New diagnostic technique to evaluate hepatic steatosis using the attenuation coefficient on ultrasound B mode.

PurposeWe have developed a diagnostic technique to evaluate hepatic steatosis using the attenuation coefficient (ATT) in ultrasound B mode imaging. A controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) has also been used to evaluate hepatic steatosis. As that method uses ultrasound A mode, visualizing the liver in real time is difficult. We designed this clinical study to evaluate the diagnostic advantage of our technique using ATT compared to CAP.Materials and methodsThe study group included 94 patients with chronic liver disease who had undergone both ATT and CAP assessment at the time of liver biopsy. The M-probe and XL-probe were used for CAP measurement. Data for ATT and CAP were compared as a function of the steatosis grade.ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROCs) for ATT and PAC as a function of the steatosis grade were as follows: grade 1, 0.74 and 0.81; grade 2, 0.80 and 0.85; and grade 3, 0.96 and 0.98, respectively.ConclusionThe accuracy of steatosis grade diagnosis using ATT was the same as that using CAP, with no significant differences and with the added advantage of B mode ultrasound being more convenient and rapid, compared to A mode ultrasound, particularly for patients with subcutaneous fat thickness ≥2 cm

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein promotes the development of liver cancer

Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) develop in the context of chronic liver inflammation. Oxidative stress is thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of HCC development. In this study, we examined whether cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp) controls reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and development of HCC by using murine models of hepatocarcinogenesis and human liver samples. Cirp expression, ROS accumulation, and CD133 expression were increased in the liver of tumor-harboring mice. Cirp deficiency reduced production of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in Kupffer cells, ROS accumulation, and CD133 expression, leading to attenuated hepatocarcinogenesis. Thioacetamide treatment enhanced hepatic expression of CD133 and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which was prevented by treatment with the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole. Intriguingly, the risk of human HCC recurrence is positively correlated with Cirp expression in liver. Cirp appears to play a critical carcinogenic function and its expression might be a useful biomarker for HCC risk prediction