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New data from a large cohort study describe an increased risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in women with prior hepatobiliary disease and confirm the association between ICP and subsequent disease. These findings should prompt a change in clinical practice for guidelines to recommend hepatitis C screening for women with ICP.
After endoscopic resection of Barrett neoplasia, complete ablation of the remaining Barrett segment is thought to reduce the risk of relapse. Little is known about the long-term outcome of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) after prior endoscopic resection of Barrett neoplasia. The use of RFA in nondysplastic Barrett oesophagus is receiving increasing levels of criticism.
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a unique clinical entity that causes confusion amongst clinicians because no clear definition or standardized clinical features have been agreed worldwide. A recent comprehensive study provided an evidence-based definition and addressed its clinical features in patients with ACLF who have cirrhosis with acute decompensation.
Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease, with at least three well-known major, molecularly defined groups: the chromosomal instable, the microsatellite instable and the CpG island methylator phenotype. Although these groups differ in pathology, outcome and response to therapy, this classification is not used in clinical management. Two recent studies might change this perception.
Nys et al. discuss the emerging role of autophagy as a regula-tor of immune and/or inflammatory responses and as a stress adaptive mechanism, and analyze its value as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target in Crohn's disease. Moreover, they highlight how several drugs used in the treatment of Crohn's disease have already been shown to affect autophagy induction as part of their mode of action.
Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening condition. Here the au-thors summarize recent clinical findings and present the most updated advances on the management of gastro-oesophageal varices and variceal bleeding.
Postoperative recurrence (POR) frequently occurs in patients with Crohn's disease, but current medications have proven of little benefit for this indication. In this Review, Dario Sorrentino outlines the definition, the main modalities of diagnosis and the risk factors for POR. The various medications and approaches used to prevent POR are also discussed and an algorithm for prevention of POR is proposed.
The authors present the emerging evidence that pancreatic cancer causes diabetes and associated weight loss. The emerging concepts in the pathogenesis of these metabolic changes are also discussed as well as the potential for the discovery of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Liver transplantation has progressed from an experimental procedure to routine operation since the first human liver transplantation in 1963. This Timeline article revisits the important milestones in the development of liver transplantation, discussing how the procedure has evolved over time and what challenges are still to overcome.
