Subsequent analysis revealed group B had better liver function profiles marked by higher proportion of normal serum albumin and bilirubin levels, lower prevalence of ascites, and less proportion of Child-Pugh score B-C (30.2% in group A and 9.3% in group B, p< 0.001); on the other hand, patients in group A tended to have more advanced BCLC stage upon diagnosis (Table 1). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is Ascites.