A very hot topic at the 2010 AASLD meeting, hepatic encephalopathy is being brought to the Clinics in Liver Disease for the very first time by top experts, Dr. Mullen and Dr. Prakash. Authors have written articles that fully discuss the clinical aspects of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Articles presented include History, Nomenclature and Classification; Theories involved in the pathogenesis of HE; Clinical Assessment and utility of clinical scales for semi-quantification of Overt HE;? Assessment of Minimal HE
( with emphasis on computerized psychometric tests); Brain Imaging and HE; Management of Overt HE; Management of Minimal HE; Nutritional Interventions for HE; TIPS and HE; Liver Transplantation and Reversibility of HE; Minimal HE and Driving; and HE and Quality of Life.

A cutting-edge review of the latest findings on key scientific topics and the best strategies for evaluation and management of portal hypertension in the clinic. Writing in an easy-to-read style, the authors review its pathobiology, the progress being made in its experimental understanding, the methodologies to assess it in humans, the treatment of its complications (esophageal varices, ascites, and hepatorenal syndrome), and its treatment in special circumstances (during pregnancy, in children, or when the portal vein is blocked). They also provide in-depth coverage of the pros and cons of the various therapeutic choices available to the clinician managing patients with complicated portal hypertension.

Dr. Sanyal's expertise as Chairman of the Division of Hepatology at Virginia Commonwealth University and the breadth of his published articles in hepatology make him the perfect person to compile state-of-the-art reviews on the topic of NASH/fatty liver. The articles in this issue address the following topics: The Genetic Epidemiology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Relevance of Liver Histology to Predict Clinically Meaningful Outcomes in NASH; Mechanisms of Simple Hepatic Steatosis; Cellular and Molecular Basis for Phenotype of Steatohepatitis; Mechanisms of Disease Progression in NASH: New Paradigms; Can NASH Be Diagnosed, Graded and Staged Non-Invasively?; Is NAFLD in Children the Same Disease as in Adults?; The Cardiovascular Link to NAFLD: A Critical Analysis; Impact of Behavioral Disturbances and Their Treatment on Obesity and NAFLD; and Management of NASH.

With very much success in 2009, this topic is being updated again in 2012. Dr. Flamm has invited a group of distinguished hepatologists to provide insight into the assessment of a variety of scenarios where clinical judgment based on experience and published literature is an invaluable addition to the care of individual patients. Articles included in the issue address the following topics: Evaluatio of Elevated Liver Enzymes and? Abnormal Liver Panel; Evaluation of Liver Lesions; Chronic HCV; Evaluation of Hepatic Cholestasis; Chronic HBV; Ascites; Fatty Liver; Pruritus in the patient with chronic cholestatic liver disease; Is the patient a candidate for liver transplantation; Care of the cirrhotic patient; Abnormal liver panel in pregnancy; Surgical clearance for the patient with chronic liver disease; Granulomatous Liver Disease; Drug Induced Liver Disease; and? Hepatic Encephalopathy.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of diseases of the biliary tree. Topics covered include: congenital biliary abnormalities, genetic cholangiopathies, autoimmune cholangiopathies, inflammatory and drug-related cholangiopathies, and cholangiocarcinoma. Given their particular importance (even for clinicians working with adults), pediatric conditions are also examined. In addition, a special section is devoted to pregnancy and diseases of the biliary tree, and to transplants and diseases of the biliary tree. Each chapter offers up-to-date information on the management of the diseases discussed. Moreover, the book addresses new treatments for autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases, reflecting the new therapeutic targets that have recently been discovered. Examples include farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-agonists, together with new drugs that affect the composition of bile flow. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable guide for a broad range of practitioners.

A practical, portable handbook, newly updated with nearly 100 color images and figures, The Little GI Book: An Easily Digestible Guide to Understanding Gastroenterology, Second Edition is an invaluable resource for anyone new to the world of gastroenterology and hepatology. Featuring new information on the latest advancements in gastroenterology and hepatology and written in a friendly, conversational style, The Little GI Book will help readers learn the core concepts of digestive health and disease and absorb important information without a hiccup. Author Dr. Douglas G. Adler provides a comprehensive, soup-to-nuts guide to gastrointestinal anatomy, physiology, disease states, and treatment. With new color images throughout, The Little GI Book guides the reader through the entire gastrointestinal tract, starting at the top with the esophagus, ending at the bottom with the colon and rectum, and covering everything in between: the stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. The Little GI Book is an indispensable pocket guide for residents, students, nurse practitioners, office staff, industry sales force, and anyone who works in the GI industry but isn't a gastroenterologist.

This book provides a quick, pattern-based reference for interpreting histologic changes in non-neoplastic liver. It is designed to guide the reader based on morphologic pattern and basic clinical information. Each chapter covers a broad but identifiable pat tern of pathologic liver findings (e.g., "portal inflammation" or "steatosis") and discusses the major disease entities that manifest as such a pattern. As liver biopsies can be complex and daunting, such an approach should improve the reader's ability to identi fy a likely diagnosis or differential and to distinguish among the possible disease enti ties. Sample reports at the end of each chap ter offer guidance on how to sign out cases. Non-Neoplastic Liver Pathology: A Patholo gist's Survival Guide will be of value to practicing pathologists without specialized training in hepatic pathology, pathology residents and fellows trying to learn the basics of non-neoplastic liver pathology, and hepatologists interested in reviewing liver biopsies with pathologists

World-renown expert, Dr. Paul Martin, has assembled an impressive list of authors to update the important topic of orthotopic liver transplantation. The issue provides comprehensive clinical coverage on this topics as articles are focused from the care of the pre-transplant patient to the care of the post-transplant patient. Content also covers the following topics: Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma;
Transplantation for Cholangiocarcinoma; Management of Renal Dysfunction in Liver Transplant Patients; Expanded Donors in Liver Transplantation; Current Status of Liver Transplantation for HBV; MELD: End of the First Decade; and Management of Recurrent HCV Infection.

Hepatitis C Virus is a quickly evolving area within hepatology owing to new medical therapies. This issue, guest edited by Dr. Fred Poordad, includes the most current clinical information and treatment therapies. Expert authors have written review articles devoted to the following medical therapies: Boceprevir, Telaprevir, Protease Inhibitors in Development, NS5B Nucleoside and Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors. Review articles also address important patients like na?ve- and non-responders and relapsers, the HIV co-infected patient, and the Genotype 1 and non-Genotype 1 patient.

This issue will provide gastroenterologists with the most current information on clinical matters in hepatology and serves as an update to the last issue. Articles address the spectrum of matters involving the liver, including Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, alcoholic Hepatitis, hemochromatosis, varices, liver transplantation, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver failure, and hepatic fibrosis.

Dr. Adrian Reuben updates one of the most highly requested topics in liver disease by inviting highly distinguished authors to address the important aspects of diagnosis and treatment of hepatocelluar carcinoma. State-of-the-art issues are addressed, including the role of oncogenic viruses, molecular and genetic guidelines, and screening and staging. Dr. Reuben, himself, concludes the issue with an important article on an agorithmic approach to diagnosis and treatment: Resect, Ablate, Replace or Intoxicate?

In this issue, Dr. Hu provides comprehensive coverage of disease states that cause abnormal liver function. The authors focus articles on the presentation and diagnosis, with treatment of the liver concurrent to treatment of the disease. Disease states covered include pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, hematologic/oncologic, gastroenterologic, and rheumatologic, and dermatologic.

Dr. Lefkowitch is one the most well known experts on liver pathology and has updated the topic since it last published over 5 years ago. Important topics updated include benign liver tumor, vascular disorders of the liver, autoimmune hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Special emphasis is given to articles devoted to immunochemistry in liver tumors, hepatic granulomas, and diagnostic pitfalls in liver transplantation.

This issue of Critical Care Nursing Clinics, guest edited by Sarah Saxer, PharmD, Dinesh Yogaratnam, PharmD, BCPS, and Tenita Foston, NP, on the topic of Liver Failure, will include the following article subjects: Drug-Induced Liver Failure: A Focus on Acetaminophen Overdose; Current and Emerging Strategies for Treating Hepatic Encephalopathy; Drug Dosing Considerations for the Critically Ill Patient with Liver Disease; Critical Care Therapies for Bleeding Esophogeal Varices; Treating Coagulopathies in Fulminant Hepatic Failure; Treating HCV; Management HBV; Hepatorenal Syndrome; Hepatopulmonary Syndrome; Live Transplant Considerations for Evaluation; Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Cholestatic Live Disease; Nutrition in ESLD; Infectious Issues in Patients with Liver Disease; and Management Ascites, TIPS/Shunts.

A recent Institute of Medicine report has concluded that "there is a lack of knowledge and awareness about chronic viral hepatitis on the part of health-care and social-service providers, as well as among at-risk populations, members of the public, and policy-makers. Due to the insufficient understanding about the extent and seriousness of this public-health problem, inadequate public resources are being allocated to prevention, control, and surveillance programs." It is with these concerns in mind that Dr. Tsai assembled a group of experts in this field to present their expertise in such a level, where the practicing clinicians who deal with this disease in their daily practice can understand thereby implement this knowledge into their own practice. Dr. Brian McMahon discusses the natural history of chronic hepatitis B with his vast knowledge and experience working with the high endemic population of Inuit in Alaska; Drs. Marc Ghany and Ed provide a very easy-to-understand description of HBV virology; Dr. Kyon-Mi Chang contributes an article on HBV immunology, which is the least understood area of this disease but has the most potential to improve our knowledge in the management of chronic hepatitis B; Dr. Anna Lok provides an authoritative review on the current issues and controversies of treatment of chronic hepatitis B; Dr. Stephen Locarnini, who has extensive experience in anti-viral resistance and its management, presents important issues in the usage of currently available anti-viral oral agents; Dr. Myron Tong discusses the current understanding of HBV carcinogenesis and updates HCC surveillance and treatment-- the most dreadful outcome of this disease; Dr. Paul Martin discusses management of end- stage chronic hepatitis B -anti-viral therapy, montherapy vs combo.therapy, choice of agent, when to start therapy and post-transplant patients including duration of HBIG therapy, HBcAb(+)only recipient) and Occult HBV infection; Dr. Tram Tran discuss the treatment in reproductive women, during pregnancy, and prevention of vertical transmission in third trimester with antiviral agents-- an area with significant lack of good clinical evidence; Dr. Steve Han discuss management of patients with acute hepatitis B, co-infection with HDV/HCV/HIV, pre-immuno-suppressive therapy, and management of renal and heart transplant patients with HBV infection; Dr. Mei Huei Chang discusses Taiwanese success in implementing universal vaccination leading to a remarkable reduction in both prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma; and finally Drs. Michelle Lai and Yun Fan Liaw provide a rundown of what we have accomplished and the hope for the future in our fight to control this disease.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays an essential role in the management of patients with liver disease. This issue reviews the standard of care in the endoscopic management of portal hypertension and biliary disease before and after liver transplantation. A thorough knowledge of the available endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic methods is essential for the practicing hepatologist. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in imaging techniques such as the application of capsule endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of portal hypertension and recent advances in cholangioscopy and biliary tissue sampling. Additionally new information regarding the endoscopic management of esophageal and gastric varices is reviewed. Finally, the current role of ERCP in the diagnosis and staging of cholangiocarcinoma before liver transplantation and the endoscopic management of biliary complications after liver transplantation is discussed.

This issue offers the latest information regarding the transmission of hepatitis viruses in various healthcare settings.? It delves with a very timely and interesting patient safety subject that specifically targets healthcare professionals, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, oncologists, dentists and all healthcare workers to adopt and share a variety of best practices to prevent this adverse event. Well known faculty in liver disease, infection control as well as a medical practice in a legal setting have been assembled to produce a comprehensive and concise edition that highlights the latest information regarding hepatitis B and C transmission in healthcare.? It aims to provide an overview on the molecular epidemiology, the outbreak reports, the transmission in hemodialysis, endoscopy, dental, oncology, management, legal aspects and the infection prevention measures to reduce the risk of needless exposure of patients to these blood borne pathogens.

This issue presents the views of internationally renowned experts on current findings concerning the epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Articles are included on bariatric surgery, liver transplantation, cytokines and apoptosis, as well as insulin resistence and lipotoxicity, to name a few. The Guest Editor himself ends the issue with an article giving his overall perspective on the current clinical management of NASH and future directions.

This issue of the Medical Clinics of North America brings the practicing clinician up to date on best practices of caring for the cirrhotic patient. Topics covered include diagnosis and epidemiology of cirrhosis; ascites: diagnosis and management; encephalopathy: pathophysiology and emerging therapies; portal hypertensive bleeding; renal failure: differential diagnosis and management; pulmonary complications; hepatocellular carcinoma: current state of treatment; preventative health issues; pre-operative risk assessment; and liver transplantation: from Child's to MELD.