Prioritization of Therapeutic Targets and Trial Design in Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension

Juan G. Abraldes, Jonel Trebicka, Naga Chalasani, Gennaro D’Amico, Don C. Rockey, Vijay H. Shah, Jaime Bosch, Guadalupe Garcia‐Tsao – 15 October 2018 – Portal hypertension (PH) is the main driver of cirrhosis decompensation, the main determinant of death in patients with cirrhosis. PH results initially from increased intrahepatic vascular resistance. Subsequently, increased inflow from splanchnic vasodilation and increased cardiac output lead to a further increase in portal pressure (PP). Reducing PP in cirrhosis results in better outcomes. Removing the cause of cirrhosis might improve PP.

FXR and TGR5 Agonists Ameliorate Liver Injury, Steatosis, and Inflammation After Binge or Prolonged Alcohol Feeding in Mice

Arvin Iracheta‐Vellve, Charles D. Calenda, Jan Petrasek, Aditya Ambade, Karen Kodys, Luciano Adorini, Gyongyi Szabo – 15 October 2018 – Bile acids (BAs) activate various dedicated receptors, including the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the Takeda G protein‐coupled receptor 5 (TGR5). The FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) is licensed for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis and has shown promising results in NASH patients, whereas TGR5 agonists target inflammation and metabolism.

Combination of Entecavir/Peginterferon Alfa‐2a in Children With Hepatitis B e Antigen–Positive Immune Tolerant Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Philip Rosenthal, Simon C. Ling, Steven H. Belle, Karen F. Murray, Norberto Rodriguez‐Baez, Sarah J. Schwarzenberg, Jeffrey Teckman, Hsing‐Hua S. Lin, Kathleen B. Schwarz, for the Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN) – 15 October 2018 – The optimal management strategy for children with immune‐tolerant chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unknown. The purpose of this clinical trial was to determine the safety and efficacy of therapy with entecavir and peginterferon in a group of children in the immune‐tolerant phase of HBV infection.

Optimizing the Use of Geriatric Livers for Transplantation in the Eurotransplant Region

Jacob D. de Boer, Joris J. Blok, Hein Putter, Jacob J. E. Koopman, Bart van Hoek, Undine Samuel, Marieke van Rosmalen, Herold J. Metselaar, Ian P. J. Alwayn, Markus Guba, Andries E. Braat, for the Eurotransplant Liver and Intestine Advisory Committee – 13 October 2018 – Acceptance criteria for liver allografts are ever more expanding because of a persisting wait‐list mortality. Older livers are therefore offered and used more frequently for transplantation. This study aims to analyze the use and longterm outcome of these transplantations.

Auxiliary Partial Orthotopic Liver Transplantation for Selected Noncirrhotic Metabolic Liver Disease

Ashwin Rammohan, Mettu S. Reddy, Gomathy Narasimhan, Rajesh Rajalingam, Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, Naresh Shanmugam, Mohamed Rela – 13 October 2018 – Auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) in selected noncirrhotic metabolic liver diseases (NCMLDs) is a viable alternative to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) as it supplements the function of the native liver with the missing functional protein. APOLT for NCMLD is not universally accepted due to concerns of increased technical complications and longterm graft atrophy.

New Systemic Treatments in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Marco Sanduzzi‐Zamparelli, Álvaro Díaz‐Gonzalez, María Reig – 13 October 2018 – The principal advancements in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the use of new systemic treatments, such as lenvatinib in first‐line treatment and regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab in second‐line treatment, because of their benefits in terms of overall survival. In addition, nivolumab as a second‐line agent was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 based on improved radiological response data.

An Intravenous Fish Oil–Based Lipid Emulsion Successfully Treats Intractable Pruritus and Cholestasis in a Patient with Microvillous Inclusion Disease

Lorenzo Anez‐Bustillos, Duy T. Dao, Alexis K. Potemkin, Antonio R. Perez‐Atayde, Bram P. Raphael, Alexandra N. Carey, Daniel S. Kamin, Jay R. Thiagarajah, McGreggor Crowley, Kathleen M. Gura, Mark Puder – 12 October 2018

An Intravenous Fish Oil–Based Lipid Emulsion Successfully Treats Intractable Pruritus and Cholestasis in a Patient with Microvillous Inclusion Disease

Lorenzo Anez‐Bustillos, Duy T. Dao, Alexis K. Potemkin, Antonio R. Perez‐Atayde, Bram P. Raphael, Alexandra N. Carey, Daniel S. Kamin, Jay R. Thiagarajah, McGreggor Crowley, Kathleen M. Gura, Mark Puder – 12 October 2018

Diet‐Induced Dysbiosis and Genetic Background Synergize With Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Deficiency to Promote Cholangiopathy in Mice

Dominique Debray, Haquima El Mourabit, Fatiha Merabtene, Loïc Brot, Damien Ulveling, Yves Chrétien, Dominique Rainteau, Ivan Moszer, Dominique Wendum, Harry Sokol, Chantal Housset – 10 October 2018 – The most typical expression of cystic fibrosis (CF)–related liver disease is a cholangiopathy that can progress to cirrhosis. We aimed to determine the potential impact of environmental and genetic factors on the development of CF‐related cholangiopathy in mice.

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