Volume 14 Issue 6, June 2017

Cell culture infection models help to develop antiviral agents, but animal models are required to understand complex virus–host interactions and the development of immune therapies. Although identification of the HBV uptake receptor enabled establishing cell lines that replicate HBV from its natural transcription template, animal models supporting the full HBV life cycle are still lacking.

Currently, no pharmacological therapies are approved for the treatment of NASH. A new study now identifies CASP8 and FADD-like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR) as a novel suppressor of NASH and its associated disorders in a process dependent on the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1).

Patients with neuroendocrine tumours are increasingly treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. However, tumour somatostatin receptor expression evaluation cannot accurately predict who will respond to therapy. Additional criteria to identify which patients are most likely to respond and those who will develop radiation-associated sequelae are critical requirements.

Gastrointestinal malignancies are among the most common human cancers. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses have identified recurring molecular subtypes that suggest important biological differences. Here, the authors review the common themes of gastrointestinal cancer subtypes, as well as how they could be implemented into clinical practice.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles and many metabolic disorders results in abnormal lipid accumulation in the liver. This Review provides insights into LD biology and lipid homeostasis in the liver, as well as the role of LDs in liver diseases, including NAFLD, NASH and hepatitis C.

Evidence is growing that the gut microbiota can modulate the actions of chemotherapy. Here, the authors discuss the available data from human, animal andin vitrostudies and describe the implications of pharmacomicrobiomics in cancer therapeutics.

In this Review, Husain and Srinath discuss the risk factors, diagnosis and management of acute pancreatitis in children. Aetiological differences between acute pancreatitis and acute recurrent pancreatitis are also explored, as well as strategies to prevent disease recurrence.

Living donor liver transplantation is an underutilized transplant option outside of Asia for those with end-stage liver disease. Here, Fisher details the history of the procedure, its indications, contraindications and outcomes, and the criteria for selection of appropriate donors.