OBJECTIVE:While vitamin E has shown to improve nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients without diabetes, information on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine whether vitamin E, alone or combined with pioglitazone, improves histology in patients with T2DM and NASH.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:This was a proof-of-concept, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from 2010 to 2016. Patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven NASH (n = 105) were randomized to vitamin E 400 IU b.i.d., vitamin E 400 IU b.i.d. plus pioglitazone 45 mg/day, or placebo. Eighty-six patients completed the 18-month study. The primary end point was a two-point reduction in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score from two different parameters, without worsening of fibrosis. Secondary outcomes were resolution of NASH without worsening of fibrosis, individual histological scores, and metabolic parameters.RESULTS:More patients on combination therapy achieved the primary outcome versus placebo (54% vs. 19%, P = 0.003) but not with vitamin E alone (31% vs. 19%, P = 0.26). Both groups showed improvements in resolution of NASH compared with placebo (combination group: 43% vs. 12%, P = 0.005; vitamin E alone: 33% vs. 12%, P = 0.04). While steatosis assessed by histology improved with combination therapy (P < 0.001) and vitamin E alone (P = 0.018), inflammation (P = 0.018) and ballooning (P = 0.022) only improved with combination therapy. No improvement in fibrosis was observed in any group.CONCLUSIONS:In this proof-of-concept study, combination therapy was better than placebo in improving liver histology in patients with NASH and T2DM. Vitamin E alone did not significantly change the primary histological outcome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pioglitazone is effective for long-term treatment of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. However, it is not clear how the presence of type 2 diabetes affects the drug's efficacy. We compared metabolic and histologic responses to pioglitazone in patients with NASH and prediabetes vs type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Weperformed a prospective study of adults with biopsy-proven NASH (52with type 2 diabetes and 49 with prediabetes), enrolled from the general population of San Antonio, Texas, from 2008 through 2014. After a run-in period of approximately 4 weeks, when all baseline measurements were made (liver magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy, euglycemic insulin clamp with glucose turnover measurements, dual-energy absorptiometry, and liver biopsy), subjects were randomly assigned to groups given pioglitazone or placebo (45 mg/d) for 18 months; all procedures performed at baseline were then repeated. The primary outcomewas a reduction in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score of 2 points or more (for at least 2 components) without worsening of fibrosis (and expressed as difference vs placebo). Secondary outcomes included NASH resolution, individual histologic components, intrahepatic triglyceride content (measured by H-1 magnetic resonance spectroscopy), and insulin sensitivity (measured by euglycemic insulin clamp). RESULTS: The primary outcome was met by 48% of patients with type 2 diabetes vs 46% without diabetes. Resolution of NASH was achieved in 44% of patients with type 2 diabetes vs 26% without diabetes. A significant reduction in fibrosis, from baseline, was observed only in patients with type 2 diabetes (P = .035). Intrahepatic triglyceride content was reduced by 11% +/- 2% in patients with diabetes vs a reduction of 9% +/- 2% in patients without diabetes (P = .62); the plasma level of alanine aminotransferase was reduced by 50 +/- 10 U/L in patients with diabetes vs a reduction of 36 +/- 5 U/L in patients without diabetes (P = .22). Pioglitazone was associated with a significantly greater insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue of patients with diabetes vs without diabetes (P < .001), but nonsignificant differences in responses in hepatic (P = .49) and skeletal muscle (P = .32) insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective study, we found pioglitazone to be effective in patients with and without type 2 diabetes. However, pioglitazone reduced liver fibrosis and increased adipose tissue insulin sensitivity at significantly greater levels in patients with type 2 diabetes than in patients with prediabetes. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms by which pioglitazone reduces liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

While the use of vitamin E (Vit E) in nondiabetic patients with NASH has proven to be effective in the PIVENS study (NEJM 2010), there is no information about its effect in patients with NASH and T2DM. To examine this, we performed a randomized, double blind, controlled trial assessing the efficacy of Vit E, alone or combined with pioglitazone (PIO) in this population. Patients (n=105) were randomized 1:1:1 to Vit E 400 U BID, Vit E 400 U BID + PIO 45mg QD, or placebo for 18 months. The primary endpoint was histological improvement, defined as a 2-point reduction in the NAFLD activity score from 2 different parameters, without worsening of fibrosis. Secondary outcomes: resolution of NASH, individual histological scores, and metabolic parameters. Based on 2 planned primary comparisons, a p<0.025 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Groups were well matched at baseline. A total of 87 patients completed 18 months of follow-up. More patients on Vit E and PIO combination achieved the primary outcome compared to placebo (65% vs. 22%, p<0.001), but not in the Vit E alone group (36% vs. 22%, p=0.18). The same trend was observed for resolution of NASH, with a significant improvement only in the combination group (57% vs. 18%, p<0.001), but not with Vit E alone (42% vs. 18%, p=0.036). While steatosis grade improved with either combination (p<0.001) or Vit E alone (p=0.018), inflammation (p=0.018) and ballooning (p=0.022) grades only improved with Vit E + PIO. No improvement in fibrosis was observed in any group. Four patients died of cardiovascular causes during the study (2 on Vit E alone and 2 on combination). Weight gain, peripheral edema and hypoglycemia were more frequent in the combination group. Conclusion: Vit E alone was ineffective to treat NASH in patients with T2DM. While the combination of Vit E and PIO was significantly better than placebo, response rate was similar to that reported for PIO alone in patients with T2DM, suggesting no role of Vit E in this population. Disclosure F. Bril: None. D.M. Biernacki: None. R. Lomonaco: None. S. Kalavalapalli: None. S.K. Subbarayan: None. J. Lai: None. F.O. Tio: None. A. Suman: None. B.K. Orsak: None. J. Hecht: None. K. Cusi: Consultant; Self; Janssen Global Services, LLC., Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Cirius Therapeutics. Other Relationship; Self; Nordic Bioscience. Research Support; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk Inc.. Other Relationship; Self; Quest Diagnostics. Research Support; Self; Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc.. Other Relationship; Self; OWL metabolomics, Echosens. Research Support; Self; Janssen Global Services, LLC.. Consultant; Self; Tobira Therapeutics, Pfizer Inc..

Background: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a highly aggressive tumor of the central nervous system (WHO grade IV), which is most frequently found intracranially in young children and infants.Only three prior cases of primary ATRT involving the adult spine were found following a literature review, and the average survival for these patients was only 20 postoperative months.Case Description: A 43 year-old female presented with an acute exacerbation of chronic neck pain.While awaiting magnetic resonance (MR) studies of the cervical spine, she was found pulseless in her room.Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation was successful, she was found to be quadriplegic.The subsequent cervical MR imaging revealed a C1-3 intradural, extramedullary ventrolateral mass, markedly compressing the upper cervical spinal cord.Following successful surgical resection of the lesion, which proved pathologically to be an ATRT, she was treated with a full course of fractionated radiation therapy.Over the successive 6-month period, her neurological examination continued to improve to 4-/5 functional strength in her upper extremities, however, remained with 2/5 nonfunctional strength in her legs.Conclusions: ATRT involving the adult spine are rare and may often be misdiagnosed.This study points out that aggressive surgery followed by radiation therapy may improve outcome.

Context:Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have a high cardiovascular risk, but statins are rarely prescribed because of fear of hepatotoxicity.Objective:To prospectively assess the long-term safety of statins in patients with prediabetes/type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).Design:Post hoc analysis of statin use during a randomized, controlled trial assessing pioglitazone vs placebo for NASH.Patients:A total of 101 patients (86 receiving statins) with biopsy-proven NASH and prediabetes/T2DM were followed for up to 36 months.Interventions:Oral glucose tolerance test and percutaneous liver biopsy (baseline, month 18, and month 36); liver magnetic resonance spectroscopy and euglycemic insulin clamp (baseline and month 18).Main Outcome Measures:Histologic and biochemical safety of statin use among patients with NASH.Results:Only 37% of patients were receiving statins at enrollment despite their high cardiovascular risk. Statin nonusers had higher plasma alanine aminotransferase levels but similar histologic severity of liver disease at baseline. In both statin users and nonusers, the same number of patients (n = 4) had a twofold or greater increase in plasma aminotransferases during follow-up. One statin nonuser was discontinued from the study because of this elevation. Values returned to normal without any active measure in all other cases. No changes on liver histology or hepatic insulin resistance were observed in patients with NASH newly started on a statin and receiving placebo during the main study.Conclusions:Statin therapy is safe in patients with prediabetes/T2DM and NASH. Given their high cardiovascular risk, statin therapy should be encouraged in this population.

I read with great interest the recent comprehensive review by Rotman and Sanyal.1 I would just like to point out an error in table 1 (row 1), where the authors inadvertently state that pioglitazone has shown histological benefit only in secondary analyses and not been studied in patients with diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Benefit with the thiazolidinedione has been reported for the primary histological outcome in two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This is most likely an oversight as in the …

Background & AimsLiver ultrasound (US) is usually used in the clinical setting for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, no large study has carefully assessed its performance using a semiquantitative ultrasonographic scoring system in overweight/obese patients, in comparison to magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-MRS) and histology.MethodsWe recruited 146 patients and performed: a liver US using a 5-parameter scoring system, a liver H-1-MRS to quantify liver fat content, and a liver biopsy to assess histology. All measurements were repeated in a subgroup of patients (n=62) after 18months of follow-up.ResultsThe performance of liver US (parenchymal echo alone) was rather modest, and significantly worse than H-1-MRS (AUROC: 0.82 [0.69-0.94] vs. 0.96 [0.90-1.00]; P=0.04). However, the AUROC improved when different echographic parameters were taken into account (AUROC: 0.89 [0.83-0.96], P=0.15 against H-1-MRS). Optimum sensitivity for liver US was achieved at a liver fat content 12.5%, suggesting that below this threshold, liver US is less sensitive. Liver H-1-MRS showed a high accuracy for the diagnosis of NAFLD, and correlated strongly with histological steatosis (r=0.73, P<0.0001). None of the imaging tests was adequate enough to predict changes over time in histology.ConclusionsDespite its widespread use, liver US has several important limitations that healthcare providers should recognize, particularly because of its low sensitivity. Using a combination of echographic parameters, liver US showed a significant improvement in its diagnostic performance, but still was of limited value for monitoring treatment over time.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) is essential for osteoclastogenesis that mediates osteolysis in metastatic tumors. Patients with lung cancer have increased CSF1 in serum and high levels are associated with poor survival. Adenocarcinomas metastasize rapidly and many patients suffer from bone metastasis. Lung cancer stem-like cells sustain tumor growth and potentiate metastasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of CSF1 in lung cancer bone metastasis and whether inhibition of CSF1 ameliorates the disease. Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were examined in vitro for CSF1/CSF1R. A549-luc cells were injected intracardiac in NOD/SCID mice and metastasis was assessed. To determine the effect of CSF1 knockdown (KD) in A549 cells on bone metastasis, cells were stably transfected with a retroviral vector containing short-hairpin CSF1 (KD) or empty vector (CT). Results showed that A549 cells express CSF1/CSF1R; CSF1 increased their proliferation and invasion, whereas soluble CSF1R inhibited invasion. Mice injected with A549-luc cells showed osteolytic bone lesions 3.5 weeks after injection and lesions increased over 5 weeks. Tumors recapitulated adenocarcinoma morphology and showed osteoclasts along the tumor/bone interface, trabecular, and cortical bone loss. Analyses of KD cells showed decreased CSF1 protein levels, reduced colony formation in soft agar assay, and decreased fraction of stem-like cells. In CSF1KD mice, the incidence of tumor metastasis was similar to controls, although fewer CSF1KD mice had metastasis in both hind limbs. KD tumors showed reduced CSF1 expression, Ki-67+ cells, and osteoclasts. Importantly, there was a low incidence of large tumors >0.1 mm2 in CSF1KD mice compared with control mice (10% vs 62.5%). This study established a lung osteolytic bone metastasis model that resembles human disease and suggests that CSF1 is a key determinant of cancer stem cell survival and tumor growth. Results may lead to novel strategies to inhibit CSF1 in lung cancer and improve management of bone metastasis.

Hyperinsulinemia is believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and associated cardiovascular risk. However, the relative contribution of insulin clearance to hyperinsulinemia and its relationship to liver histology have not been carefully evaluated before. To examine this, we enrolled 190 patients (32 without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], 36 with simple steatosis [SS], and 122 with biopsy‐proven NASH). Insulin secretion and hepatic insulin clearance were estimated by means of an oral glucose tolerance test, whereas peripheral insulin sensitivity and whole‐body insulin clearance were measured during a euglycemic insulin clamp. A liver biopsy was performed to assess histology (grade/stage). Patients with NASH had similar hepatic insulin sensitivity, compared to patients with SS, but more severe adipose tissue insulin resistance and worse hyperinsulinemia. Patients with SS and NASH had a similar ∼30% reduction (P < 0.01) in hepatic insulin clearance, when compared to patients without NAFLD. Reduced hepatic insulin clearance was not associated with severity of inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis. In contrast, worse histological inflammation and ballooning (but not steatosis or fibrosis) were associated with a progressive reduction in whole‐body insulin clearance (P < 0.001 for trend). There was no significant difference in insulin secretion between patients with SS versus NASH. Conclusion: Decreased hepatic insulin clearance develops with a mild increase in liver fat (LFAT) accumulation. It appears to be largely driven by hepatic steatosis, whereas steatohepatitis is more closely associated with reduced whole‐body insulin clearance. Hyperinsulinemia in NAFLD correlated strongly with impaired insulin clearance, but not with insulin secretion. Strategies that reduce LFAT and improve insulin clearance hold the potential to revert the unfavorable effects of hyperinsulinemia in these patients. (Hepatology 2014;59:2178–2187)

Microsporidia are increasingly recognized as opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised organ transplant recipients (OTR). Disseminated infection due to Encephalitozoon sp. is reported mainly in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients and rarely in HIV-negative OTR. The clinical spectrum ranges from keratoconjunctivitis, to pneumonitis, to acute kidney injury. The kidney is a common site for disseminated infection; however, specialized techniques are required for definitive diagnosis. We report the first case of disseminated Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in an HIV-negative lung transplant recipient diagnosed on renal biopsy. Five months after transplant, he presented with fever and a lung infiltrate and developed acute kidney injury. Renal biopsy showed granulomatous interstitial nephritis with gram-positive rod-shaped organisms with a "belt-like stripe" in tubular epithelial cells. Electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, and mammalian cell cultures of the urine sediment confirmed E. cuniculi infection. Retrospective review of a previous lung biopsy showed similar organisms. On the basis of electron microscopy findings, the patient was treated with albendazole, and immunosuppressive therapy was reduced. However, the patient expired due to Aspergillus pneumonia and disseminated E. cuniculi infection. Microsporidia should be considered in cases of fever of unknown origin and/or multiorgan infection in HIV-negative OTR when other causes have been excluded, as successful treatment requires early detection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS:Liver biopsy is the only reliable way of diagnosing and staging NASH but its invasive nature limits its use. Plasma caspase-generated cytokeratin-18 fragments (CK-18) have been proposed as a non-invasive alternative. We studied its clinical value in a large multiethnic NAFLD population and examined its relationship to clinical/metabolic/histological parameters. METHODS:424 middle-aged subjects in whom we measured adipose tissue, liver and muscle insulin resistance (IR), liver fat by MRS (n=275) and histology (n=318). RESULTS:Median CK-18 were elevated in patients with vs. without NAFLD by MRS (209 [IQR: 137-329] vs. 122 [IQR: 98-155]U/L) or with vs. without NASH (232 [IQR: 151-387] vs. 170 [IQR: 135-234]U/L, both p<0.001). Plasma CK-18 raised significantly with any increase in steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, but there was a significant overlap across disease severity. The CK-18 AUROC to predict NAFLD, NASH or fibrosis were 0.77 (95% CI=0.71-0.84), 0.65 (95% CI=0.59-0.71) and 0.68 (95% CI=0.61-0.75), respectively. The overall sensitivity/specificity for NAFLD, NASH and fibrosis were 63% (57-70%)/83% (69-92%), 58% (51-65%)/68% (59-76%) and 54% (44-63%)/85% (75-92%), respectively. CK-18 correlated most strongly with ALT (r=0.57, p<0.0001) and adipose tissue IR (insulin-suppression of FFA: r=-0.43; p<0.001), less with steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis (r=0.28-0.34, all p<0.001), but not with ballooning, BMI, metabolic syndrome or T2DM. CONCLUSIONS:Plasma CK-18 has a high specificity for NAFLD and fibrosis, but its limited sensitivity makes it inadequate as a screening test for staging NASH. Whether combined as a diagnostic panel with other biomarkers or clinical/laboratory tests may prove useful requires further study.

The role of adipose tissue insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. To evaluate this, we measured in 207 patients with NAFLD (age = 51 ± 1, body mass index = 34.1 ± 0.3 kg/m2) and 22 controls without NAFLD (no NAFLD) adipose tissue insulin resistance by means of a validated index (Adipo‐IRi = plasma free fatty acids [FFA] x insulin [FPI] concentration) and as the suppression of plasma FFA during an oral glucose tolerance test and by a low‐dose insulin infusion. We also explored the relationship between adipose tissue insulin resistance with metabolic and histological parameters by dividing them based on quartiles of adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo‐IRi quartiles: Q1 = more sensitive; Q4 = more insulin resistant). Hepatic insulin resistance, measured as an index derived from endogenous glucose production x FPI (HIRi), and muscle insulin sensitivity, were assessed during a euglycemic insulin clamp with 3‐[3H] glucose. Liver fat was measured by magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, and a liver biopsy was performed to assess liver histology. Compared to patients without steatosis, patients with NAFLD were insulin resistant at the level of adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle and had higher plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, and lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin levels (all P < 0.01). Metabolic parameters, hepatic insulin resistance, and liver fibrosis (but not necroinflammation) deteriorated as quartiles of adipose tissue insulin resistance worsened (all P < 0.01). Conclusion: Adipose tissue insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of metabolic and histological abnormalities of obese patients with NAFLD. Treatment strategies targeting adipose tissue insulin resistance (e.g., weight loss and thiazolidinediones) may be of value in this population. (HEPATOLOGY 2012)