Publications

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Betaine, 20 g/day for 12 months, reduced liver injury in several trials in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our aim was to determine the safety and efficacy of lower doses of betaine in clinically diagnosed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and an elevated ALT. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed 3 pilot trials in […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection remains a global health burden, contributing to the risk of long-term complications such as progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly in undiagnosed or untreated individuals. Novel biomarkers for the assessment of disease progression and prognosis are required for fibroinflammatory chronic liver disease. Our study population from the […]

Abstract RATIONALE Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease driven by nodules containing “LAM cells” and recruited LAM-associated fibroblasts. Although rapamycin reduces lung function loss, some patients continue to decline, meaning additional therapies are needed. OBJECTIVES To investigate how the LAM nodule environment affects LAM cell proliferation and the response to rapamycin. METHODS Proteins […]

Abstract In Crohn’s disease, extracellular matrix (ECM) dysfunction and loss of tissue integrity are key pathological features. Fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACIT) are known to regulate ECM assembly and mediate biophysical cues in their microenvironment but remain largely understudied. This study aimed to investigate a novel biomarker reflecting remodelling of the FACIT collagen […]

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS Alcohol is a key driver of liver-related mortality, and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct biomarker of alcohol intake. We investigated the prognostic performance of PEth with noninvasive liver fibrosis tests (NITs) for predicting hepatic decompensation in an alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) at-risk population. METHODS Prospective cohort study with 411 at risk […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling in advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) is characterised by hepatic fibrosis and (sinusoidal) basement membrane development contributing to portal hypertension (PH) and clinical complications. METHODS Patients with stable ACLD (n = 232) undergoing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement were included. Blood biomarkers reflecting fibrosis formation (PRO-C3, PRO-C6, PRO-C4 and PRO-C18L) […]

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS The role of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after liver transplantation (LT) remains controversial. Chronic AMR (cAMR) is often subclinical and may be missed without surveillance biopsies (svLbx). Transcriptome analyses have previously characterized molecular changes in T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) after solid organ transplantation. We aimed to identify molecular signatures of cAMR after […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Non-invasive tests (NITs) are central to diagnosing and stratifying risk in steatotic liver disease (SLD). However, it remains unclear whether guideline-recommended NIT cut-offs apply to metabolic and alcohol-related liver disease (MetALD). AIM Evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of five NITs in patients with MetALD. METHODS Single-centre study with 423 SLD patients, of […]

Abstract Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are distinct rheumatological diseases with common molecular features. This study explored tissue-associated remodelling endotypes using blood-based biomarkers reflecting interstitial matrix and basement membrane remodelling. Baseline serum samples from radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA) (NCT02437162/NCT02438787) (n = 66), PsA (NCT03158285) (n = 267) and SLE (NCT02349061) (n […]

Abstract BACKGROUND The primary aim of this study is to investigate the impact of MBS induced weight loss on cognition, and secondary investigate the impact of this weight loss on adipokines, inflammatory factors, vascular markers, mood and physical activity three years after MBS. METHODS This observational study assessed data from 107 patients with severe obesity […]