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Butyrylcholinesterase alleviates hepatic stellate cell activation via paracrine muscarinic signalling

Sep 23, 2026

The authors investigate the role of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in regulating fibrosis through its effect on acetylcholine (ACh) bioavailability and downstream cholinergic signaling in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). They find that reduced BuChE expression correlates with increased HSC activation and fibrosis, while BuChE overexpression has a protective effect. The study identifies a novel cholinergic circuit involving ChRM3 signaling that could serve as a therapeutic target for fibrosis treatment.

Integrative multi-omics landscape and diagnostic-therapeutic modelling of steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma

Sep 22, 2026

This study aims to characterize the multi-omics landscape of steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma (SH-HCC) and develop non-invasive diagnostic tools while identifying actionable therapeutic targets. By integrating various omics datasets from 156 patients, the authors established an SH-HCC index for differentiation from conventional HCC and identified FABP4 as a potential therapeutic target, demonstrating its role in tumor growth suppression and immune microenvironment modulation. The findings also suggest that SH-HCC may have reduced responsiveness to certain therapies, highlighting the need for tailored treatment strategies.

Prior endoscopic surveillance and diagnosis of Barrett-related dysplasia and cancer: evidence from a nationwide Dutch cohort

Sep 21, 2026

The authors aimed to determine the role of prior endoscopic surveillance in the diagnosis of dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). They found that 90% of patients diagnosed with Barrett-related dysplasia or cancer had not undergone prior endoscopy, indicating a significant gap in early detection through surveillance. This highlights the need for improved screening strategies to enhance early diagnosis and patient outcomes.

Hospitalisation in cirrhosis is linked to distinct gut microbiome structural and functional profiles: a multinational metagenomic study

Sep 21, 2026

The authors aimed to determine whether gut microbiome profiles could predict 90-day hospitalisation risk in outpatients with cirrhosis, beyond traditional clinical variables. They found that specific bacterial species and functional alterations in the microbiome were associated with increased hospitalisation risk, and a combined clinical-microbiome model significantly improved prediction accuracy. This study highlights the potential of gut microbiome analysis as a valuable prognostic tool in managing cirrhosis.

High rates of transition to immune active disease in a cohort of strictly defined immune tolerant patients with chronic hepatitis B: results from the RADICAL consortium

Sep 18, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the natural history of immune tolerant (IT) patients with chronic hepatitis B, specifically assessing the risk of transitioning to immune active (IA) disease, fibrosis progression, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their findings revealed that over half of the IT patients transitioned to IA disease within five years, with a notable association between high-normal ALT levels and increased risk of this transition, while the risks of significant fibrosis and HCC remained low. This suggests that IT patients, particularly those with elevated ALT, may require closer monitoring or pre-emptive therapy.

A durably colonising engineered native symbiont enables sustained intestinal delivery for metabolic dysfunction and colitis

Sep 18, 2026

The authors aimed to develop a safety-optimized native bacterial chassis, specifically engineered murine *Escherichia coli* strain MEc30, for long-term gut colonization and sustained therapeutic delivery to address metabolic dysfunction and colitis. Their findings demonstrate that MEc30 can achieve lifelong intestinal colonization without disturbing host physiology, while effectively delivering nicotinic acid and interleukin-10 to improve metabolic health and alleviate inflammation in mouse models. This study suggests that engineered native symbionts like MEc30 could serve as a viable long-acting biotherapeutic strategy for chronic intestinal and metabolic diseases.

Coordinated cellular programmes distinguish responses to neoadjuvant PD-L1 blockade and potentiate combinatorial immunotherapy in ESCC

Sep 18, 2026

The authors investigate the mechanisms and immune features that influence the response to neoadjuvant PD-L1 blockade in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). By analyzing single-cell and spatial transcriptomes, they identify specific cellular programmes linked to treatment efficacy and highlight the role of lymphocyte activation gene 3 as a potential target to enhance responses in non-responders. Their findings aim to inform personalized immunotherapy strategies for ESCC.

Eosinophilic gastritis: burden of disease, diagnostic challenges and unmet needs

Sep 18, 2026

The authors investigate the burden of eosinophilic gastritis (EoG), a rare chronic condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration in the stomach, and the challenges associated with its diagnosis and treatment. They highlight the need for better understanding and management options, as current therapies are inadequate and there are no approved treatments available. The paper also emphasizes the potential of ongoing clinical studies of biologics to improve patient outcomes in EoG.

Impact of non-enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (NEPERT) on pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis: a double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, randomised trial

Sep 16, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of non-enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (NEPERT) on pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study found no significant differences in pain improvement between the NEPERT and placebo groups at both 12 and 24 weeks, although a higher proportion of participants in the NEPERT group reported painful days at 12 weeks. Overall, NEPERT did not demonstrate efficacy in reducing pain compared to placebo in this patient population.

Longitudinal gut microbiome dynamics during immunotherapy identify microbial features of clinical benefit in advanced primary liver cancer

Sep 16, 2026

The authors aimed to characterize the dynamics of the gut microbiome during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in patients with advanced primary liver cancer and to assess whether these on-treatment microbial changes could enhance the predictive power of pretreatment biomarkers. Their findings revealed significant ecological remodelling of the gut microbiome during treatment, with a specific 16-species panel identified that improved the stratification of patient outcomes across multiple cohorts. This study suggests that monitoring gut microbiome changes during therapy can provide valuable insights for optimizing immunotherapy strategies.