<div><p><b>Background:</p> </b><p>Increased intestinal permeability is one of the multiple hits in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) is a gut bacterial enzyme that hydrolyzes conjugated bile acids (BAs) into unconjugated BAs. Our previous study reported that inhibition of BSH with a gut-restricted small molecule inhibitor, AAA-10, increased conjugated BAs and prevented the development of intestinal permeability and liver steatosis in an early onset, diet-induced rat steatosis model.

<div><p><b>Background:</p> </b><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Single-cell technologies address the critical issue of tumor heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but face challenges such as complex cell isolation, need for fresh samples, and limited genomic coverage from low DNA content. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a robust workflow for single-nucleus DNA sequencing from frozen HCC tissue, utilizing a custom amplicon panel to elucidate genetic events in HCC clonal evolution.</span></p>

<div><p><b>Background: </b>The existing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk scores have modest accuracy and most are specific to chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we developed and validated a liver stiffness-based machine learning algorithm (ML) for prediction and risk stratification of HCC in various chronic liver diseases (CLDs).</p>

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Baveno VII was proposed for non-invasive identification of clinically significant portal hypertension. However, a substantial proportion of patients is classified in the grey zone (i.e., liver stiffness 15-24.9 kPa and/or platelet count &lt;150 &#215;10⁹/L). We aimed to evaluate the risk and predictors of hepatic decompensation in grey zone patients and determine the prognostic role of spleen stiffness measurement (SSM).</p>

<div><p><b>Background:<a href="The pathophysiology of ascites in cirrhosis entails vasodilatation with the consequential activation of sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, leading to retention of sodium and water. Dapagliflozin, a sodium glucose linked transporter-2 inhibitor, induces natriuresis and is beneficial in patients with heart failure. We hypothesised that a similar natriuretic effect may improve mobilization of ascites in patients with cirrhosis.

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation, bile duct proliferation, and hepatic fibrosis, with a high risk for liver cancer. Multi-drug resistance 2-deficient (Mdr2^-/-) mice have been widely used as a PSC model. These mice spontaneously develop fibrosis as early as 6-8 weeks and liver tumors at 10-12 months.

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Autoimmune hepatitis is a serious chronic liver disease with immune disorders, histological lesions and liver dysfunction, with a gradually increasing prevalence. Yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune dysregulation in AIH are poorly understood.</p>

<div><p><b>Background: </b>An unbiased ‘genome-first’ approach has the potential to expand the understanding of common coding and predicted loss-of-function (pLOF) variants associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Utilizing this approach, we aimed to uncover the functionality of pathogenic variants in <em>TM6SF2</em>.</p>

<div><p><b>Background:</p> </b><p>Pragmatic endpoints, such as time-to-treatment discontinuation (TTD), defined as the duration from starting a medication to the date of treatment discontinuation or death, have been proposed as a potential efficacy endpoint for real-world practice. This study aims to analyze the frequency and severity of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and TTD in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab (A+B) treatment.</p>

<div><p><b>Background: </b>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic, progressive disease with substantial morbidity and mortality and no approved treatments. Observational studies have linked aspirin use to reduced prevalence and progression of MASLD. However, the efficacy and safety of aspirin for reducing hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in patients with MASLD are unknown.</p>