Modulating the microbiome in chronic liver diseases - current evidence on the role of fecal microbiota transplantation.

Introduction: The gut microbiota has a complex relationship with the human host and is key to maintaining health. Disruption of the healthy diverse gut microbial milieu plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases including infection (CDI), inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, alcohol-related liver disease and metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is highly effective in treating CDI, though its utility in other diseases is still being explored.

Towards more consistent models and consensual terminology in preclinical research for steatotic liver disease.

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is one of the most prevalent liver conditions globally and a leading cause of liver transplantation, yet therapeutic advances have not kept pace with its major impact on global morbidity and mortality. This underscores the critical importance of developing and refining relevant preclinical animal models. However, preclinical research has faced significant challenges, with concerns about the translational validity of animal models, as findings often fail to accurately reflect human disease.

Noninvasive Monitoring of Steatotic Liver Disease in Western Diet-Fed Obese Mice Using Automated Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography.

Background And Aims: Ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography (SWE) can be used to noninvasively stage hepatopathologies and are widespread in clinical practice. These techniques have recently been adapted for small animal use in a novel 3D in vivo imaging system capable of high-throughput automated scanning. Our goal was to evaluate the feasibility of using this imaging tool in the murine Western diet (WD) model, a highly translatable preclinical model of obesity, metabolic disease and liver fibrosis.

Gut Bacteria in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) poses a significant global public health challenge, with high patient mortality rates and economic burden. The gut microbiome plays an important role in the onset and progression of alcohol-associated liver disease. Excessive alcohol consumption disrupts the intestinal barrier, facilitating the entry of harmful microbes and their products into the liver, exacerbating liver damage.