EXPRESS: Exploring Novel Non-Opioid Pathways and Therapeutics for Pain Relief.

The opioid crisis has highlighted the urgent need for alternative pain management strategies. This review explores novel non-opioid targets and pathways involved in pain modulation, highlighting advancements in understanding and therapeutic potential. Pain, a multifaceted phenomenon with nociceptive, neuropathic, and inflammatory components, involves intricate molecular signaling cascades.

Hepatocellular RECK as a Critical Regulator of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis Development.

Background & Aims: Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) is an extracellular matrix regulator with anti-fibrotic effects. However, its expression and role in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and hepatic fibrosis are poorly understood.

Methods: We generated a novel transgenic mouse model with RECK overexpression specifically in hepatocytes to investigate its role in Western diet (WD)-induced liver disease.

Relationship between serum β-hydroxybutyrate and hepatic fatty acid oxidation in individuals with obesity and NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excess lipid accumulation that can progress to inflammation (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH), and fibrosis. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), a product of the ketogenic pathway, is commonly used as a surrogate marker for hepatic fatty acid oxidation (FAO). However, it remains uncertain whether this relationship holds true in the context of NAFLD in humans.

Hypoalbuminemia as a risk factor for complications in revisional/conversional bariatric surgery: an MBSAQIP analysis.

Background: Hypoalbuminemia (HA) is a risk factor for serious complications after elective bariatric surgery. Patients undergoing revisional/conversional bariatric surgery may represent a higher-risk group who often have underlying co-morbid medical illnesses and more complex surgery.

Objectives: This study investigated the postoperative complications in patients with HA undergoing revisional/conversional bariatric surgery.