Association between the rs1800591 variation of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein gene and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the elderly population / 临床肝胆病杂志

Objective To investigate the association between the polymorphism of the microsomal triglyceride transport protein (MTTP) gene at rs1800591 locus and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the elderly population. Methods The clinical cohort of this study was established in Menkuang Hospital, Beijing Jingmei Group General Hospital. A total of 1098 healthy elderly volunteers were recruited for physical examination in communities in Mentougou District of Beijing, China, from January 11, 2020 to September 30, 2021, among whom there were 614 patients with NAFLD and 484 individuals without NAFLD. Gene microarray was used to determine the genotypes of MTTP rs1800591; demographic data were collected, and blood biochemical parameters were measured. The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The chi-square test was used to investigate whether the distribution of genotype frequency was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The unconditional logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratio ( OR ) and its 95% confidence interval ( CI ) to investigate the association of gene polymorphism with the risk of NAFLD and other comorbidities. Results There were significant differences in sex and age between the two groups ( P < 0.05). Compared with the non-NAFLD group, the NAFLD group had significantly higher levels of body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and liver stiffness measurement and a significantly lower level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (all P < 0.05). Compared with the non-NAFLD group, the NAFLD group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (all P < 0.05). The distribution of genotype frequency at MTTP rs1800591 locus was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control group ( χ 2 =1.097, P =0.29). There were a significant differences in the genotype and the distribution of alleles at MTTP rs1800591 locus between the patients with NAFLD and the control group (all P < 0.001). In the total population, there was a significantly lower carrying rate of T allele (GT+TT, n =351) in male individuals, and the individuals carrying T allele had significantly higher BMI and CAP than those carrying GG allele ( n =747) ( P < 0.001). Compared with the individuals who did not carry T allele, the individuals carrying T allele (GT+TT, n =232) had a significantly higher proportion of patients with obesity and a significantly lower NFS score ( P < 0.05). As for the individuals with NAFLD, the individuals carrying T allele had a significantly lower proportion of male individuals, a significantly lower waist-hip ratio, and a significantly higher level of HDL compared with those who did not carry T allele (GG, n =382), and the GT+TT group had a significantly lower NFS score than the GG group (all P < 0.05). The non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for the confounding factors of sex, age, and BMI, the GT+TT genotype at MTTP rs1800591 locus significantly increased the risk of NAFLD ( OR =1.643, 95% CI : 1.226-2.203, P =0.001), and carrying T allele also increased the risk of obesity in the total population ( OR =1.371, 95% CI : 1.051-1.788, P =0.02). Conclusion MTTP rs1800591 polymorphism is associated with the development of NAFLD in the elderly population, and carrying T allele may promote hepatic steatosis and increase the risk of obesity in NAFLD, while it may inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis.

Association between anxiety and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease / 临床肝胆病杂志

With the rapid change in lifestyle in recent years, the prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing year by year and it has gradually become one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases. With the development of the bio-psycho-social medical model, the influence of psychological diseases on physical diseases has attracted the attention of scholars. At present, evidence has shown that anxiety, as one of the most common type of mental disorders, may be associated with the development of NAFLD. This article introduces the current status of research on anxiety and NAFLD and their common influencing factors and predicts the possible pathophysiological mechanism of NAFLD caused by anxiety, so as to lay a foundation for further research on the association between anxiety and NAFLD and provide new directions for the treatment of NAFLD.

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and depression / 临床肝胆病杂志

At present, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world. With the development of the bio-psycho-social medical model, the mental health problems of patients with NAFLD are gradually attracting more and more attention. In recent years, more and more studies have been conducted on the association between NAFLD and psychiatric diseases, especially depression. Studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between NAFLD and depression; however, the common pathophysiological mechanism of such correlation is still unclear and further studies are needed to determine their causal relationship and treatment. This article reviews the research advances in the association between NAFLD and depression, common pathophysiological mechanism, and treatment, so as to lay a foundation for further research on these two disease and help with their prevention and treatment in future clinical practice.