Dr. Herrera has created an issue that will serve as a complete update on the topic of Portal Hpertension. Content is provided from medical therapies to surgery on the patient with portal hypertension. The following important issues are addressed: Invasive and Noninvasive Methods of Measuring Portal Pressure; Primary Prophylaxis of Varceal Bleeding; Gastric and Ectopic Varices; Hepatic Hydrothorax; and Hepatopulmonary Syndrome. Readers will come away with state-of-the-art information on the topic of portal hypertension.

Chronic liver diseases progressively destruct liver tissue, leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Liver diseases can be caused by viral, autoimmune, or toxic (drugs/alcohol). Most conditions can be managed pharmacologically for indefinite periods of time. The articles in this issue will review best practices for managing and treating patients who present with these chronic problems, like hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver, end stage liver disease, and drug-induced injuries.

Diagnosis of benign liver tumors is experiencing exponential growth, mainly owing to the diffusion of more accurate imaging techniques. This monograph examines the epidemiology, histopathology and genetics of these tumors and provides a systematic overview of their evolution and differential diagnosis. Care is taken to document surgical indications accurately, with a view to assisting in the avoidance of useless interventions. Open, laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques are described and illustrated, emphasizing the optimization of intra- and postoperative management in order to avoid potential complications and degeneration. In these chapters, attention is drawn to the ways in which the surgical management of benign liver tumors differs from that of malignant tumors. The book concludes by examining the role of interventional radiology in patients with benign liver tumors.

Dr. Pyrsopolous has created a comprehensive review on the most important and timely topics in drug heptatotoxicity. He has arraanged for there to be a full span of very basic articles that discuss drug metabolism, hepatotoxicity, and drug-induced acute liver failure as well as other important articles devoted to clinical manifestations and treatment of drug induced hepatotoxicity; Pathological manifestations of drug induced hepatotoxicity; Drug induced cholestasis; Lipid lowering agents induced hepatotoxicity; Herbal, complementary and alternative medicine induced liver injury; Antiretroviral and anti - HCV DAA related hepatotoxicity; Antibiotic related hepatotoxicity; Acetaminophen related hepatoxicity; NSAIDS induced hepatoxocity; Chemotherapy induced hepatotoxicity; Anti epileptic induced hepatotoxicity; and steatohepatitis induced by drugs.

The Guest Editors have assembled top international experts to present clinical reviews on the most current data being utilized in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of HBV. In fact, the most recent EASL meeting fndings are included in many of the articles. Special focus is given to Results of Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Pegylated Interferon; Impact of Therapy on the Long Term Outcome of Chronic Hepatitis B; HBsAg Quantification: Clinical; HBV Infection and Hepatocellular Carcinoma; HIV-HBV Co-Infection: An Update; Hepatitis Delta: The Rediscovery; and Treatment of Patients with HBV Related Decompensated Cirrhosis and Liver Transplanted Patients.

This field has shown tremendous growth in recent years, primarily due to the recognition that drug-induced liver disease is the most common cause of liver failure and one of the major contributors to the withdrawal of drugs developed by the pharmaceutical industry. Drug-Induced Liver Disease, 3rd edition is a comprehensive reference that covers mechanisms of injury, diagnosis and management, major hepatotoxins, regulatory perspectives and much more. Written by highly respected authorities, this new edition is an updated and definitive reference for clinicians and scientists in academia, the pharmaceutical industry and government settings. This book contains 4 new chapters on key topics in the area and provides a current and extensive review of the latest developments concerning the toxicology, pharmacology, genetics and immunology of drug-induced liver disease.

A multi-authored reference work written by leading clinical, academic and industry experts in drug-induced liver disease.

Contains four new chapters on key areas in the field, including one on worldwide drug-induced liver injury networks.

Each chapter has been updated to address the latest research and findings in the field and 16 new chapter authors have been added to this new edition.

Includes coverage of the basic, clinical and practical aspects of drug-induced liver disease to provide the single most comprehensive reference on the subject. "

Hepatitis C infection can be an acute or chronic illness and is the most common cause of liver disease in the US. It often goes undiagnosed until significant organ damage has occurred. This issue of the ID Clinics discusses the staging of liver disease, treatments for those newly diagnosed, and those who are dealing with chronic illness, along with managing drug therapy and virus resistance.

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.

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.

The Guest Editor has organized this issue to focus on the clinical management of alcoholic liver disease. Authors have written state-of-the-art reviews on the following topics: Prevalence and Natural History of ALD; Alcohol Metabolism; Immunology in ALD; Histological Findings in ALD; Diagnosis and Management of Alcoholic Hepatitis; Management of Alcohol Abuse; Long Term Management of Alcoholic Liver Disease; Infections in ALD; Nutrition in ALD; Alcohol's Effect on Other Chronic Liver Diseases; Liver Cancer and Alcohol; Evaluation and Selection of Candidates for Liver Transplantation; and ALD and Specific Transplant-Related Issues.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) represent an opportunity to treat pancreatic tumors before they develop into aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers. Beginning with morphological classification and its clinical significance, natural history, and malignant change of both main duct and branch duct IPMNs, this book covers the whole field of IPMNs of the pancreas. It reviews the various methods of investigation: imaging, diagnostic investigation of cyst fluid, and those using pancreatic juice; and also examines aspects ranging from the development of malignancy to the timing and method of resection, focusing on both main duct and branch duct IPMNs.

Aimed at residents, clinical fellows, and pancreatologists who treat patients with this common disease of the pancreas, this book is a landmark in the current understanding and future perspectives of IPMNs of the pancreas.

"

The authors explore the history of man's thoughts about hepatic structure, function, and disorders, both chronologically and thematically. The first two chapters present the anatomy and physiology of the liver as explained through the ages. Subsequent chapters deal with hepatic function and disorders and therapies used to treat liver disease. The text is enhanced by chronological tables, extensive notes, and a bibliographic essay.

Hepatology and Transplant Hepatology: A Case Based Approach presents a collection of interesting cases in liver disease seen at a very busy and large liver transplant center in the United States. These cases cover the full range of pathology that an internist or gastroenterologist may expect to see in a lifetime of taking care of patients with acute or chronic liver disease, before or after liver transplant. Each case is presented as you would see it in a clinical situation where a patient presents a complaint or something is noted on exam or blood work. The question/answer format will help one through the problem of making a diagnosis or in considering a differential diagnosis and also point to the best way to manage each condition. The volume is divided into pre-transplant and post-transplant hepatology. Each case is 3 pages with the first page presenting the case and pertinent lab data and 3-4 questions (i.e. differential diagnosis, tests to order, x-rays/CT required).The second page illustrates the tests, scans, biopsies and asks for the pertinent findings. The third page provides the diagnosis and what may have been expected with other diagnoses. Here is a single source dealing with questions specific for patients with complications of advanced liver disease and also clinical situations seen in transplant hepatology. Hepatology and Transplant Hepatology: A Case Based Approach will have great appeal to anyone in hepatology/transplant hepatology and also to residents/fellows and internists interested in gastroenterology.

Portal hypertension is the most important complication of a great variety of both acute and chronic liver diseases. Nevertheless, hepatic cirrhosis is the most frequent cause of portal hypertension. Gastrointestinal bleeding due to rupture of oesophageal varices is, without doubt, the most severe complication of portal hypertension. At present, great advances are being made in the pathophysiology and in the development of new therapeutic tools for controlling and preventing this severe clinical event.

This book contains the papers presented and discussed during the Symposium on 'Portal Hypertension in the 21st Century', held in Montreal, Canada, in April 2004, and sponsored by Axcan Pharma Inc. and NicOx S.A. There are eight sections covering basic mechanisms, new drugs, prevention and current treatment of variceal bleeding, prevention of recurrent bleeding and hepatic hemodynamic monitoring.

An international faculty of authors have contributed chapters at an outstanding scientific level which will be vital reading for scientists and clinicians alike."

Acute and chronic viral hepatitis infections are serious public health threats around the world. The different infections have different epidemiology and natural his- ries, and children play important roles in each of these. For example, children are important reservoirs for acute hepatitis A, childhood infections are responsible for most of the global morbidity associated with chronic hepatitis B, and perinatal transmission of hepatitis C continues to occur, even as the overall incidence of new infections wanes. Some non-A through E viral hepatitis infections are seen p- dominantly in infants and young children, while others have specific implications for this population. Therapeutic options for children with chronic viral hepatitis are limited when compared to those available for adults, especially for hepatitis B, and considerations given to long-term therapy have dramatic implications when dealing with the long life expectancy of these young patients. With these issues in mind, this unique volume has been created to address the special considerations regarding viral hepatitis in children. It includes the latest information and recommendations specifically directed at the pediatric population, and highlights the knowledge gaps which will need to be filled to improve our understanding of these infections and treatment of this special group. Experienced practitioners from around the world have contributed these reviews, incorporating the latest studies, the current recommendations, and the distinctive pediatric issues that shape clinical care, and will determine the research agenda for this field going forward.

In several liver diseases, the underlying cause cannot always be eliminated, i.e. the progression of liver disease cannot be prevented. This is particularly true for non-responders to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV). It is relevant for more than 40 per cent of patients with HCV genotype 1 and up to 20 per cent of patients with genotype 2 or 3. Several approaches are now underway to prevent or ameliorate mechanisms of disease progression. In Asia, and particularly in Japan, Glycyrrhizine-SNMC has been widely used for this purpose. At present, SNMC is under clinical evaluation in Europe.