Assessment of TLL1 variant and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Latin Americans and Europeans.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Tolloid like protein 1 (TLL1) rs17047200 has been reported to be associated with HCC development and liver fibrosis. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been performed on Latin Americans and comparative differences between TLL1 rs17047200 in HCC patients from Latin America and Europe are undefined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis was performed on Latin American and European individuals. We analyzed TLL1 rs17047200 on DNA from 1194 individuals, including 420 patients with HCC (86.0 % cirrhotics) and 774 without HCC (65.9 % cirrhotics). RESULTS: TLL1 rs17047200 genotype AT/TT was not associated with HCC development in Latin Americans (OR: 0.699, 95 %CI 0.456-1.072, p = 0.101) or Europeans (OR: 0.736, 95 %CI 0.447-1.211, p = 0.228). TLL1 AT/TT was not correlated with fibrosis stages among metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients from Latin America (OR: 0.975, 95 %CI 0.496-1.918, p = 0.941). Among Europeans, alcohol-related HCC had lower TLL1 AT/TT frequencies than cirrhosis (18.3 % versus 42.3 %, OR: 0.273, 95 %CI 0.096-0.773, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that the TLL1 rs17047200 AT/TT genotype is a risk factor for HCC development in Latin Americans or Europeans. A larger study integrating ethnic and etiology backgrounds is needed to determine the importance of the TLL1 SNP in HCC development.

Changing epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in South America: A report from the South American liver research network.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Most epidemiological data on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originate from resource-rich countries. We have previously described the epidemiology of HCC in South America through the South American Liver Research Network. Here, we provide an update on the changing epidemiology of HCC in the continent seven years since that report. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated all cases of HCC diagnosed between 2019 to 2021 in centers from six countries in South America. A templated, retrospective chart review of patient characteristics at the time of HCC diagnosis, including basic demographic, clinical and laboratory data, was completed. Diagnosis of HCC was made radiologically or histologically for all cases via institutional standards. RESULTS: Centers contributed to a total of 339 HCC cases. Peru accounted for 37% (n=125) of patients; Brazil 16% (n=57); Chile 15% (n=51); Colombia 14% (n=48); Argentina 9% (n=29); and Ecuador 9% (n=29). The median age at HCC diagnosis was 67 years (IQR 59-73) and 61% were male. The most common risk factor was nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, 37%), followed by hepatitis C (17%), alcohol use disorder (11%) and hepatitis B (12%). The majority of HCCs occurred in the setting of cirrhosis (80%). HBV-related HCC occurred at a younger age compared to other causes, with a median age of 46 years (IQR 36-64). CONCLUSIONS: We report dramatic changes in the epidemiology of HCC in South America over the last decade, with a substantial increase in NAFLD-related HCC. HBV-related HCC still occurs at a much younger age when compared to other causes.

[Are granulomas necessary for the final diagnosis of Crohn disease?]. / Son necesarios los granulomas para el diagnóstico definitivo de enfermedad de Crohn.

A case of a 38 year-old male patient, from Lima, with a three-year period illness, characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, ponderal weight loss and fever is showed. He is examined by colonoscopy, with endoscopic diagnosis of colon cancer and undergoes surgery. The histopathological diagnosis was severe acute and chronic ulcerative ileocolitis, suggesting Crohn disease. A month later he again showed abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever, so a new colonoscopy is performed revealing multiple ileum ulcers and in the anastomotic area. The biopsy revealed an acute and chronic inflammatory process. The colon radiography showed a filling defect and irregularity in the cecum, and the upper endoscopy revealed esophageal ulcers. In addition, a number of analyses were carried out, such as: coproculture, HIV, and VK on sputum and feces, as well as CEA dosage, resulting all of them negative. The thorax radiography was also normal.He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and was treated with mesalacin. Evolution was fast, showing weight gain, which allowed the discharge of the patient from the hospital seven (7) days later. The anatomical pathology never did confirm the final diagnosis, which brings us to the question:Are the granulomas always necessary for the final diagnosis of Crohn's disease?