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The identification of Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) as a crucial biomarker in liver disease is revolutionizing how clinicians approach the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of various liver conditions. As a member of the glycoside hydrolase family 18, CHI3L1 is recognized for its unique ability to bind to ligands and influence multiple pathophysiological processes, despite lacking enzymatic activity. This distinctive protein plays a key role in mediating cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis.

Liver diseases, including hepatitis-related fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), represent significant global health challenges. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical to managing these conditions effectively, but traditional methods such as liver biopsy are invasive and not ideal for frequent monitoring. Serum biomarkers offer a non-invasive alternative, and CHI3L1 has emerged as a reliable marker, especially for diagnosing and staging hepatic fibrosis. Elevated levels of CHI3L1 correlate with fibrosis severity, particularly in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC), where it demonstrates superior diagnostic efficacy compared to conventional markers like hyaluronic acid (HA) and FIB-4.

In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, CHI3L1 plays a significant role in evaluating fibrosis progression and monitoring the efficacy of antiviral therapies. The protein’s levels increase proportionally with the advancement of liver fibrosis, making it a practical tool for assessing treatment response. Furthermore, CHI3L1 has shown promise in distinguishing between simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is vital for identifying patients at higher risk of progressing to cirrhosis or HCC. Combining CHI3L1 with other markers, such as alpha-fetal protein (AFP) and platelet count, enhances diagnostic accuracy, particularly in detecting significant fibrosis and advanced stages of liver disease.

One of the most promising applications of CHI3L1 is its potential to predict the prognosis of HCC. Studies indicate that elevated CHI3L1 levels correlate with poor survival rates, especially after curative resection. When combined with AFP, CHI3L1 significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy for HCC, offering clinicians a more reliable method for early detection and risk assessment. The integration of CHI3L1 measurements with routine clinical practice could transform patient management by enabling more precise risk stratification and tailored therapies.

The growing body of evidence supports the use of CHI3L1 not only as a biomarker for liver fibrosis but also as a potential therapeutic target. As a key regulator of fibrosis and inflammation, targeting CHI3L1 could mitigate disease progression and improve outcomes for patients suffering from chronic liver diseases. Further research into the molecular mechanisms underlying CHI3L1’s actions will enhance our understanding of liver pathology and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.

Reference:

Chao Tian, Shizhou Deng, Ming Yang, Baochen Bai, Lai Wei, Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review, Genes & Diseases,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101653.

Tamil Nadu- The Tamil Nadu private medical colleges have been warned to adhere to Supreme Court, High Court orders and the National Medical Commission guidelines with respect to the MBBS and BDS admissions 2025.

The Tamil Nadu (TN Health) has issued a notification for all the Deans and Principals of Self-Financing Medical Institutions regarding the admission into the MBBS & BDS counselling for the academic year 2025-2026.

New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has cancelled the import registration of two cosmetic products of Satnam and Company after finding them in violation of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, due to excessive concentration of salicylic acid beyond permissible limits.

Patna: MBBS interns of the State-run Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) are on a protest demanding a hike in their monthly stipend.

HT has reported that the interns on Friday threatened to intensify their protest by disrupting the out-patient department (OPD) services if their monthly stipend was not increased.

Currently, the MBBS interns at PMCH are receiving approximately Rs 20,000 as a monthly stipend. They are demanding for a hike in the stipend amount from Rs 20,000 per month to Rs 40,000 per month.

The intern doctors have claimed that the State Government had last revised their monthly internship allowance back in 2022, with an assurance to revise it again after three years. However, it has allegedly not been done so far.

Also Read: Punjab Announces Stipend Hike: MBBS Interns to Get Rs 7,000 More, Resident Doctors Get Over Rs 10,000 Raise

As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, around 200 medical students, who are undergoing MBBS internship at the institute, along with some doctors, who expressed solidarity with the protesting medicos, wore black armbands to work on Friday to protest the State Government’s alleged delay in the revision of the monthly stipend.

The Junior Doctors have warned to intensify their protest by closing OPD services across all medical colleges of Bihar from Tuesday if there is no hike in the stipend amount. However, the demonstration held by the students on Friday was reportedly peaceful.

Issuing a statement, the JDA said, “As a next step, we may intensify our protest and close OPD services across all medical colleges of Bihar from Tuesday, which could severely impact healthcare services in the state, if the Bihar government continues to ignore our demands.”

Commenting on the matter, the interns said, “Our fight is not just for money, but for respect and survival.”

The interns are urging the State to take immediate action to revise the stipend structure and bring Bihar at par with other States. They have claimed that the amount they received as stipend is less when compared to other States. Even there is disparity with the autonomous government institutes within the state like the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) and the Centre’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), both in Patna.

The MBBS interns at IGIMS get Rs 30,000 as a monthly stipend, while those at AIIMS get Rs 32,000. However, the MBBS interns across 10 other medical colleges under the Bihar government get a monthly stipend of around Rs 19,600. One of the protesting students pointed out that the intern doctors in West Bengal and Odisha get Rs 43,000 and Rs 40,000 per month respectively.

“We have not received any response despite repeated appeals, including formal letters to the health minister and the health secretariat,” said the JDA, which has been pursuing the matter.

Also Read: Imphal: JNIMS MBBS Interns Launch Indefinite Protest Demanding Stipend hike