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Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: El factor de crecimiento tipo insulinoide 1 es modulado por las proteínas de unión al factor de crecimiento de tipo insulinoide (IGFBP); dichas proteínas son sintetizadas en el hígado. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar las concentraciones de IGFBP-1 a IGFBP-7 en pacientes con hepatitis C crónica y estudiar la asociación con el grado de fibrosis. Pacientes y métodos: : Estudio prospectivo, transversal. Se incluyeron pacientes con hepatitis C crónica. El grado de fibrosis se determinó por medio de Fibrotest y Fibroscan, y los pacientes se compararon con un grupo control. Los niveles séricos de IGFBP-1 a IGFBP-7 fueron cuantificados por arreglo en suspensión múltiple. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron las pruebas Kruskal-Wallis, U de Mann-Whitney, correlación de Spearman y curvas ROC. Resultados: Al comparar entre pacientes y controles, las concentraciones fueron más altas en las IGFBP-1, -2, -4 y -7 (p = 0.02, p = 0.002, p = 0.008 y p

Introduction and Aims: Insulin-like growth factor 1 is modulated by the insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) that are synthesized in the liver. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the concentrations of IGFBPs 1–7 in patients with chronic hepatitis C and study their association with fibrosis stage. Patients and methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted that included patients with chronic hepatitis C. The stages of fibrosis were determined through FibroTest and FibroScan and the patients were compared with a control group. Serum levels of IGFBPs 1–7 were quantified through multiple suspension arrays. The Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation, and ROC curves were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Upon comparing the patients and controls, the highest concentrations were found in IGFBPs 1, 2, 4, and 7 (p = 0.02, 0.002, 0.008, and

Introduction and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the expression and correlation of miR-140-5p, miR-148-5p and miR-122-3p in the liver with circulating levels of CK-18, APOB, IL-6, IL-32, TNF-α of patients with and without MAFLD who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study in patients scheduled for elective cholecystectomy, from whom anthropometric and biochemical variables, blood samples and liver biopsy were obtained with prior signed informed consent. A qRT-PCR assay was performed from the liver biopsies RNA, to determine the microRNAs expression levels. ELISA assay was used to measure circulating levels of CK-18, APOB, IL-6, IL-32, TNF-α. The patients were classified according to the histological report as control group and MAFLD. Results: Circulating plasma levels of CK-18 showed a significant difference (p=0.001) between the control (46.5pg/mL) and MAFLD (230.2pg/mL) groups; the rest of the explored markers showed no difference. The results show a very strong correlation between, miR-122-3p (rho= 0.071 p= 0.001) and CK-18 levels, while with miR-140-5p (rho= 0.564, p= 0.023) and hsa-miR-148b-5p (rho = 0.689, p= 0.003) are strong. Discussion: We show that the expression of the microRNAs studied is related to CK-18 circulating levels in patients with MAFLD, which makes these potential molecules biomarkers. Conclusion: There is a very strong correlation between hepatic expression levels of miR-122-3p, miR-140-5P and miR-148-5P and circulating levels of CK-18 in patients with MAFLD. Funding: The resources used in this study were from the hospital without any additional financing Declaration of interest: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Introduction: Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and cholelithiasis are highly prevalent and are associated with common risk factors such as obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and fasting glucose levels; however, it is not clear whether cholelithiasis is associated with MAFLD or fibrosis. Objective: To determine MAFLD severity and associated risk factors in patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis. Materials and methods: Observational, cross-sectional and prolective study (from October 2018 to March 2020) of patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy with liver biopsy, excluding other causes of hepatic disease or significant alcohol consumption. MAFLD detection was based on histology using the Kleiner score and one of the following criteria: overweight/obesity, T2DM, or evidence of metabolic dysregulation. The AST to Platelet Ratio Index, the NAFLD Fibrosis Score, the fibrosis-4 index and the hepatic steatosis index were performed to assess the relationship of non-invasive hepatic scores with histopathology. Results: 80 patients median age (interquartile range) was 42 (18) years, with a BMI of 27.9 (6.11) Kg/m2. Of all patients, 58.8% had MAFLD, 78.7% were women, and 13.8% had the severe form (formerly named NASH). No substantial correlation between biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis of MAFLD and fibrosis was observed. Conclusion: Because cholelithiasis and MAFLD are highly prevalent diseases, it is essential to conduct studies on the relationship between both pathologies. Currently, liver biopsy is the best diagnostic method since the predictive biochemical models did not show a substantial correlation to classify MAFLD. Its early detection is relevant since a considerable percentage of advanced fibrosis (8.7%) was found.

We report the case of a 37-year-old woman with no relevant medical history. She was admitted to the hospital for epigastric pain related with food intake for 4 days; the pain did not improve with symptomatic management. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to acute lithiasic cholecystitis was performed. However, after 4 days, postoperative painless jaundice was evident; thus, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed, which revealed an amputation of intrapancreatic common bile duct, as well as secondary intra- and extrahepatic bile duct dilatation. Brushing of the distal portion of the common bile duct revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Therefore, a Whipple procedure with pylorus preservation was performed. Pathologic diagnosis of a papillary in situ adenocarcinoma with two microscopic foci of microinvasion was established. The pathologic Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage was pT1, pN0, pM0, R0. The patient is asymptomatic and disease-free 24 months after surgery. In general, adenocarcinomas of the extrahepatic bile ducts are uncommon and have a poor prognosis. However, symptomatic patients with early disease stages are even rarer and can be cured surgically.

Introduction and Objectives: IL-1β is a proinflammatory key cytokine that participates in the progression of liver disease. Its antagonist IL-1RA mediates damage limitation; its increase is associated with positive effects on chronic liver diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of IL-1β and IL-1RA in subjects with alcoholic liver disease (ALD), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional and multicenter study was carried out, which included alcoholic subjects (OH), alcoholic cirrhosis (CiOH) and alcoholic hepatitis (HA); patients with CHC and NAFLD were compared against subjects without criteria for alcohol drinking habits (CT). IL-1β and IL-1RA were quantified by Multiplex-MERCK©. For statistical analysis, SPSS V.22 were used, Mann-Whitney U, p

Introduction and Objectives: There are different situations in which an extrahepatic bile duct replacement or substitute is needed, such as initial and localized stages of bile duct cancer, agenesis, stenosis, or bile duct disruption. Materials and Methods: A prosthesis obtained by electrospinning composed of Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PGLA) - Polycaprolactone (PCL) - Gelatin (Gel) was developed, mechanical and biological tests were carried out to evaluate resistance to tension, biocompatibility, biodegradability, cytotoxicity, morphological analysis and cell culture. The obtained prosthesis was placed in the extrahepatic bile duct of 15 pigs with a 2-year follow-up. Liver function tests and cholangioscopy were evaluated during follow-up. Results: Mechanical and biological evaluations indicate that this scaffold is biocompatible and biodegradable. The prosthesis implanted in the experimental model allowed cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation, maintaining bile duct permeability without altering liver function tests. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates the presence of biliary epithelium. Conclusions: A tubular scaffold composed of electrospun PGLA-PCL-Gel nanofibers was used for the first time to replace the extrahepatic bile duct in pigs. Mechanical and biological evaluations indicate that this scaffold is biocompatible and biodegradable, making it an excellent candidate for use in bile ducts and potentially in other tissue engineering applications.