Cutting-edge research proposes resilience assessment

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant threat to global public health, resulting in liver-related morbidity and mortality. Current diagnostic methods for hepatitis B-related diseases, such as laboratory tests, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and liver biopsy, often overlap and consume valuable medical resources. To address this challenge, a team of researchers developed an innovative and cost-effective method to diagnose and predict HBV-related diseases based on blood tests.

In an innovative research article published in the journal projectEntitled “A resilient approach to diagnosing and predicting HBV-related disease based on blood testing,” the scientists introduced a method called functional resilience. By building a complex network model using clinical blood tests, researchers successfully assessed liver status in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Their approach combines network models and dynamics to identify key indicators and corresponding thresholds, enabling early detection and prevention of disease progression.

Using their method “functional elasticity”, the research team achieved an impressive macro-average accuracy of 84.74%. In contrast, doctors relying solely on their own experience, without the aid of imaging or biopsy, achieved a macroscopic mean accuracy of 55.64%. From an economic perspective, this approach has the potential to save most Chinese patients at least $30 per visit and most U.S. patients $400 compared with traditional diagnostic methods. Globally, annual savings are expected to exceed $10.5 billion.

By comprehensively assessing the patient’s liver status, this innovative diagnostic method reduces excessive imaging examinations, thereby optimizing the use of medical resources in the diagnosis of liver disease. The findings make a significant contribution to the field of prevention and management of hepatitis B-related diseases.

The conclusions of this study reveal the liver function status of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from a network perspective. By constructing a network based on 25 blood test items, the researchers analyzed the evolutionary dynamics of liver function and identified key indicators and correlation thresholds of key states among CHB, LC, and HCC. This groundbreaking discovery has profound implications for future research into the prevention of hepatitis B-related diseases, providing insights into early warning signs of worsening liver function.

The research team simulated progressive liver dysfunction caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection by removing or changing network links, providing valuable insights into transitions between states. Although the morphology of the critical liver remains unknown, these findings inspire future research and pave the way for improved diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies.

The impact of this research extends beyond the scientific and medical communities as it addresses pressing global health issues. By simplifying the diagnostic process and reducing healthcare costs, this new approach has the potential to transform the lives of millions of patients affected by hepatitis B-related illnesses around the world.

The paper “A Resilience Approach for Diagnosing and Predicting HBV-Related States Based on Blood Tests”, author: Gege Hou, Yunru Chen, Xiaojing Liu, Dong Zhang, Zhimin Geng, Shubin Si. Open access to the full text of the paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2023.06.013.For more information projectfollow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EngineeringJrnl) and like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EngineeringPortfolio).

about project

project (ISSN: 2095-8099 IF: 12.8) is an international open access journal founded by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in 2015. Its goal is to provide a high-level platform for cutting-edge advances in engineering research and development. , current main research results and key results can be disseminated and shared; report on the progress of engineering science, discuss hot topics, areas of interest, challenges and prospects for engineering development, and consider human and environmental well-being and ethics in engineering; encourage far-reaching ideas Engineering breakthroughs and innovations of economic and social significance enable it to reach the international advanced level and become a new productive force, thereby changing the world, benefiting mankind, and creating a better future.

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