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Diagnostics
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Diagnosis of Liver Disease
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Diagnosis of Liver Disease

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 7495

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sung-Eun Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
Interests: alcoholic liver disease; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; viral hepatitis; hepatic fibrosis; cirrhosis; liver cancer; portal hypertension; diagnosis; pathology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of hepatology is being continuously innovated, and advanced cutting-edge clinical techniques have been reported in this field for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, etc. Regardless of the etiology, persistent liver injury goes beyond hepatitis to lead to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Therefore, identifying the etiology and accurately determining the stage of liver disease occupies a critical part in the treatment and prognosis of liver disease.

In this Special Issue, new, original, advanced, innovative studies on diagnostic techniques including genetics, molecular biology, medical imaging, and artificial intelligence will be considered for publication. Your valuable studies in all areas of hepatology will be welcomed. This Special Issue aims to support researchers who are investigating the diseases of hepatology for better clinical diagnosis and new methods, resulting in the advancement of diagnostics in hepatology.

Dr. Sung-Eun Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1518 KiB  
Article
Presence of KIR2DL2/S2, KIR2DL5, and KIR3DL1 Molecules in Liver Transplant Recipients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis Could Be Implicated in Death by Graft Failure
by Raquel Morales, José Miguel Bolarín, Manuel Muro and Isabel Legaz
Diagnostics 2023, 13(7), 1217; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13071217 - 23 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1167
Abstract
Background: The second-most frequent diagnosis among patients receiving liver transplants (LTs) is alcoholic liver disease. The multifactorial pathophysiology of alcoholic liver disease depends on the innate immune system and the inflammatory cascade. According to recent studies on these receptors, killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors [...] Read more.
Background: The second-most frequent diagnosis among patients receiving liver transplants (LTs) is alcoholic liver disease. The multifactorial pathophysiology of alcoholic liver disease depends on the innate immune system and the inflammatory cascade. According to recent studies on these receptors, killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) may be involved in sepsis, liver rejection, and virus relapse. We aimed to investigate the impact of preclinical issues like ascites and encephalopathy and KIR genetic traits on death from sepsis, multiorgan failure (MF), and graft failure (GF) in AC patients undergoing LTs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 164 consecutive and deceased Caucasian AC patients who underwent LTs. Pre-transplant complications, cause of death, and patient survival were analyzed. Genomic DNA was taken from peripheral blood, and PCR-SSO was used for genotyping KIR. Results: Compared to GF patients, there was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of KIR2DL2+ (75.8% vs. 51.2%; p = 0.047). Another increase in frequency was also observed in KIR2DS2+ in sepsis compared to the GF group (51.2% vs. 43.7%; p = 0.018). In patients who passed away from MF, a decrease in KIR2DL5+ was observed in AC patients with and without encephalopathy (p = 0.018). The frequency of KIR3DL1+ in the AC patients significantly increased the mortality from sepsis (p = 0.045), which was confirmed by multivariate logistic regression. The frequency of KIR3DL1+ in the AC patients significantly increased the mortality from sepsis (p = 0.012) and was confirmed by multivariate logistic regression. KIR2DS1+ and KIR2DS4+ showed increased mortality due to GF compared to patients without these genes (p = 0.011 and 0.012, respectively). However, this fact was confirmed only for KIR2DS1+ by multivariate logistic Cox regression. Conclusions: The presence of the KIR2DL2/S2+, KIR2DL5+, and KIR3DL1+ genes increases the frequency of death from multiple organ failure or graft failure. Our findings highlight the AC patient’s vulnerability to a LT during hospitalization. Following the transplant and outside of it, we adopt essential preventive measures to create a routine healthcare screening to enhance and modify treatments to increase survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Liver Disease)
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13 pages, 3225 KiB  
Article
PVR—A Prognostic Biomarker Correlated with Immune Cell Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
by Wen-Feng Liu, Bing Quan, Miao Li, Feng Zhang, Ke-Shu Hu and Xin Yin
Diagnostics 2022, 12(12), 2953; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12122953 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1440
Abstract
The poliovirus receptor (PVR) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig SF) and is essential for the promotion of cancer cell proliferation and invasion. However, the correlation between PVR expression and prognosis as well as immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains [...] Read more.
The poliovirus receptor (PVR) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig SF) and is essential for the promotion of cancer cell proliferation and invasion. However, the correlation between PVR expression and prognosis as well as immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The expression level of PVR was quantified using the Tumor and Tumor Immunity Evaluation Resource (TIMER) and Sangerbox. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to validate the PVR expression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the feasibility of using PVR as a differentiating factor according to the area under curve (AUC) score. A PVR binding protein network was built using the STRING tool. An enrichment analysis using the R package clusterProfiler was used to explore the potential function of PVR. Immune infiltration analysis was calculated with ESTIMATE algorithms. We also assessed the correlation between PVR expression and immune infiltration by the single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) method from the R package GSVA and TIMER database. The results showed that PVR was commonly overexpressed in multiple types of tumors including HCC. The data of GSE64041 confirmed the same result. The ROC curve suggested that PVR could be a potential diagnostic biomarker. Additionally, high mRNA expression of PVR in HCC was significantly correlated with poor overall survival (OS) and relapse free survival (RFS). Results also indicated correlations between PVR mRNA expression with the level of infiltration immune cells including B cells, CD8+ T cells, cytotoxic cells, DCs, CD56dim NK cells, pDCs, and Th2 cells. Furthermore, the PVR level was significantly correlated with immune markers for immunosuppressive cells in HCC. In conclusion, PVR might be an important regulator of tumor immune cell infiltration and a valuable prognostic biomarker in HCC. However, additional work is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Liver Disease)
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13 pages, 840 KiB  
Article
A Study of Biomarkers Associated with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
by Ion Cristian Efrem, Maria Moța, Ionela Mihaela Vladu, Adina Mitrea, Diana Clenciu, Diana Cristina Protasiewicz Timofticiuc, Ileana-Diana Diaconu, Adina Turcu, Anda Elena Crișan, Cristiana Geormăneanu, Adina Dorina Glodeanu, Beatrice Mahler, Marinela Sînziana Tudor, Anca Maria Amzolini, Simona Elena Micu, Anca Barău Abu Alhija, Adrian Mită, Maria Monalisa Filip and Maria Forțofoiu
Diagnostics 2022, 12(10), 2426; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12102426 - 07 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1914
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new term that no longer excludes patients that consume alcohol or present other liver diseases, unlike nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of different biomarkers as [...] Read more.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new term that no longer excludes patients that consume alcohol or present other liver diseases, unlike nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of different biomarkers as predictors of MAFLD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this regard, a cross-sectional, non-interventional study was conducted over a period of 8 months in patients with T2DM. Liver steatosis displayed by abdominal ultrasound certified the MAFLD diagnosis. A percentage of 49.5% of the studied patients presented MAFLD. Through logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, T2DM duration, lipid-lowering therapy, smoking status, nutritional status, we demonstrated that elevated triglycerides (TG) levels, high non-high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol-to-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL/HDL) ratio, high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and increased Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) had predictive value for MAFLD in patients with T2DM. Furthermore, we calculated the optimal cut-off values for these biomarkers (184 mg/dL for TG, 0.615 for AIP, 3.9 for the non-HDL/HDL ratio, and 2.01 for HOMA-IR) which can predict the presence of MAFLD in patients with T2DM. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the predictive value of the non-HDL/HDL ratio for MAFLD in patients with T2DM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Liver Disease)
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Review

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17 pages, 1273 KiB  
Review
Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis: Bold and Brave?
by Irina Gîrleanu, Anca Trifan, Laura Huiban, Cristina Maria Muzica, Oana Cristina Petrea, Ana-Maria Sîngeap, Camelia Cojocariu, Stefan Chiriac, Tudor Cuciureanu, Remus Stafie, Sebastian Zenovia, Ermina Stratina, Adrian Rotaru, Robert Nastasa, Catalin Sfarti, Irina Iuliana Costache and Carol Stanciu
Diagnostics 2023, 13(6), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13061160 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2282
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is frequently diagnosed in patients with liver cirrhosis, especially in those with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or alcoholic etiology. Anticoagulant treatment is recommended for thromboembolic protection in patients with atrial fibrillation. Considering the impaired coagulation balance in liver cirrhosis, predisposing patients to bleed [...] Read more.
Atrial fibrillation is frequently diagnosed in patients with liver cirrhosis, especially in those with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or alcoholic etiology. Anticoagulant treatment is recommended for thromboembolic protection in patients with atrial fibrillation. Considering the impaired coagulation balance in liver cirrhosis, predisposing patients to bleed or thrombotic events, the anticoagulant treatment is still a matter of debate. Although patients with liver cirrhosis were excluded from the pivotal studies that confirmed the efficacy and safety of the anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation, data from real-life cohorts demonstrated that the anticoagulant treatment in patients with liver cirrhosis could be safe. This review aimed to evaluate the recent data regarding the safety and efficacy of anticoagulant treatment in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Direct oral anticoagulants are safer than warfarin in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis. In Child–Pugh class C liver cirrhosis, direct oral anticoagulants are contraindicated. New bleeding and ischemic risk scores should be developed especially for patients with liver cirrhosis, and biomarkers for bleeding complications should be implemented in clinical practice to personalize this treatment in a very difficult population represented by decompensated liver cirrhosis patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Liver Disease)
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