Volume 13 Issue 4, April 2016

The recently released UK Chief Medical Officers Alcohol Guidelines Review set up new restricted limitations in alcohol consumption—14 units, the same amount for both men and women. In parallel, the popular Dry January campaign was launched again, aimed at promoting prolonged abstinence. Are these campaigns enough to give up boozing?

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is a clinicopathological condition. In addition to drugs and diets, dilation is an established treatment modality. Although the procedure was once considered risky, results from a new study add to the evidence that oesophageal dilation can be considered a safe and effective intervention to relieve dysphagia, the primary symptom of EoE.

A recent study demonstrated that drug–drug interactions are common in patients with HCV and are a challenge for treatment. Identification of these interactions can be time-consuming and complex. A multidisciplinary approach to HCV treatment, including a clinical pharmacist, can help identify and manage HCV drug interactions.

NAFLD is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. This Review discusses the diagnosis and stratification of patients with NAFLD by disease stage, and provides a stage-based approach to treatment. Pharmaceuticals in advanced development and potential future therapeutics are also addressed.

Clostridium difficileinfection (CDI) is a global health-care problem and represents an important infection in both health-care facilities and the wider community. Here, the authors describe advances in understanding of CDI epidemiology, transmission and diagnosis, which are all key factors in the management of CDI.

The circadian clock plays a central part in the regulation of liver function. In this Review, Tahara and Shibata discuss the mechanisms by which the circadian clock controls hepatic metabolism and the processing of xenobiotics, and how clock dysfunction can influence liver disease.

The use of laparoscopic techniques to treat benign and malignant pancreatic disease is becoming more common, but the benefits or limitations in comparison with conventional surgery are not fully clear as yet. Here, an overview of all the high-quality data to date on laparascopic is comprehensively assessed with a focus on laparoscopic Whipple and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

The many gaps in our knowledge and understanding of HBV infection hampers our ability to develop and achieve a cure on a global scale. In this Perspective, Fabien Zoulim and colleagues propose the development of an international group consisting of four working groups (virology, immunology, innovative tools and clinical trials) to tackle the big questions and make important steps towards eradicating this disease.