevention of HBV-related HCC. At the 2024 World Hepatitis Day and the Elimination of Hepatitis Harm Action Conference, Dr. Yingli He from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University shared insights into antiviral treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients from the perspective of comprehensive liver cancer management.

China has historically been a high-prevalence area for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence rate of 9.7% in 1992. Comprehensive strategies, including the hepatitis B vaccine program for newborns (HepB), with a strong emphasis on timely administration of the birth dose and completion of the three-dose schedule, have significantly reduced mother-to-child transmission and early childhood HBV infections. With the significant reduction in the cost of antiviral drugs, treatment accessibility and affordability have greatly improved. From July 20 to 21, the "2024 World Hepatitis Day Campaign and Hepatitis Elimination Action Conference" was held in Beijing. Dr. Jidong Jia from Beijing Friendship Hospital ,Capital Medical University delivered a keynote speech titled "Progress and Challenges in the Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis B in China," where he systematically explained the progress made, the challenges faced, and the urgent actions needed in the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B in China.

Yttrium-90 (Y90) resin microsphere selective internal radiotherapy (Y90-RE) is a minimally invasive local treatment method that can effectively control tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who are ineligible for resection or ablation, with compensated liver function and good overall condition. With the advancement of precision medicine, the clinical understanding of immune activation by Y90-RE has deepened, revealing the potential of pre-Y90-RE peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) immune profiling in predicting patient prognosis. Hepatology Digest invited Dr. Lin Zhang from Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital to interpret a study published in Gut (IF=23), which explores the immune activation mechanisms of Y90-RE.

Over time, alcohol consumption has become a significant public health concern. Alcohol is associated with more than 200 diseases, including diabetes and cirrhosis, contributing to 5.3% of global mortality. Despite increased awareness of alcohol's harmful effects, overall consumption levels have not decreased. Previous studies have investigated the impact of diabetes on patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, but the relationship between diabetes and clinical outcomes in these patients has remained unclear. Recently, a study published in Hepatology International has shed light on the relationship between diabetes and clinical outcomes in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis.

Greetings to all experts and colleagues. In this issue of CDM Monthly Review (Issue 83), we will share five recent papers in the field of diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis (three on diagnostic monitoring and two on multidisciplinary treatment). The guest experts for this issue's review are Dr. Qianwen Zhao from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Dr. Yanna Liu from the Liver Disease and Gastroenterology Center at Beijing You'an Hospital , Capital Medical University, Dr. Kefeng Jia from Tianjin Third Central Hospital, and Dr. Wenhui Zhang from the Department of Gastroenterology at Beijing Daxing District People's Hospital.

The Journal of Hepatology (JOH) recently published an online systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The study investigates the impact of using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before liver transplantation on various key clinical outcomes post-transplantation. The findings reveal that while ICIs treatment may increase the risk of post-transplant rejection, the overall risk remains manageable, with patient age and ICI clearance time being closely related to rejection risk. This study provides valuable clinical data to support the use of ICIs before liver transplantation, offering new insights and directions for research and clinical practice in this area.