Liver Injury and Regeneration—Metabolic Research

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 708

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, Cuenca, Spain
2. Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain
3. Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Toledo, Spain
Interests: Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease; liver cirrhosis; hepatocellular carcinoma; endoscopy; gastrointestinal cancer; pancreatic diseases.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that the liver is an organ involved in a wide range of physiological processes to regulate body homeostasis. This means that any liver injury will influence many processes and cause damage at different levels. Among these causes, we find a broad spectrum of diseases. These include metabolism-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, previously known as NAFLD), viral hepatitis, alcohol-induced liver disease, storage diseases, etc. If left untreated, all of these can lead to varying degrees of liver fibrosis, potentially progressing to cirrhosis and the possible development of complications, the most severe being hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The deeper we delve into its understanding, the more complex it becomes, and the greater the need for research in this area. In recent years, numerous drugs have failed due to the heterogeneity of liver lesions. Increasingly, the importance of the various components of metabolic syndrome and systemic inflammation in liver damage concomitant with all these diseases is being observed and studied. For example, a clear relationship has recently been observed between MASLD and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, genomics and metabolomics also present a vast field of research for both the development of these diseases and the response to treatments.

This Special Issue seeks to explore these connections and promote a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies. We invite the submission of manuscripts addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Hepatic metabolism and its role in MASLD/NAFLD and chronic liver diseases.
  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms of liver damage and regeneration.
  • Impact of metabolic syndrome on liver function and pathology.
  • Relationships between hepatic metabolism and the development of HCC.
  • New therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in liver diseases. Responses to potential treatments for acute and chronic liver diseases.
  • Effects of endoscopy on hepatic metabolism and regeneration.
  • Application of conventional statistical methods and machine learning (ML) techniques in liver research.

We are interested in original articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that utilize innovative approaches and advanced methodologies. We welcome studies employing both classical statistical analyses and those implementing ML techniques to advance the understanding of liver diseases and their treatment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to make this Special Issue a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians.

Dr. Miguel Suárez Matías
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • metabolism-associated steatotic liver disease
  • metabolic syndrome
  • chronic liver disease
  • liver fibrosis
  • hepatocellular carcinoma
  • metabolomic
  • endoscopy
  • non-invasive liver disease assessment
  • artificial intelligence
  • machine learning

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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16 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
Fatty Liver and Hyperuricemia in Workers: Combined Effects on Metabolic Dysfunction and the Role of Lifestyle Factors
by Jui-Hua Huang, Ren-Hau Li, Hon-Ke Sia and Feng-Cheng Tang
Metabolites 2025, 15(5), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15050318 - 9 May 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Fatty liver and hyperuricemia are growing public health concerns linked to unhealthy lifestyles, yet their combined effects in working populations remain underexplored. This study investigates their associations with metabolic risk factors, inflammation, and liver dysfunction to inform workplace health strategies. Methods [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Fatty liver and hyperuricemia are growing public health concerns linked to unhealthy lifestyles, yet their combined effects in working populations remain underexplored. This study investigates their associations with metabolic risk factors, inflammation, and liver dysfunction to inform workplace health strategies. Methods: The participants were employees aged 20 or older from four industrial enterprises located in central Taiwan. A total of 3089 participants (2571 males, 518 females) were analyzed. Lifestyle factors were assessed via a self-administered questionnaire, fatty liver was diagnosed using ultrasound, and serum uric acid levels, metabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, and liver function were measured. Results: The prevalence of fatty liver (43.2%) exceeded that of hyperuricemia (25.5%), with a higher burden among males. Fatty liver was associated with lower physical activity, while alcohol consumption was significantly higher in individuals with both conditions. Both conditions correlated with increased metabolic risk factors, liver dysfunction, and inflammation. Health-related risk factors were compared across four groups, using Group A (no hyperuricemia/no fatty liver, OR = 1.00) as the reference. The risk of metabolic syndrome increased progressively: 2.90 (Group B: hyperuricemia/no fatty liver), 6.15 (Group C: no hyperuricemia/fatty liver), and 11.52 (Group D: hyperuricemia/fatty liver), following the trend A < B < C < D. Notably, Group D had the highest risk, with exacerbated inflammation and liver dysfunction. Conclusions: Fatty liver and hyperuricemia synergistically worsen metabolic disorders, inflammation, and liver dysfunction. Early detection and lifestyle interventions are crucial to mitigating long-term health risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liver Injury and Regeneration—Metabolic Research)
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