The intestinal microbiota and the human body have a symbiotic relationship, and a dysbalance of this delicate homeostasis can lead to disease. Liver diseases are associated with changes in the gut microbiota. Intestinal dysbiosis is characterized by bacterial overgrowth and changes in the microbiota composition. In addition, most chronic liver diseases are associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction. The contribution of intestinal dysbiosis to chronic liver disease goes beyond disruption of the intestinal barrier.

The Symposium will provide a broad overview on the diversity of noninvasive diagnostic approaches for assessing chronic liver disease in the U.S. and Europe. Experts will discuss the role and interpretation of noninvasive diagnostic test strategies in assessing the severity of disease associated with NAFLD, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension. These lectures — in conjunction with a panel discussion — will benefit all healthcare professionals using these novel tools in their clinical practice.Jayant A. Talwalker Sumeet K.

Emily D. Bethea, Qiushi Chen, Chin Hur, Raymond T. Chung, Jagpreet Chhatwal – 23 October 2017 – It is not standard practice to treat patients with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, as the incidence of HCV in the United States continues to rise, it may be time to re‐evaluate acute HCV management in the era of direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) agents. In this study, a microsimulation model was developed to analyze the trade‐offs between initiating HCV therapy in the acute versus chronic phase of infection.

Neil Patel, Gemma Sheehan‐Dare, Justin Weir, Suman Verma, Louise Fearfield – 23 October 2017

Sandra J. Page, Maria M. Rivera, David E. Kleiner, Xiongce Zhao, Sungyoung Auh, Elaine F. Remmers, Theo Heller – 23 October 2017 – Approximately 71 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a potentially lethal pathogen. HCV generates oxidative stress correlating with disease severity. HCV proteins increase reactive oxygen species production by stimulating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) activity.

Ryoichi Fujiwara, Mathias Haag, Elke Schaeffeler, Anne T. Nies, Ulrich M. Zanger, Matthias Schwab – 23 October 2017 – Neurotoxic bilirubin is the end product of heme catabolism in mammals. Bilirubin is solely conjugated by uridine diphospho‐glucuronosyltransferase 1A1, which is a membrane‐bound enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of glucuronic acid. Due to low function of hepatic and intestinal uridine diphospho‐glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 during the neonatal period, human neonates develop mild to severe physiological hyperbilirubinemia.

Mohammad Shadab Siddiqui, Stephen A. Harrison, Manal F. Abdelmalek, Quentin M. Anstee, Pierre Bedossa, Laurent Castera, Lara Dimick‐Santos, Scott L. Friedman, Katherine Greene, David E. Kleiner, Sophie Megnien, Brent A. Neuschwander‐Tetri, Vlad Ratziu, Elmer Schabel, Veronica Miller, Arun J. Sanyal, on behalf of the Liver Forum Case Definitions Working Group – 23 October 2017 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an important cause of liver‐related morbidity and mortality.

Alain Braillon – 23 October 2017

Tatyana Kushner, Kanade Shinkai, Lindy Fox, David Ying, Andrew Gross, Dana Balitzer, Ryan Gill, Danielle Brandman – 23 October 2017

Thomas Leibing, Cyrill Géraud, Iris Augustin, Michael Boutros, Hellmut G. Augustin, Jürgen G. Okun, Claus‐Dieter Langhans, Johanna Zierow, Sebastian A. Wohlfeil, Victor Olsavszky, Kai Schledzewski, Sergij Goerdt, Philipp‐Sebastian Koch – 23 October 2017 – Postnatal liver development is characterized by hepatocyte growth, proliferation, and functional maturation. Notably, canonical Wnt signaling in hepatocytes has been identified as an important regulator of final adult liver size and metabolic liver zonation.