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Background and aims: Increases in both the prevalence and severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and obesity are closely related. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has been associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved for the treatment of T2DM and has an important role in weight loss. Also, it may represent a new therapeutic option for the treatment of MASH in obese diabetic patients. The main outcomes were changes from baseline in liver steatosis and fibrosis at week 24. Material and methods: A total of one hundred eighty-seven patients with T2DM were eligible for this prospective study; ninety-five subjects were treated with oral semaglutide, and ninety-two patients were treated with dapagliflozin as an add-on to metformin. All the subjects were evaluated using Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) from June to December 2022. Results: From our cohort, 54% of the patients were females, with a mean age of 59.92 ± 11.89 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.53 ± 5.33 kg/m2. Following a six-month medication period, we observed a substantial reduction in anthropometric measurements, including the BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WtHr), in both groups. Regarding HbA1c, a notable decrease was observed in the semaglutide group (p < 0.001) when compared to the dapagliflozin group (p = 0.011). In addition, the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) according to VCTE improved significantly in the semaglutide group participants from 8.07 ± 2.90 kPa at baseline to 6.51 ± 3.09 kPa after medication (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The superior metabolic effects of semaglutide, correlated to dapagliflozin, may contribute to a more efficient decrease in hepatic stress and injury, leading to a substantial enhancement of liver function in T2DM patients. Further investigations conducted over an ideal timeframe are necessary to confirm the evidence presented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is usually associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The limited number of NAFLD treatment options is well known. Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved to treat T2DM, is crucial for obtaining a healthy weight. Additionally, may constitute a cutting-edge therapy option for T2DM patients with NAFLD. In this study, liver steatosis and fibrosis in T2DM patients are measured using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Material and Methods. Fifty-seven consecutive patients with T2DM and NAFLD receiving oral semaglutide were enrolled from September 2022 to February 2023 and evaluated by VCTE with CAP. Clinical and analytical data for every subject were recorded. Oral semaglutide was initiated at a dose of 3 mg once daily and subsequently increased to 7 mg at 4 weeks, and 14 mg at 8 weeks in accordance with the diabetologist's recommendations. Results. VCTE analysis showed that 40 diabetic people (70.2%) had significantly lower CAP levels after 24 weeks compared to baseline. Only 14 (24.5%) diabetic patients experienced a significant decrease in liver fibrosis. Regarding body mass index (BMI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), have improved significantly compared to the baseline (mean BMI 28.72±5.43 kg/m2 to 25.67 ±6.11 kg/m2, mean AST 58.17 ± 16.33 IU/L to 34.54 ± 13.8 IU/L, mean ALT 63.31 ± 12.66 IU/L to 39.17 ± 14.3 IU/L). The mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value reduced significantly from baseline to 24 weeks (from 8.9% to 7.4%). A significant correlation existed between changes in CAP values and fasting plasma glucose (p=0.31, p=0.52), as well as AST (p=0.188, p=0.48), and BMI (p=0.274, p=0.44). Nausea and diarrhea were the most often reported side effects. Conclusion. In individuals with T2DM with NAFLD, oral semaglutide therapy has improved glycemic control, liver enzymes, body weight, and liver steatosis. These findings suggest that semaglutide may be useful in the treatment of NAFLD patients, therefore more studies concerning liver fibrosis are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Despite the high efficacy of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in curing chronic HCV infection, there is a concern regarding a more aggressive phenotype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after DAA treatment. Although there are many clinical cohort studies that have evaluated the incidence and recurrence of HCC in these patients, data on the tumor characteristics of HCC after DAAs are not sufficient to establish a clear conclusion. A promising index was recently developed for the evaluation of HCC aggressiveness (AGI) which comprises 4 tumor-related parameters: maximum tumor diameter (MTD), number of tumor nodules, portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and serum AFP levels. Aim. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of AGI in assessing the pattern of HCV-related HCC after DAAs and the predictive value in survival. Material&methods. We carried out a retrospective comparative observational study in which we included patients treated with DAAs for HCV infection and diagnosed with HCC in the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Iași, Romania, between January 1st, 2017 and December 31, 2019. Patients were matched based on age and sex with a historic cohort consisting of patients with HCV-related HCC without DAA therapy. Based on AGI, patients were divided into three aggressiveness classes: class A (low aggressiveness), B (intermediate aggressiveness) and C (high aggressiveness). Results. Among the 124 patients with chronic HCV infection diagnosed with HCC, 66 (53.2%) patients were males and 58 (46.8%) were female, with a mean age of 62.38 ± 9.88 years. According to DAAtreated and DAA-naive status, patients were divided into 2 groups: the DAA group included 30 treated patients and the non-DAA group included 94 DAAnaive patients. In the DAA group, the frequency of single HCC was much higher (73.3%) than in naïve patients (53.2%) (p = 0.052), as well as smaller tumor sizes (41.07 ± 18.116mm vs. 61.79 ± 34.477mm, p=0.001) and lower rates of malignant PVT (20% vs. 36%, p = 0.146). According to AGI, class B was the most frequently observed (42.6%) in DAA-naïve patients, followed by class A (31.9%) and class C (25.5%), whilst in DAA-treated patients the most frequent was class A (46.7%), closely followed by class B (40.0%), and class C in 13.3% of cases. The 3-year survival probability for AGI class A vs. B vs. C was 66.9% vs 40.2% vs 8.4%; p=0.001, from the time of diagnosis by Kaplan-Meier plot. There was a significantly higher survival rate in the DAA group compared to DAA-naïve patients (75.3% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.008). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The overall burden of B / D and C viral hepatitis remains substantial, despite the major advances in the prevention and treatment of patients in recent years, due to comorbidities and complications associated with liver disease. In this context, the national screening program LIVE (RO) 2 aims to further assess all patients identified as positive for one of the hepatitis B / D / C viruses. Objectives. The study aimed to identify fortuitous pathologies discovered in patients with chronic viral B / D / C infection diagnosed in the LIVE (RO) screening program 2. Materials and Methods. We conducted a prospective study that included people from vulnerable groups (poor, uninsured, rural people, people in foster care, homeless, Roma population, people with disabilities, and suffering from alcohol or drug addiction) in different areas of North-Eastern Romania, between July 2021 - December 2022, during the national screening program LIVE (RO) 2-EAST. We also investigated the presence of newly discovered conditions in patients who tested positive and directed to the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Iasi for the staging of liver disease and the establishment of antiviral treatment. Results. The study group included 1176 patients, of which 422 men (35.8%) and 754 women (64.1%), aged between 35 and 83 years, with a mean age of 56.32 years. The predominant source of origin was rural (73.1%). Of the patients with positive RDTs, 635 (53.9%) patients were detected with HBsAg, 521 (44.3%) patients with anti-HCV antibodies, and 20 (1.7%) patients with anti-HVD antibodies. Of these, 215 patients (18.2%) were diagnosed with a new pathology associated with B / D / C viral infection. The most common pathologies discovered incidentally were liver cirrhosis (94, 43.7%), liver cysts (35, 16.2%), liver hemangiomas (29, 13.4%), gallstones (24, 11.1%), type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (15, 6.9%), uterine fibroids (9, 4.1%), hepatocellular carcinoma (7, 3.2%), choledochal lithiasis (2, 0.9%). In addition, the presence of fortuitous pathologies was higher among patients with HBV infection than in those with HCV infection (65.3% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.012). Among the risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are chronic alcohol consumption (43%, compared to 19% in the group of patients without HCC), and the association of T2DM in 3 patients (31%, compared to 10% in the group of patients with HCC). Conclusions. Patients with chronic B / D / C viral infection had a high prevalence of incidentally detected comorbidities, which necessitates the need for public health policies in vulnerable groups to promote access to existing health services to reduce the future burden of chronic diseases but also secondary complications of chronic liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. In recent decades, alcohol consumption, as part of an unhealthy lifestyle, which has been on the rise in many parts of the world, is a key factor that explains the constant upward trend of mortality associated with this etiology. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of liver fibrosis in the asymptomatic alcohol-consuming population. Objectives. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between advanced liver fibrosis measured by transient elastography, laboratory parameters, and the amount of alcohol consumed depending on non-modifiable risk factors such as age and gender. Material and method. Between January 2022 and December 2022, we examined patients with day hospitalization in the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Iasi, without liver history, who admitted a moderate or high consumption (women <7 versus >7 drinks/week; men <14 versus >14 drinks/week) for at least one year. The classification of the fibrosis stage by transient elastography was adjusted according to transaminase values. The results were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression to establish models of prediction. Results: The study included 689 patients with an average age of 49.32±14.31 years, a proportion of 63.7% represented by men. Advanced fibrosis (F3) was detected in 19.30% of the examined patients, predominantly in men (14.1%) and patients over 55 years old (12.5%). Excessive alcohol consumption is associated 2 times more with advanced fibrosis in women (OR=5.08; CI 95%: 3.45-9.50) and the group under 40 years old (OR=6.29; CI 95%: 1.67-9.43) compared to men (OR=2.27; CI 95%: 1.76-3.81) respectively patients over 55 years old (OR=3.21; CI 95%: 2.28-4.45) (p<0.05). Using logistic regression, it was demonstrated that there was a strong correlation between advanced fibrosis, excessive alcohol consumption, low serum albumin level and the reduction of triglycerides in men (R2 Nagelkerke = 0.854; p<0.001) supplemented with the reduction of cholesterol in the age group 40-55 years (R2 Nagelkerke = 0.785; p<0.001), respectively of ferritin in those over 55 years old (R2 Nagelkerke = 0.804; p<0.001). The association of excessive alcohol consumption, age, low levels of albumin, LDL-cholesterol and C-reactive protein generated a significant predictive model (R2 Nagelkerke = 0.784; p<0.001) for female patients. Conclusion. Screening using transient elastography represents an approach that could provide early diagnosis of advanced liver fibrosis in an asymptomatic population, with the possibility to prevent the evolution of ALD and the development of complications of cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Chronic viral hepatitis B/D and C can be complicated by comorbid conditions that may influence treatment eligibility and outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of the most common comorbidities in patients diagnosed with chronic viral B/D and C infection using rapid diagnostic tests (TDR). Materials and Methods. Between July 2021 and December 2022, we performed prospective screening for chronic viral B/D and C infection in people in vulnerable groups (poor, uninsured, rural people, people in foster care, people without shelter, Roma people, people with disabilities, people suffering from alcohol and drug addiction) from different areas of North-Eastern Romania, during the national program for the elimination of viral hepatitis LIVE(RO) 2-EST using TDRs for hepatitis B virus (Wama Immuno-Rapid HBV®) and hepatitis C virus (Wama Immuno-Rapid HCV®). We also investigated the presence of comorbid conditions in patients tested positive and presented at the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Iasi for the staging of liver disease and the establishment of antiviral treatment. Results. Our study included 1176 patients who came to a tertiary center for the staging of liver disease, of which 422 men (35.8%) and 754 women (64.1%), aged 35 to 83 years, with an average age of 56.32 years. The predominant source of origin was rural (73.1%). Of the patients with positive TDR, 635 (53.9%) of patients were detected with HBsAg, 521 (44.3%) of patients with anti-HCV antibodies, and 20 (1.7%) of patients with anti-HVD antibodies. Of these, 646 patients (54.9%) had at least one comorbid condition. The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (21.5%), psychiatric disorders (11.5%), type 2 diabetes (8.9%), metabolic disorders (6%), thyroid disorders (5%) and cancer (2%). In addition, the presence of comorbidities was higher among patients with HCV infection than in those with HBV infection (64.9% vs. 48.5%, p = 0.014), while psychiatric disorders were most common in patients with HBV/HVD coinfection (42.3%), most likely due to the Interferon regimen that has been administered in the past to 19 individuals. Conclusions. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis B/D and C had a high prevalence of multiple comorbidities. Effective strategies are needed to manage these comorbid conditions as well as interdisciplinary collaboration to allow greater access to antiviral treatment and to reduce the future burden of advanced liver disease and its manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are caused by a dysregulated immune response in the hosts, favored by genetic susceptibility. In addition to symptoms related to the digestive tract, about 40% of patients with IBD also experience extraintestinal manifestations. Although, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been frequently associated with IBDs, the relationship between these two pathologies remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD among IBD patients, as well as the factors that connect these two conditions. Material and methods. From January 2022 to November 2022, consecutive IBD patients were enrolled from a tertiary care center hospital in Iasi. Patients' demographic information, clinical characteristics including blood pressure, biological parameters, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Following informed consent, participants underwent a fibroscan evaluation for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Results. 93 patients with IBD were enrolled (65,3% men, 55,6% with ulcerative colitis). 45 (48,3%) of them were diagnosed with NAFLD, with a mean CAP score of 283 ± 33.4 vs. 215 ± 23.7 in patients with IBD only. Regarding liver fibrosis, mean LSM value in the NAFLD group was 6.8 ± 1.9 kPa vs. 5.7 ± 2.3 kPa in the non-NALFD group. Subjects with NAFLD exhibited higher body mass indexes than those with IBD only (26.2 vs. 33.1, p<0.05). In addition, the prevalence of diabetes was much greater among this group (27.5% vs. 0%; p=0.0001), as was the prevalence of elevated HbA1c levels in the absence of a diabetes diagnosis (14% vs. 7.35%; p=0.23). They also had a non-significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure and greater incidences of hypertension. Compared to those without NAFLD, the NAFLD cohort had higher rates of diagnosed hypercholesterolaemia, were older with a higher mean disease duration and had a higher nonsignificant level of triglycerides. The 10-year risk of myocardial infarction or death estimated by the Framingham risk scores for hard coronary heart disease was higher in the NAFLD group (2.32% vs. 4.27%, p=0.0024). Conclusions. NAFLD is a multifaceted condition that is becoming more common in IBD patients. Although the present evidences in the literature suggest a small risk for the advance of liver fibrosis, the cardiovascular risk seems to be of a greater interest. Considering the above data, patients with IBD should be evaluated with a multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity are independently related to an increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the primary cause of mortality in NAFLD patients. Even though many subjects with NAFLD are normal weight, it still remains uncertain whether their ASCVD risk is of major importance. The aim of this study is to assess and compare the ASCVD risk between lean and obese patients with NAFLD. Methods. Normal weight and obese patients were evaluated between January 2020 and February 2023 and their data was analyzed. NAFLD was diagnosed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines was used to evaluate the ASCVD risk. Results. In the obese group, 104 (63.8%) patients were diagnosed with NAFLD, compared to 32 (12.3%) in the lean population. In comparison to those with obese NAFLD, subjects with lean NAFLD had significantly higher ASCVD scores (mean 15.3% vs 22.7%, p<0.001). Moreover, subjects with lean NAFLD and significant liver fibrosis had a higher risk of ASCVD events, compared to their obese counterparts (OR, 2.51 vs 1.95, p=0.034). Regarding the presence of the components of the metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was higher the obese group, while changes in the lipid profile and higher systolic blood pressure were more frequently found in lean subjects. Conclusions: Subjects with lean NAFLD had an ASCVD score that were significantly higher than those with obese NAFLD. In both study groups, the presence of significant liver fibrosis was an essential risk factor associated with an ASCVD event, but the effects were more pronounced in lean individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Over 71 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hepatitis C, a systemic disease that is currently being viewed as a new cardiometabolic risk factor. Aim. The objective of this study was to compare the lipid profiles of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection before and after viral elimination. Materials and Methods. We conducted a prospective study between October 2017 to January 2020, in a tertiary center, in which we included 132 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis or cirrhosis. All patients received treatment with direct antivirals. During the study we assesed biological data (blood count, TGP, TGO, serum albumin, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, HDLcholesterol, triglycerides). The study group was followed at the initiation of antiviral treatment, after 3 months after the completion of antiviral treatment and within an average follow-up period of 6 months to 12 months after the previous evaluation. Results. 128 of the 132 patients exhibit a persistent viral response (SVR). The average TC levels for patients who obtained SVR increased from baseline to 177.01 42.2 mg/dl. The discrepancies between the baseline values of the TC and those discovered during SVR and post-SVR surveillance were statistically significant (p 0.05 and p = 0.049, respectively). When compared to the baseline, the average LDL-cholesterol readings at SVR and post-SVR surveillance were higher on average (116.2 35.6 vs 124, 24 34.9 vs 136.72 22.5 mg/dL). The post-SVR examination reveals significant HDL value variability, with lower values discovered compared to the study's second surveillance moment. After viral clearance, the serum triglyceride level had also changed. The mean triglyceride concentrations are lower (128.441.8 mg/dL) at the time of the SVR assessment. In the third evaluations, the mean value is somewhat higher (135.445.2 mg/dL). The differences between the values acquired at the time of SVR and the beginning values were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.008, p 0.05). Conclusion. Our study highlights that HCV eradication does not improve the lipid profile on the short term, and these patients still have an additional cardiovascular risk factor due to high levels of TC, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. In order to meet the requirements of the WHO, namely - the eradication of viral hepatitis by 2030, UMF "Grigore T. Popa" from Iasi together with ARAS and the Hospital "St. Spiridon" from Iasi, carries out since 2020 the project "LIVE(RO) 2 - Integrated regional program for prevention, early detection (screening), diagnosis and targeting treatment of patients with chronic liver disease secondary to viral infections with liver viruses B/D and C in the North-East and South-East regions". This study aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of the vulnerable population in the eastern part of the country diagnosed with chronic B/D and C viral infection. Materials and Methods. Between July 2021 and December 2022, we performed a prospective screening of chronic viral hepatitis B/D and C in vulnerable people in the counties of North-East and South-East of Romania, within the national program LIVE(RO) 2 - EST. Rapid diagnostic tests were used to detect HBs antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies (HCVA): HBV (Wama Immuno-Rapid HBV®) and HCV (Wama Immuno-Rapid HCV®). Rapid test-positive patients were tested for HBV DNA and HCV RNA and those eligible under the national protocol were treated with antivirals. Results. The study included 55593 individuals tested rapidly, of which 2160 (3.8%) patients were tested positive (1120 women, 1040 men, mean age 55.86 ± 6.023 years, predominantly rural background - 76.19%). Of these, 1077 (49.8%) were HBsAg positive, 918 (42.5%) with HCV positive needle, 37 (1.7%) HBV/HCV coinfection and 128 (5.9%) HBV/VHD coinfection. HBV-DNA was performed in 724 (67.3%) individuals, of which 452 (62.5%) subjects > 2,000 children/ml. Also, 518 (54.3%) patients with HCV-positive Ac had detectable HCV RNA, of which 375 (72.3%) received antiviral treatment. Depending on the ethnicity, the prevalence of viral infection was 4.29% in Roma people and 3.23% in Romanian people. Among the vulnerable groups determined by work, inactive people (27.7%), uninsured people (11.2%), unskilled people (1.87%), unemployed people (0.6%) and people working in agriculture (0.59%) were predominantly tested. Among the special vulnerable groups, people with disabilities (3.99%), people addicted to alcohol (2.43%) and people with a minimum income (1.21%) were predominantly tested. Conclusions. The high prevalence of B/D and C viral infection in the vulnerable population tested in the North-East and South-East Region of Romania compared to the rest of the population, indicates the significant viral spread of the infection in these people, a condition that requires further testing and the need for policies public health in vulnerable groups to promote access to existing health services and early initiation of optimal antiviral treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Metabolic syndrome (MS) patients are at increased risk for severe liver fibrosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, there aren't any recommendations until this moment for screening MS patients. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic precision of non-invasive tests in identifying advanced liver fibrosis (F3) and cirrhosis (F4) in MS patients using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) as a standard quantification method. Materials and Methods. Between September 2022 to March 2023, we prospectively enrolled MS patients at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute Iasi who had undergone evaluation using noninvasive tests like the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score, fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). When compared to liver stiffness measures (LSM), we assessed the specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) for each of these indicators in the identification of at least advanced liver fibrosis (=F3). Results. Of the 116 MS patients included in this study, who had a mean BMI of 27.82±4.62 kg/m2 and at least three metabolic conditions, 69 individuals (59.5%) were females. Using a cut-off of 9.7 kPa, 35 (30.2%) patients had at least advanced fibrosis (=F3) according to LSM measurements. VCTE examinations present a higher correlation with the FIB-4 index (r=0.566), NFS (r=0.585), and APRI score (r=0.624) (p< 0.001). The NPV for the FIB-4 index was the highest (90.38%), followed by the NPV for the NFS score (87.84%). The main result of our research showed that all the biomarkers had reasonably high NPV (>85%) and accuracy (>83%) for predicting advanced liver fibrosis, with moderate specificity (80%) and PPV (75%). Conclusion. To prevent progressive fibrosis in MS patients, the FIB-4 index and NFS score seem to be the most suitable surrogate VCTE biomarkers. It may be necessary to take action and further evaluation of liver fibrosis in a tertiary care center for populations at risk after these non-invasive and affordable screening tests are used in primary care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]