Explore timely topics in liver disease in a lively debate format as pediatric and adult/general hepatology trainees and practicing hepatologists tackle important, often controversial issues. Debaters will gain skills in critical thinking, balanced argumentation and factual examination of each issue's pros and cons. Debaters, judges and audience members will grapple with opposing scientific, societal, individual and financial viewpoints on current clinical concerns. 

The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center vs Hospital University of Pennsylvania 

Takashi Kokudo – 13 November 2020

Harel Dahari, Andrew Vaillant, Scott J. Cotler – 13 November 2020

Zoe N. Memel, Ashwini Arvind, Oluwatoba Moninuola, Lisa Philpotts, Raymond T. Chung, Kathleen E. Corey, Tracey G. Simon – 13 November 2020 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third‐leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide, with a growing incidence and poor prognosis. While some recent studies suggest an inverse association between aspirin use and reduced HCC incidence, other data are conflicting. To date, the precise magnitude of risk reduction—and whether there are dose‐dependent and duration‐dependent associations—remains unclear.

Lucia Craxì – 13 November 2020

Laura J. Kitto, Neil C. Henderson – 13 November 2020 – The hepatic mesenchyme has been studied extensively in the context of liver fibrosis; however, much less is known regarding the role of mesenchymal cells during liver regeneration. As our knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving hepatic regeneration deepens, the key role of the mesenchymal compartment during the regenerative response has been increasingly appreciated.

Véronique Loustaud‐Ratti, Alicia Anneraud, Paul Carrier, Marilyne Debette‐Gratien, Anne De Muret, Mattias Tallegas, Hélène Barraud, Louise Barbier, Ephrem Salamé – 13 November 2020

Michel Bazinet, Victor Pântea, Valentin Cebotarescu, Lilia Cojuhari, Pavlina Jimbei, Mark Anderson, Jeff Gersch, Vera Holzmayer, Carina Elsner, Adalbert Krawczyk, Mary C. Kuhns, Gavin Cloherty, Ulf Dittmer, Andrew Vaillant – 13 November 2020 – The nucleic acid polymer REP 2139 inhibits assembly/secretion of hepatitis B virus (HBV) subviral particles. Previously, REP 2139‐Ca and pegylated interferon (pegIFN) in HBV/hepatitis delta virus (HDV) coinfection achieved high rates of HDV RNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss/seroconversion in the REP 301 study (NCT02233075).

Krystal L. Karunungan, Yas Sanaiha, Roland A. Hernandez, Holly Wilhalme, Sarah Rudasill, Joseph Hadaya, Joseph DiNorcia, Peyman Benharash – 13 November 2020 – Although socioeconomic disparities persist both pre‐ and post‐transplantation, the impact of payer status has not been studied at the national level. We examined the association between public insurance coverage and waitlist outcomes among candidates listed for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States.

Mark R. Pedersen, Garrett Greenan, Sumant Arora, Arvind R. Murali, Marlyn J. Mayo – 13 November 2020 – After liver transplantation (LT), the role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is not well characterized. We examine the effect of UDCA after LT in the prophylaxis of biliary complications (BCs) in all‐comers for LT and the prevention of recurrent primary biliary cholangitis (rPBC) in patients transplanted for PBC.