By contrast, the full-length CTGF level was significantly inversely correlated with the liver fibrosis stage (r = –0.68, p < 0.01, Fig 1F), and the N-terminal CTGF fragment level tended to be associated with the fibrosis stage (r = 0.35, p = 0.07, Fig 1G). The gene discussed is CCN2; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.