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    Review Article Open Access
    Update on the STING Signaling Pathway in Developing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    Wei Liu, Zhili Zhang Chen, Chenhui Yang, Yaofu Fan, Liang Qiao, Shaofeng Xie, Lin Cao
    Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, Published online September 28, 2023. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2023.00197
    Abstract
    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition with limited treatment options. Inflammation caused by metabolic disturbances plays a significant role [...] Read more.
    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition with limited treatment options. Inflammation caused by metabolic disturbances plays a significant role in NAFLD development. Stimulator of interferon gene (STING), a critical regulator of innate immunity, induces the production of interferons and other pro-inflammatory factors by recognizing cytoplasmic DNA to defend against pathogen infection. The STING-mediated signaling pathway appears to play a vital role in hepatic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and even carcinogenesis. Promisingly, pharmacological interventions targeting STING have shown improvements in the pathological state of NAFLD. Macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and T cell pathways regulated by STING present potential novel druggable targets for NAFLD treatment. Further research and development in this area may offer new therapeutic options for managing NAFLD effectively. Full article
    Review Article Open Access
    Where To Stop: Occurrence and Evolution of Translational Recoding Signals in RNA Viruses of Eukaryotes
    Alexey A. Agranovsky
    Gene Expression, Published online September 28, 2023. doi:10.14218/GE.2023.00025
    Abstract
    Many (+)RNA viruses employ translational recoding mechanisms, such as programmed ribosomal readthrough and ribosomal frameshifting, to direct a fraction of translating ribosomes in [...] Read more.
    Many (+)RNA viruses employ translational recoding mechanisms, such as programmed ribosomal readthrough and ribosomal frameshifting, to direct a fraction of translating ribosomes in the infected cell to recode or bypass a stop codon in the zero reading frame and continue translation, thus producing protein isoforms with distinct functions. This creates a means to regulate both the quantity and time of synthesis of canonical and fusion proteins. The viral programmed ribosomal readthrough and ribosomal frameshifting signals are variable, with some being just short RNA sequences encompassing a stop codon, whereas others require elaborate RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions. Within virus evolutionary lineages, a given type of recoding signal is not universal, and its presence may be specific to a virus family, species, or even strain. It is possible that the establishment of virus recoding mechanisms and expression patterns occurs after the appearance of extant virus lineages, and these recoding signals might be acquired on multiple occasions during evolution. Recoding signals are the key regulators of gene expression in several clinically important viruses, such as human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2, human T-cell lymphotropic retroviruses, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, as well as in a number of other animal and plant viruses of concern. The knowledge of viral recoding mechanisms is expected to provide new perspectives for the development of antiviral and synthetic biology strategies. Full article
    Review Article Open Access
    Moonlighting Effects of Pyruvate Kinase M2 in Chronic Liver Diseases
    Madhav Jadhav, Shailendra Sharma, Vaishnavi Kalmegh, Saumya Kapoor, Amit Shard
    Gene Expression, Published online September 28, 2023. doi:10.14218/GE.2023.00038
    Abstract
    Hepatic diseases have constituted a significant global problem for over two decades, numerous factors contribute to these diseases, and most eventually result in hepatocellular carcinoma. [...] Read more.
    Hepatic diseases have constituted a significant global problem for over two decades, numerous factors contribute to these diseases, and most eventually result in hepatocellular carcinoma. A particular pivotal factor responsible for hepatic diseases is the abnormal functioning of various metabolic processes. Pyruvate kinase is a crucial regulator of the glycolytic pathway, and overexpression of pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) has been observed with various hepatic abnormalities due to genetic malfunctioning and other contributing factors. The present scenario for diagnosing and treating hepatic diseases includes surgery and immunosuppressant therapies. Kinase modulation may also be a potential therapeutic measure for rectifying hepatic diseases, and this can serve as a potential approach. This review summarizes the malfunctions and significance of PKM2 regulation and explores the potential of PKM2 as a target for treating hepatic abnormalities. Full article
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    Review Article Open Access
    Targeting the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Liver Fibrosis for Drug Options: An Update
    Kristina Duspara, Kristina Bojanic, Josipa Ivanusic Pejic, Lucija Kuna, Tea Omanovic Kolaric, Vjera Nincevic, Robert Smolic, Aleksandar Vcev, Marija Glasnovic, Ines Bilic Curcic, Martina Smolic
    Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, Published online September 13, 2021. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2021.00065
    Abstract
    Liver fibrosis is a life-threatening disease, with challenging morbidity and mortality for healthcare systems worldwide. It imparts an enormous economic burden to societies, making [...] Read more.
    Liver fibrosis is a life-threatening disease, with challenging morbidity and mortality for healthcare systems worldwide. It imparts an enormous economic burden to societies, making continuous research and informational updates about its pathogenesis and treatment crucial. This review′s focus is on the current knowledge about the Wnt signaling pathway, serving as an important pathway in liver fibrosis development and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Two types of Wnt pathways are distinguished, namely the ß-catenin-dependent canonical and non-canonical Ca2+ or planar cell polarity (PCP)-dependent pathway. The dynamic balance of physiologically healthy liver and hepatocytes is disturbed by repeated liver injuries. Activation of the ß-catenin Wnt pathway prevents the regeneration of hepatocytes by the replacement of extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to the appearance of scar tissue and the formation of regenerated nodular hepatocytes, lacking the original function of healthy hepatocytes. Therefore, liver function is reduced due to the severely advanced disease. Selective inhibition of ß-catenin inhibits inflammatory processes (since chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced during Wnt activation), reduces growth of activated HSCs and reduces collagen synthesis and angiogenesis, thereby reducing the progression of liver fibrosis in vivo. While the canonical Wnt pathway is usually inactive in a physiologically healthy liver, it shows activity during cell regeneration or renewal and in certain pathophysiological conditions, such as liver diseases and cancer. Targeted blocking of some of the basic components of the Wnt pathway is a therapeutic approach. These include the frizzled transmembrane receptor (Fz) receptors using the secreted frizzled-related protein family (sFRP), Fz-coreceptors low-density LRP 5/6 through dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) or niclosamide, glycogen kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) using SB-216763, cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CBP) using PRI-724 and ICG-001, the lymphoid enhancer binding factor (LEF)/T cell-specific transcription factor (TCF) system as well as Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) and miR-17-5p using pinostilbene hydrate (PSH). Significant progress has been made in inhibiting Wnt and thus stopping the progression of liver fibrosis by diminishing key components for its action. Comprehending the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in liver fibrosis may lead to discovery of novel targets in liver fibrosis therapeutic strategies’ development. Full article
    Original Article Open Access
    Prognostic Nomogram for Patients with Hepatitis E Virus-related Acute Liver Failure: A Multicenter Study in China
    Jian Wu, Cuifen Shi, Xinyu Sheng, Yanping Xu, Jinrong Zhang, Xinguo Zhao, Jiong Yu, Xinhui Shi, Gongqi Li, Hongcui Cao, Lanjuan Li
    Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, Published online May 6, 2021. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2020.00117
    Abstract
    Timely and effective assessment scoring systems for predicting the mortality of patients with hepatitis E virus-related acute liver failure (HEV-ALF) are urgently needed. The present [...] Read more.
    Timely and effective assessment scoring systems for predicting the mortality of patients with hepatitis E virus-related acute liver failure (HEV-ALF) are urgently needed. The present study aimed to establish an effective nomogram for predicting the mortality of HEV-ALF patients. The nomogram was based on a cross-sectional set of 404 HEV-ALF patients who were identified and enrolled from a cohort of 650 patients with liver failure. To compare the performance with that of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring and CLIF-Consortium-acute-on-chronic liver failure score (CLIF-C-ACLFs) models, we assessed the predictive accuracy of the nomogram using the concordance index (C-index), and its discriminative ability using time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (td-ROC) analysis, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the development set carried out to predict mortality revealed that γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, albumin, total bilirubin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, international normalized ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were independent factors, all of which were incorporated into the new nomogram to predict the mortality of HEV-ALF patients. The area under the curve of this nomogram for mortality prediction was 0.671 (95% confidence interval: 0.602–0.740), which was higher than that of the MELD and CLIF-C-ACLFs models. Moreover, the td-ROC and decision curves analysis showed that both discriminative ability and threshold probabilities of the nomogram were superior to those of the MELD and CLIF-C-ACLFs models. A similar trend was observed in the validation set. The novel nomogram is an accurate and efficient mortality prediction method for HEV-ALF patients. Full article
    Original Article Open Access
    Underlying Causes of Death among Adults in the United States, 2013–2017
    Xin Hu, Yong Lin, Gangjian Qin, Lanjing Zhang
    Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine, Published online December 1, 2020. doi:10.14218/ERHM.2020.00065
    Abstract
    Overall mortality among U.S. adults has been stable in past years; however, racial disparity influenced 10 leading causes of death or age-specific mortality in Blacks or African Americans. [...] Read more.
    Overall mortality among U.S. adults has been stable in past years; however, racial disparity influenced 10 leading causes of death or age-specific mortality in Blacks or African Americans. Unfortunately, the trends in sex- and race-adjusted age-standardized cause-specific mortality are poorly understood. We here aimed to identify the underlying causes of death (UCD) with sex- and race-adjusted, and age-standardized mortality that has changed in recent years. We extracted the data of UCD from the Multiple Cause of Death database of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Multivariable log-linear regression models were used to estimate trends in sex- and race-adjusted, and age-standardized mortality of UCD during 2013–2017. A total of 31,029,133 deaths were identified. Among the list of 113 UCDs compiled by the CDC, there were 29 UCDs exhibiting an upward trend, 33 UCDs exhibiting a downward trend and 56 UCDs with no significant trends. The 2 UCDs with the largest annual percent change were both nutrition related (annual percent change [APC] = 17.73, 95% CI [15.13–20.33] for malnutrition, and APC = 17.49, 95% CI [14.94–20.04] for Nutritional deficiencies), followed by accidental poisoning and exposure to noxious substances. The 4 UCDs with the largest decreasing APC were viral hepatitis (APC = −11.71), chronic and unspecified bronchitis (APC = −8.26), emphysema (APC = −7.11) and human immunodeficiency virus disease (APC = −7.10). This study thus reports UCDs with changing mortality in recent years after sex- and race-adjustments and age-standardizations. More effort and resources should focus on understanding, preventing and controling the mortality linked to these UCDs. Continuous monitoring of mortality trends is recommended. Full article
Special Features

Call for Papers for Special Issue 'Updates of Cytopathology Reporting Systems'

Journal: Journal of Clinical and Translational Pathology
Special Issue: Updates of Cytopathology Reporting Systems
Submission deadline: November 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted

Call for Papers for Special Issue 'Frontier research on the toxicity and efficacy of Chinese medicine'

Journal: Future Integrative Medicine
Special Issue: Frontier research on the toxicity and efficacy of Chinese medicine
Submission deadline: June 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted

Call for Papers for Special Issue ‘New Translational Challenges in Primary Biliary Cholangitis’

Journal: Journal Clinical and Translational Hepatology
Special Issue: New Translational Challenges in Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Submission deadline: June 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted

Call for Papers for Special Issue ‘A Spotlight on Progress and Pitfalls in NAFLD/MAFLD Studies, 2022’

Journal: Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology
Special Issue: A Spotlight on Progress and Pitfalls in NAFLD/MAFLD Studies, 2022
Submission deadline: March 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted

Call for Papers for Special Issue 'Comparative study of traditional medicine in the world'

Journal: Future Integrative Medicine
Special Issue: Comparative study of traditional medicine in the world
Submission deadline: June 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted

Call for Papers for Special Issue 'Therapeutic effects of herbal medicines on neurological impairment and related mental disorders based on the evidence of clinical and basic studies'

Journal: Future Integrative Medicine
Special Issue: Therapeutic effects of herbal medicines on neurological impairment and related mental disorders based on the evidence of clinical and basic studies
Submission deadline: June 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted

Call for Papers for Special Issue ‘Immunoregulatory Mechanisms of Herbal Medicines in Cancer and Infectious Diseases’

Journal: Future Integrative Medicine
Special Issue: Immunoregulatory Mechanisms of Herbal Medicines in Cancer and Infectious Diseases
Submission deadline: June 30, 2023
Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted
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