<div><p><strong><b>Background:</strong> </b>Several studies in adults showed that spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) can accurately assess clinically significant portal hypertension (HTN) and predict presence of esophageal varices. However, pediatric studies on SSM published thus far have used a liver-specific probe to measure the spleen making them difficult to interpret and possibly overestimating SSM, as the spleen is inherently a stiffer organ than the liver.

<div><p><b>Background:</p> </b><p>Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) manifests with fibrotic scarring of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts due to an immune-mediated inflammatory response. The cyclic GMP–AMP synthase –stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) signaling pathway is a key mediator of inflammatory gene expression and cytokine release in response to cellular stress. The inflammatory milieu observed in PSC recruits immune cells, including neutrophils, to infiltrate the peri-portal region.

<div><p><b>Background:<span> </b>IL-17 signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) leading to steatosis, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We recently demonstrated that the specific deletion of IL-17RA in hepatocytes protects from steatosis, fibrosis and HCC in high fat diet plus ethanol (HFD+EtOH)-fed in MUP uPA mice (model that express urokinase-type plasminogen activator driven by a hepatocyte promoter for major urinary protein).

<div><p><b>Background:<span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW146419527 BCX0"> </b><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW146419527 BCX0"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW146419527 BCX0">Clinician </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW146419527 BCX0">inexperience with advanced care planning (ACP) </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW146419527 BCX0">is a barrier to patient-centered care for adults </span&

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Intestine epithelial HIF-1α plays a critical role in the maintaining of gut barrier function. Disrupted gut barrier function contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine whether pharmacological or genetic activation of intestinal HIF-1α ameliorates western diet-induced MASLD and metabolic syndrome.</p>

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is the most frequent cirrhosis complication leading to hospital admissions and is associated with significant mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of the CyberLiver-Animal Recognition Test (CL-ART) to predict future hospitalisation due to decompensation, especially through HE, comparing its performance to established HE tests.</p>

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are at a 400-fold increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and are thus recommended to undergo annual screening with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Unfortunately, MRCP findings are nonspecific for CCA in the setting of biliary fibrosis and screening may not confer a survival benefit. We have previously developed a new class of diagnostic tools that detect dysregulated protease activity in the tumor microenvironment.

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Alcohol-related liver disease is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and has recently emerged as the most common indication for liver transplantation. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS)—a rapidly progressive renal failure—is a fatal complication of decompensated cirrhosis with ascites. The FDA-approved vasopressin analogue, terlipressin (terli)—in combination with albumin—is recommended to treat patients (pts) with HRS-acute kidney injury (AKI). Terli also demonstrated efficacy in the subpopulation of pts with alcohol-related hepatitis.

<div><p><b>Background:</p> </b><p>Despite liver transplant (LT) waitlist prioritization being based on model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score, situations arise when patients are not optimally represented: 1) “inactive” and 2) lower MELD due to missing MELD “recertification”. LT candidates are required to update, or “recertify”, their labs within a certain amount of time based on their MELD (e.g., MELD ≥25 requires recertification by 7 days or MELD decreases to last lower value and then to 6 if missed again).

<div><p><strong>Background</strong>: <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; color: windowtext;">Selgantolimod (SLGN) is an oral selective small molecule TLR8 agonist with antiviral potential that has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in individuals with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). SLGN stimulates a robust pharmacodynamic response as measured by the detection of TLR8 pathway cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12p40 and IL-1RA.