International Hepatology

From June 5-8, 2024, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting took place in the beautiful city of Milan, Italy. Over 7,000 liver disease experts from around the world attended this top-tier academic event. The conference covered a range of diseases including viral hepatitis, metabolic associated fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure, presenting the latest clinical research findings in the field. Among the participants, Professor Rui Huang's team from Peking University People's Hospital had two studies accepted for presentation as poster sessions. Their research found that the ratio of visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area (VSR), sarcopenia, and muscle fat infiltration are independent predictors of liver-related mortality in cirrhosis patients. Additionally, loss of skeletal muscle mass is crucial in predicting liver-related mortality in cirrhosis patients. These findings suggest that actively managing body composition, particularly skeletal muscle mass and visceral and subcutaneous fat content, can help improve prognosis in cirrhosis patients.

On June 5, 2024, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting commenced in Milan, Italy, bringing together experts and scholars from the global hepatology field. The conference aimed to share the latest developments and trends in liver disease research, providing valuable references for future research and clinical practice. On the first day of the conference, Academician Gaojun Teng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the initiator of the China Diabetes and Liver Disease Management (CDLM) initiative, along with Xiaolong Qi, founder of CHESS and co-initiator of CDLM, presented a novel study. They introduced the DiabetesLiver Score, a non-invasive tool to assess advanced liver fibrosis in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients and predict liver-related adverse events.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the recommended treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and a viable option for early-stage HCC patients who cannot undergo curative treatments. However, the prognosis for TACE varies significantly among individuals, with objective response rates ranging from 40% to 80% and overall survival times from 13 to 48 months. Given the advancements in molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy for HCC, accurately predicting individual prognosis and identifying patients with poor prognosis is crucial for optimizing treatment choices and extending survival. On June 6, 2024, at the EASL Annual Meeting in Milan, Professor Guohong Han from Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital in China shared the latest clinical research. Their team developed a predictive model for TACE outcomes, helping guide treatment choices for intermediate HCC patients and improving their survival (Abstract No.: THU-475).

From June 5-8, 2024, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting was held in the cultural city of Milan, Italy. This premier academic event attracted over 7,000 hepatology professionals from around the world. During the conference, we had the privilege of interviewing the Chairman of this year’s conference, and current EASL Secretary-General, Professor Aleksander Krag. He shared key topics of the conference and the latest research advancements in hepatology. Professor Krag emphasized that metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become the most widespread liver disease globally and highlighted the importance of drug development and policy cooperation in advancing liver disease treatment and management. He also discussed the challenges and future directions in liver disease research, encouraging collaboration and innovation in the field.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and highly lethal malignancy, with its treatment methods continuously evolving. In recent years, immunotherapy has become a hotspot in liver cancer treatment. Recently, Professor Zhexiong Lian's team from Southern Medical University published a paper in the Journal of Hepatology, revealing the potential value of inhibiting OXCT1 activity in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) for treating HCC. The study found that high OXCT1 expression is closely associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. By inhibiting OXCT1, TAMs can be reprogrammed to an anti-tumor phenotype, enhancing the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, thereby providing a new strategy for immunotherapy of liver cancer.

Diabetes and liver disease are common chronic diseases in China, with overlapping mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic targets, making them interrelated risk factors. Co-managing these conditions can help reduce the disease burden. To support the development of diabetes and liver disease co-management in China, our publication, in collaboration with the China Diabetes and Liver Disease Co-management Action Plan (CDL), introduces the CDL Monthly Literature Review column. Each month, we will share research on the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment progress related to diabetes with liver disease, and invite experts from related fields in China to provide commentary. We aim to offer valuable insights and assistance to specialists, researchers, and frontline healthcare workers in conducting scientific research and clinical practice.

Antiviral therapy plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of liver cancer and delaying disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The survival rate and quality of life for CHB patients have been steadily improving. However, the treatment needs of "Small Three Yang" (HBsAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc positive) patients have often been overlooked. At the 17th National Clinical Conference on Liver Diseases held on May 25, 2024, Hepatology Digest interviewed the conference chairman, Professor Xiaoguang Dou from Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, to discuss clinical cure strategies for "Small Three Yang" patients. Here is a summary of the interview for our readers.

The Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in the United States is a premier global academic conference in the field of digestive system diseases. The 2024 DDW was successfully held in Washington, D.C., from May 18-21, attracting approximately 14,000 gastroenterologists and hepatologists. At the conference, a study titled “THE REDUCED ACCURACY OF NON-INVASIVE TESTS FOR SIGNIFICANT FIBROSIS IN CHB PATIENTS WITH MASLD,” a collaboration between Professor Jie Li from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Dr. Yihui Yang from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, was presented and awarded the AASLD Foundation Abstract Award. Dr. Yihui Yang represented the team in presenting the study and accepting the award. Hepatology Digest has invited the team to share the exciting details of their research.

Recently, the "8th International Forum on Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) and the 9th National Academic Conference on Drug-Induced Liver Injury, along with the launch of the '2024 Chinese Guidelines for Grassroots Diagnosis and Management of Drug-Induced Liver Injury,'" was successfully held in beautiful Xiamen. This year's conference focused on the management of liver injury caused by anti-tumor drugs, inviting numerous renowned experts and scholars from home and abroad for rich academic exchanges. Professor Yimin Mao from Renji Hospital, the conference chairman, gave a detailed and in-depth explanation on the conference highlights, international influence, guideline updates, and industry development in a interview with Hepatology Digest.

Under long-term and repeated stimulation from various causes, a normal liver can develop into cirrhosis. Histologically, cirrhosis is characterized by diffuse liver fibrosis accompanied by collapse of the lobular structure (including microvascular structures) and the formation of pseudolobules, leading to portal hypertension and even liver function decompensation. Professor Hong You's team at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, was the first in the world to propose a new pathological standard for evaluating the reversal of hepatitis B-induced cirrhosis. This new standard, known internationally as the "Beijing Standard," not only increases the recognition rate of cirrhosis reversal but also changes the clinical practice of requiring two liver biopsies for evaluation. Recently, at the "25th National Academic Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine for Hepatobiliary Diseases," Hepatology Digest conducted an exclusive interview with Professor Hong You to discuss the diagnosis of cirrhosis reversal and other related issues. Here are the highlights of the interview.