Hepatology

Despite stable rates of heavy alcohol use, deaths from alcohol-associated liver damage have risen in the US. A new study suggests an increase in the damaging effects of alcohol use in people with metabolic syndrome could be driving this apparent increase.

The investigators also found impaired biosynthesis of short-chain fatty acids in the coprofiltrate after analyzing the intestinal microbiome of patients with NAFLD who had SARS-CoV-2, manifested by an increase in the median acetic and propionic acids, as well as a decrease in the median butyric acid.

Counties with high liver transplantation registration rates and high liver-related mortality rates had comparable data on social vulnerability index, while travel distance was relatively shorter.

All countries in Africa now provide a three-dose infant hepatitis B vaccination beginning at age 6-8 weeks.

There is some concern that the prevalence of diseases like NASH and NAFLD may increase in the coming years.