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Background: Several risk factors are able to predict non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) development, but the predictive value of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) remains uncertain. Our aim is to investigate the association between serum ALP levels and NAFL. Methods: 21,331 NAFL-free subjects were included. Sex-specific ALP quartiles (Q1 to Q4) were defined. With Q1 used as reference, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated across each quartile. Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, values in Q2, Q3 and Q4 had HRs (95%CIs) of 1.16 (0.94–1.43), 1.38 (1.13–1.69), 1.51 (1.24–1.83) in females and 0.99 (0.90–1.09), 1.04 (0.95–1.14), 0.96 (0.87–1.05) in males, respectively. A subgroup analysis of age factors in females, from Q2 to Q4, adjusted HRs (95%CIs) were 1.31 (0.81–1.99), 1.86 (1.23–2.81), 2.44 (1.60–3.71) in their 30 s, 1.13 (0.83–1.54), 1.17 (0.85–1.62), 1.65 (1.22–2.25) in their 40 s, and 0.95 (0.51–1.78), 0.91 (0.52–1.62), 0.89 (0.53–1.52) in their 50 s. Conclusions: Higher serum ALP levels are considered a significant predictor for NAFL development in females aged 30 to 50. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim. The aim of our study was to assess whether selected single nucleotide polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and 2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and SULT1A1 influence susceptibility towards HCC, considering their interaction with cigarette smoking. Methods. We recruited HCC cases and controls among patients admitted to the hospital “Agostino Gemelli,” from January 2005 until July 2010. Odds ratios (OR) of HCC were derived from unconditional multiple logistic regression. Gene-gene and gene-smoking interaction were quantified by computing the attributable proportion (AP) due to biological interaction. Results. The presence of any CYP2E1*5B variant allele (OR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.06-0.71) and CYP2E1*6 variant allele (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.33) was inversely related to HCC. There was a borderline increased risk among carriers of combined CYP1A1*2A and SULT1A1 variant alleles (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 0.97–3.24). A significant biological interaction was observed between GSTT1 and smoking (AP = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.001–0.815), with an OR of 3.13 (95% CI: 1.69–5.82), and borderline significant interaction was observed for SULT1A1 and smoking (AP = 0.36; 95% CI: −0.021–0.747), with an OR of 3.05 (95% CI: 1.73–5.40). Conclusion. CYP2E1*5B and CYP2E1*6 polymorphisms have a favourable effect on the development of HCC, while polymorphisms of GSTT1 and SULT1A1 might play role in increasing the susceptibility among smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dyslipidemia is a hallmark of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the rs599839 variant in the CELSR2-PSRC1-SORT1 genetic cluster, has been associated with a protection against cardiovascular events. Here, we revealed a novel link between the rs599839 variant and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) whose onset in the context of NAFLD is rapidly increasing. We found that the rs599839 variant disentangled the risk of HCC from that of cardiovascular abnormalities by modulating SORT1 and PSRC1 expressions. The latter emerged as a potential modifier of liver carcinogenesis. Background and Aims: Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are comorbidities of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which ranges from steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rs599839 A>G variant, in the CELSR2-PSRC1-SORT1 gene cluster, has been associated CVD, but its impact on metabolic traits and on the severity liver damage in NAFLD has not been investigated yet. Methods: We evaluated the effect of the rs599839 variant in 1426 NAFLD patients (Overall cohort) of whom 131 had HCC (NAFLD-HCC), in 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank Cohort (UKBBC), and in 366 HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were evaluated by RNAseq (n = 125). Results: The rs599839 variant was associated with reduced circulating LDL, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques and hypertension (p < 0.05) in NAFLD patients and with protection against dyslipidemia in UKBBC. The minor G allele was associated with higher risk of HCC, independently of fibrosis severity (odds ratio (OR): 5.62; 95% c.i. 1.77–17.84, p = 0.003), poor prognosis and advanced tumor stage (p < 0.05) in the overall cohort. Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were increased in NAFLD patients carrying the rs599839 variant (p < 0.0001). SORT1 mRNA levels negatively correlated with circulating lipids and with those of genes involved in lipoprotein turnover (p < 0.0001). Conversely, PSRC1 expression was positively related to that of genes implicated in cell proliferation (p < 0.0001). In TCGA, PSRC1 over-expression promoted more aggressive HCC development (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In sum, the rs599839 A>G variant is associated with protection against dyslipidemia and CVD in NAFLD patients, but as one it might promote HCC development by modulating SORT1 and PSRC1 expressions which impact on lipid metabolism and cell proliferation, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological clock controls at the molecular level several aspects of mammalian physiology, by regulating daily oscillations of crucial biological processes such as nutrient metabolism in the liver. Disruption of the circadian clock circuitry has recently been identified as an independent risk factor for cancer and classified as a potential group 2A carcinogen to humans. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the prevailing histological type of primary liver cancer, one of the most important causes of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC onset and progression is related to B and C viral hepatitis, alcoholic and especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related milieu of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and chronic inflammation. In this review, we recapitulate the state-of-the-art knowledge on the interplay between the biological clock and the oncogenic pathways and mechanisms involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Finally, we propose how a deeper understanding of circadian clock circuitry–cancer pathways' crosstalk is promising for developing new strategies for HCC prevention and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Increased visceral adiposity is considered the hallmark of the metabolic syndrome, whose hepatic manifestation is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), although a subset of patients does not have visceral obesity. Our study aimed to compare metabolic alterations and liver damage in patients with NAFLD with and without visceral obesity. Methods: Four hundred and thirty one consecutive patients with liver biopsy-confirmed NAFLD were divided in three groups according to waist circumference, the simplest surrogate marker of visceral obesity. One hundred and thirty three patients (31%) had a waist circumference⩽94 (males) and⩽80cm (females) (group A), 157 (36%) between 94 and 102, and 80 and 88 (B), and the remaining 141 (33%) had values higher than 102 and 88cm (C). Results: Significant trends for older age, higher prevalence of female gender, lower HDL, higher triglycerides, altered glucose metabolism, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome were observed with increasing visceral adiposity. In contrast, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) detected in 55% and 72% of patients with normal and increased waist circumference, respectively, and the presence of fibrosis⩾2 were not associated with visceral adiposity. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ferritin, HOMA-IR>4, and severe steatosis were independently associated with NASH, whereas ferritin and impaired glucose tolerance were associated with fibrosis⩾2. Conclusions: Patients with normal waist circumference, despite milder metabolic alterations, may have NASH and are at risk of developing fibrosis, suggesting that once NAFLD is present, visceral obesity is not a major determinant of liver damage severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]