Lipid metabolism reprogramming drives malignant proliferation and invasiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Beyond supplying energy and membrane components, lipids function as signaling molecules that modulate tumor cell epigenetics and the microenvironment. Accumulating research has clarified the implications of these metabolic alterations in HCC, providing a rationale for targeted therapies. This review summarizes key alterations in lipid metabolism within HCC and explores their mechanistic contributions to tumor progression. It further examines how lipid metabolic shifts in immune and stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment promote HCC advancement. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting lipid metabolism in liver cancer treatment.

Early detection of gastric cancer is critical for reducing incidence and mortality, as well as for improving survival outcomes. Although gastroscopy remains the gold standard for gastric cancer screening and diagnosis, its invasiveness, discomfort during the procedure, and limited acceptability restrict population participation and screening coverage. Recently, rapid advances in liquid biopsy technologies have led to the discovery of numerous multi-omics biomarkers spanning genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, with promising diagnostic performance. However, their translational value for population-based gastric cancer screening and control remains insufficiently characterized. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of multi-omics biomarkers for gastric cancer screening and to evaluate their potential role in advancing population-level gastric cancer control. First, we synthesize multi-omics biomarkers with diagnostic and screening relevance across the continuum of gastric carcinogenesis, from chronic inflammation and atrophy to intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and early gastric cancer. Furthermore, we highlight the integrative value of multi-omics biomarkers, current limitations, translational challenges, and future opportunities for moving biomarkers from discovery to implementation in organized screening programs. In conclusion, multi-omics biomarkers have the potential to complement existing screening strategies by providing scalable, non-invasive, and risk-adapted approaches for early gastric cancer detection. Bridging the gap between biomarker discovery and real-world implementation will be essential for realizing their value in future gastric cancer screening programs.

Thyroid nodules are increasingly detected in clinical practice, and accurate imaging evaluation is essential for risk stratification, treatment planning, and postoperative surveillance of thyroid cancer. Although ultrasound remains the first-line modality for thyroid nodule assessment, the roles of computed tomography (CT), spectral CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) vary across clinical scenarios, and the optimal integration of these modalities remains insufficiently standardized. In particular, existing studies often focus on individual imaging techniques, while practical guidance on modality selection for initial screening, preoperative anatomical assessment, recurrence monitoring, and high-risk disease evaluation remains limited. This narrative review summarizes the imaging principles, clinical indications, diagnostic value, advantages, and limitations of ultrasound, CT, spectral CT, MRI, and PET-CT in the evaluation of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Future advances should focus on standardized multimodal imaging strategies, quantitative functional imaging, radiomics, and carefully validated artificial intelligence-assisted approaches to improve individualized diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing rapidly, yet regional differences in burden and care quality remain unclear. This study aimed to compare regional incidence, mortality, and disability; evaluate care quality; identify key determinants; and project future incidence.

We analyzed the Global Burden of Disease 2023 estimates of MASLD incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years from 1990 to 2023 by age, sex, country, and region. Age-standardized rates were assessed using joinpoint regression. A composite Quality of Care Index (QCI) was derived through principal component analysis. Gradient boosting models with SHapley Additive exPlanations interpretation identified key predictors, and Bayesian age–period–cohort models generated incidence projections.

In 2023, South and East Asia had the largest numbers of new cases, while North Africa and the Middle East and Andean Latin America recorded the highest age-standardized incidence, mortality, and disability rates. Eastern Europe and Andean Latin America showed sustained increases in mortality and disability despite moderate incidence growth. QCI values were lowest in South Asia, Western Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe. High body mass index and fasting plasma glucose were prominent contributors in comparative risk attribution analyses, and machine learning models identified age and calendar year as the strongest predictors of modeled burden patterns. Incidence is projected to continue increasing through 2050, particularly in India and China.

MASLD burden and care quality vary widely across regions. Low-QCI regions show higher mortality and disability, unfavorable metabolic risk profiles, and delayed detection patterns. Strengthening prevention, early case finding, fibrosis assessment, and treatment access may slow MASLD progression.

Porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD) is a non-cirrhotic vascular liver disorder characterized by portal and sinusoidal microvascular lesions and is frequently complicated by portal hypertension. Accurate assessment of portal pressure is essential for diagnosis, risk stratification, therapeutic decision-making, and prognostic evaluation in PSVD. However, unlike cirrhosis, portal hypertension in PSVD is predominantly presinusoidal, making hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement prone to underestimating true portal pressure. Recent advances have promoted a transition from conventional invasive assessment toward a multimodal and precision-oriented strategy integrating non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques. Ultrasound elastography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging—particularly radiomics-based approaches—provide valuable tools for differentiating PSVD from cirrhosis and estimating the severity of portal hypertension. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided portal pressure gradient measurement has emerged as a promising minimally invasive technique for direct hemodynamic assessment and prognostic stratification. In addition, laboratory biomarkers, digital modeling, and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis may further improve individualized risk prediction and dynamic monitoring. This review summarizes current advances in portal pressure assessment in PSVD, critically discusses the strengths and limitations of existing approaches, and highlights future directions toward non-invasive, digital, and precision-guided management.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for approximately one-third of annual cancer-related deaths globally, while outcomes remain poor despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Given the challenges of persistent resistance and treatment-related toxicities in current therapies, the pivotal roles of the gut microbiota and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in GI cancer therapy are increasingly recognized. This review aims to explore the potential and mechanisms of FMT as a therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of GI cancers. FMT may enhance antitumor treatment efficacy and reduce treatment-related toxicity through multiple mechanisms, including enhancing antigen presentation, reshaping the tumor microenvironment, and preserving intestinal barrier function. Preliminary clinical evidence indicates that FMT combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy can improve treatment response rates in some trials and may reverse resistance and alleviate associated intestinal toxicities in selected cases. However, clinical application is hindered by donor microbiota functional heterogeneity, substantial interindividual variability in engraftment, and the absence of validated predictive models. To advance FMT toward precision intervention, we propose a functional screening framework: the Healthy Donor-derived Microbiota Xenograft model as a preclinical functional screening platform and its subsequent clinical application, Xenograft-screened FMT, which links donor-level functional validation with personalized microbiota delivery. By integrating mechanistic insights, emerging preclinical and clinical evidence, and a functional screening framework, this review contributes to advancing FMT from an empirical intervention toward a precision adjuvant strategy and offers insights into future clinical investigation of FMT as a therapeutic approach in GI oncology.

Liver fibrosis is a central pathological process driving the progression of chronic liver disease, yet effective antifibrotic therapies remain limited. Increasing evidence has identified the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a ligand-activated nuclear receptor, as a key regulator of intrahepatic homeostasis and fibrogenesis. MR is expressed across multiple hepatic cell types, including hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, where it integrates metabolic, inflammatory, and microvascular signaling. Under pathological conditions, MR activation—mediated by both aldosterone-dependent and ligand-independent mechanisms such as hypoxia and oxidative stress—amplifies core profibrotic pathways, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)–driven inflammation. These molecular mechanisms are executed in a cell-type–specific manner, promoting hepatic stellate cell activation, macrophage-mediated inflammation, hepatocyte metabolic dysfunction, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cell capillarization, thereby forming a self-reinforcing fibrogenic network. Preclinical studies consistently demonstrate that mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists attenuate fibrosis by targeting these interconnected pathways. However, clinical evidence remains limited, with only early-phase trials in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and indirect support from cardiorenal studies. Nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, particularly finerenone, exhibit improved receptor selectivity and safety profiles, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Future research should focus on disease-specific patient stratification, validated antifibrotic endpoints, and rigorous safety evaluation to enable effective clinical translation of MR-targeted therapies in liver fibrosis.

This narrative review provides a detailed and comprehensive examination of hemoadsorption therapy and its role in treating severe poisoning. First, the global problem of suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury is described, with regional differences in the types of poisons used noted. Lower- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by pesticides compared to high-income countries. Organophosphates often constitute the majority of pesticide poisoning in many of these countries. Next, we review the history of hemoadsorption therapy from its early origins to its current evolution. The key physical and chemical principles underlying extracorporeal therapy and its effectiveness are described. A review of the literature examining the evidence for the efficacy of hemoadsorption therapy in poisoning is presented. Current evidence-based guidelines are summarized, including toxin types, clinical indications, and the extracorporeal therapies recommended. Emerging evidence regarding the use of hemoadsorption therapy for severe organophosphate and calcium channel blocker poisoning is also considered. A care pathway for considering hemoadsorption in poisonings where formal guidelines are lacking is proposed. Both the hemoadsorption strategies used and the potential adverse effects of this therapy are discussed. For this narrative review, the PubMed/Medline was searched from inception to April 30, 2025, using the terms (“hemoperfusion” OR “hemadsorption”) AND (“poisoning”). Clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses were included, along with additional relevant studies identified through a manual review of references. The role of modern resin bead hemoadsorption therapy for severe poisoning is expanding to include removal of commonly encountered poisons that are protein-bound and have a large volume of distribution. Using a multicycle approach, hemoadsorption therapy has shown improved outcomes for both calcium channel blockers and organophosphate poisoning.