Professor Rong Fan: Precision Screening for Liver Cancer Patients in China

Professor Rong Fan: Precision Screening for Liver Cancer Patients in China

2024.04.30
Primary liver cancer is currently the fourth most common malignant tumor and the second leading cause of cancer death in China, posing a serious threat to the health and well-being of the population. Reducing the burden associated with liver cancer remains a major challenge in the fields of public health and chronic disease prevention in China. Optimizing screening strategies for liver cancer populations is an important ongoing focus and direction. On April 15, 2024, the National Health Commission released the "Primary Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (2024 Edition)," recommending the aMAP, aMAP-2, and aMAP-2 Plus series of liver cancer risk scoring developed by the research team of Professor Jinlin Hou/Professor Rong Fan from Southern Medical University's Southern Hospital for screening and monitoring high-risk liver cancer populations. At the recent 2024 Greater Bay Area Hepatology Summit and the Conference on the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis, Professor Rong Fan delivered an outstanding report titled "Precision Screening for Liver Cancer Patients in China." Our publication has specially invited Professor Rong Fan to provide an in-depth discussion on this hot topic of concern.

Dr. Jimmy Che-To LAI, two award winners, talks about the 2024 APASLAnnual Meeting

2024.04.29
From March 27 to 31, 2024, the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL 2024) was held in Kyoto, Japan. As a top international conference, this year's APASL annual meeting brings together a large number of the latest research progress. After the feast, the heat did not abate. In the multi-day academic feast, what important research, cutting-edge views have been released, and what novel news events have occurred, let us listen to Dr. Jimmy Che-To LAI of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, China, and once again feel the pulse of Asia in the field of liver disease.

Dialogue Interview丨Dr. Jacob George & Dr. Xiaolong Qi discuss frontier hotspots of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease

2024.04.29
The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL 2024) was held in Kyoto, Japan from March 27 to 31, 2024. Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was one of the hot topics in the congress. MAFLD has become a common chronic liver disease worldwide and is caused by metabolic dysfunction. MAFLD is the main reason for the surge in the incidence of liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. In recent years, the incidence of MAFLD has been rising due to changes in lifestyles with high calorie, energy-dense diets and lack of exercise. During the conference, Dr. Jacob George from Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Australia, and Dr. Xiaolong Qi, founder of CHESS and Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, China, had in-depth exchanges and discussions on the prevalence trends, diagnosis and treatment progress, and comprehensive management of MAFLD. Hepatology Digest hereby reports.

Expert Insight |Dr. Zhengsheng Zou: Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Drug-Induced Liver Failure

2024.03.15
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a significant adverse reaction to medications, with severe cases leading to acute liver failure (ALF) and even death. DILI is the most common cause of ALF in Western countries, yet there is still a lack of simple, specific diagnostic indicators and effective treatment methods. The incidence of DILI in China is increasing year by year, related to the variety of clinical drugs, improper medication use, and insufficient awareness. During the recent closure of the 10th "Huaxia Shanghai Liver Disease Forum and Forum on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Failure and its Complications," Dr. Zhengsheng Zou from the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital shared insights into the progress of the diagnosis and treatment of drug-induced liver failure, covering its importance, etiology, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, prognosis assessment, and large-scale studies in China.
Highlights of the Annual Conference | Dr. Jie Li: Comorbidity and Management of Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in the New Era

Highlights of the Annual Conference | Dr. Jie Li: Comorbidity and Management of Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in the New Era

2024.03.14
The 21st National Conference on Viral Hepatitis and Hepatology, and the Annual Meetings of the Chinese Society of Hepatology and the Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases, took place from December 22nd to 24th, 2023, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This conference, co-hosted by the Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Society of Hepatology, and the Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases, and organized by the Sichuan Medical Association, showcased the latest developments and hot topics in the research of viral hepatitis, hepatology, and infectious diseases. During the event, Dr. Jie Li from Nanjing University Medical School's Drum Tower Hospital shared insights on the comorbidity and management of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The following is a summary of her presentation.

Expert Insight | Dr. XiaoheXiao: Precision Medication – Making Traditional Chinese Medicine the Guardian of the Body’s “Chemical Factory”

2024.03.14
The liver, as the "chemical factory" of the human body, is responsible for the synthesis and metabolism of various crucial substances, while also serving as the "detoxification center" for harmful waste and toxins. However, the liver faces numerous challenges, including external factors such as viruses, bacteria, alcohol, drugs, and internal factors like self-consumption, immune imbalance, acute and chronic liver diseases, which can disrupt the liver's tissue structure and functioning. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has rich applications in safeguarding the liver. Still, issues related to liver damage caused by Chinese herbal medicine have sparked debates about whether TCM is a "toxin" or a "guardian" for the liver. In a recent report at the 10th "Huaxia Shanghai Liver Disease Forum and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Failure and Its Complications Forum," Dr. Xiaohe Xiao from the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital discussed the overall situation of the safety of Chinese herbal medicine and explored practical solutions.

Expert’s Insight | Dr. Chenghai Liu: ” Dual Antagonism” Strategy Assists in the Full Course Management of Chronic Liver Disease

2024.03.13
Improving the prognosis of chronic viral hepatitis is a crucial goal in clinical treatment. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has a wide incidence, and its severe harm mainly stems from the progression from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis, leading to decompensated cirrhosis and liver cancer, seriously threatening the patient's life and health. Therefore, reversing early cirrhosis is of significant importance for reducing the risk of CHB-related liver diseases and death, representing an essential clinical need in CHB treatment. However, antiviral therapy alone has certain limitations, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has enormous potential in combating liver fibrosis. At the recent 10th "Huaxia Shanghai Liver Disease Forum and Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Failure and Its Complications," Dr. Chenghai Liu from the Liver Disease Research Institute of Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine shared the significant clinical benefits that the "dual antagonism" prevention and treatment strategy, combining antiviral therapy with TCM for anti-liver fibrosis, brings to CHB patients. The content has been compiled into an article for readers.

Annual Meeting Exclusive Interview | Dr. Xiong Ma: Comparing International and Chinese Guidelines for Autoimmune Hepatitis Treatment

2024.03.13
Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is an acute or chronic liver inflammatory disease caused by unknown immune abnormalities. Without timely treatment, it can progress to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even lead to death. The diagnostic scoring systems and criteria proposed in current domestic and international guidelines have significantly advanced the diagnosis and treatment of AIH. Moreover, continuous progress in research on new strategies and medications for AIH treatment internationally and domestically offers valuable references for clinical diagnosis and treatment. At the 21st National Viral Hepatitis and Hepatology Academic Conference and the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Chinese Medical Association's Hepatology and Infectious Disease Branches, Dr. Xiong Ma from Renji Hospital affiliated with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine delivered a keynote report on the latest advancements in AIH diagnosis and treatment. He also provided an insightful analysis of the similarities and differences between international and Chinese treatment guidelines. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Ma discusses these topics, and we have compiled the content for our readers' benefit.

“Year-EndAnnual Review | Professor Jia JidongDr. Jidong Jia: Latest Developments in the Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Biliary Cholangitis”

2024.03.13
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease that predominantly affects middle-aged women. The exact cause and mechanism of its onset are not yet fully understood. It is thought to be related to genetic factors and their interaction with environmental factors leading to immune dysregulation. Currently, there are few effective medications available for clinical treatment. However, ongoing basic and clinical research has been shedding light on the role of bile acid metabolism, nuclear receptors, surface receptors, and transport proteins in the development and progression of PBC, leading to encouraging progress in new drug development. In this issue, we have invited Professor Jia JidongDr. Jidong Jia from the Capital Medical University affiliated Beijing Friendship Hospital to share the latest advancements in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PBC.