1. Liver Cirrhosis Study Group, Department of Gastroenterology, the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command (formerly General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area) , Shenyang 110840 , Liaoning Province , China
2. Postgraduate College, China Medical University , Shenyang 110840 , Liaoning Province , China
3. Postgraduate College, Jinzhou Medical University , Jinzhou 121001 , Liaoning Province , China
4. Clinical and Translational Hepatology & Monarch Liver Laboratory, the Liver Institute Center of Excellence in Gastrointestinal Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital , Kochi 682028 , India
5. Gastroenterology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) , Botucatu 18608917 , Brazil