Focused Study Groups/Mini-symposia 

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Focused Study Groups

Focused Study Group 1 – Primary Prophylaxis of Variceal Hemorrhage in Children: Can We Really Do a Randomized Trial?
Monday, November 2
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Moderators: Simon C. Ling, MBChB, MRCP and Kathleen B. Schwarz, MD

This session will facilitate detailed discussion about the feasibility of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial of primary prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage in children, including appropriate study design, identification of obstacles to the successful completion of such a trial, and practical lessons from adult studies.

Goals and Objectives:

• The objective of this session is to facilitate detailed discussion of the feasibility of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial of primary prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage in children, including appropriate study design, identification of obstacles to the successful completion of such a trial and practical lessons from adult studies.

Program
7:00 – 7:05 pm	Introduction
7:05 – 7:25 pm	Diagnosis and Natural History of Varices in Children	Simon C, Ling, MBChB
7:25 – 7:35 pm	Discussion
7:35 – 7:55 pm	Prophylaxis with beta-blockers in Children	Benjamin L. Shneider, MD
7:55 – 8:05 pm	Discussion
8:05 – 8:25 pm	Prophylaxis with EVL in Children	Patrick J. McKiernan, MB BCh
8:25 – 8:35 pm	Discussion
8:35 – 8:55 pm	Lessons from Adult Primary Prophylaxis Clinical Trials	Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao, MD
8:55 – 10:00 pm	Discussion and Wrap-up

Focused Study Group 2 – Cellular Targets of Lipotoxicity in NAFLD
Monday, November 2
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Moderators: Gyorgy Baffy, MD, PhD; Stephen H. Caldwell, MD; and Stephen A. Harrison, MD

This activity will review cutting-edge research on the role of hepatocellular lipotoxicity in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The agenda follows cellular sites and organelles involved in the disease process.

Goals and Objectives:

• Understand the role of lipid metabolism abnormalities in the pathophysiology of NAFLD.
• Identify novel molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular lipotoxicity that promote the progression of steatosis into steatohepatitis.
• Effect of plasma membrane integration and immune recognition of altered lipids (e.g., oxidized LDL) on hepatocellular injury.
• Effect of lipid-derived fuel oversupply and cholesterol build-up on mitochondrial respiration and oxidant production.
• Link between the unfolded protein response (ER stress) and fatty acid synthesis in steatohepatitis (e.g., role of XBP1 protein).
• Role of perilipins (e.g., adipophilin) in cytoplasmic lipid droplet formation and hepatocellular lipid accumulation.
• Review indications and limitations of the rapidly emerging lipidomic techniques and assess usefulness in predicting progressive liver disease in NAFLD.

Program
7:00 – 7:10 pm	Introduction
7:10 – 7:40 pm	Plasma Membrane: Altered Lipid Composition and Recognition	Timothy Billiar, MD
7:40 – 8:10 pm	Mitochondria: Burning Questions, Building Answers	John J. Lemasters, MD, PhD
8:10 – 8:40 pm	Endoplasmic Reticulum: Unfolding Stress	David E. Cohen, MD, PhD
8:40 – 9:10 pm	Lipophagy:A New Regulator of Hepatocyte Lipid Content	Mark J. Czaja, MD
9:10 – 9:40 pm	Lipidomics in NAFLD: An Overview	Jacquelyn J. Maher, MD
9:40 – 9:55 pm	Panel Discussion
9:55 – 10:00 pm	Concluding Remarks

Focused Study Group Registration Rates	Advance	Regular
Focused Study Group 1
Member	$70	$100
Non-Member	$100	$125
Focused Study Group 2
Member	$70	$100
Non-Member	$70	$125

Note: Space is limited to 50 participants per session. Admittance is first-come, first-served. Preference will be given to AASLD members.

Mini-symposia

Mini-symposium 1 – Diagnosis and Treatment of Very Early-stage HCC
Monday, November 2
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Moderator: Morris Sherman, MD, PhD  

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising in the U.S. and elsewhere.  This rise is projected to continue over the next decades. The increasingly widespread practice of surveillance for HCC using ultrasound has led to the identification of very small lesions in the liver which must be confidently diagnosed as HCC or not.  In addition, since the publication of the AASLD HCC guidelines, advances in both imaging and treatment of early stage tumors have enhanced our ability to diagnose these lesions.  However, the existence of these early lesions is not well known among any of the clinical, pathology, or radiology communities.  In addition, there is little unanimity about treatment.  This symposium will aim to increase awareness of these early lesions and provide the most up-to-date state of diagnosis and treatment of very early-stage HCC.

Goals and Objectives:

• Review the existing literature on the radiologic and pathologic diagnosis of early-stage HCC and recognize the radiological and pathological characteristics of very early HCC.
• Understand the necessity of early treatment of these lesions and what treatments might be offered.   
  

Program
7:00 – 7:05 pm	Introduction
7:05 – 7:35 pm	Very Early HCC: Carcinoma in Situ or Established HCC	Tania Roskams, MD, PhD
7:35 – 7:45 pm	Discussion
7:45 – 8:15 pm	Radiological Appearance of Very Early HCC	Masatoshi Kudo, MD, PhD
8:15 – 8:25 pm	Discussion
8:25 – 8:55 pm	Modeling Best Practice to Treat Small HCC	Murray Krahn, MD
8:55 – 9:05 pm	Discussion
9:05 – 9:35 pm	Very Early HCC: Resection, Local Ablation or Transplantation	Morris Sherman, MD, PhD
9:35 – 10:00 pm	Discussion and Wrap-up

Mini-symposium 2 – Antifibrotic Therapy: Translation into the Clinic
Monday, November 2
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Moderators: Scott L. Friedman MD and Detlef Schuppan MD, PhD

This mini-symposium examines the possibility of bringing antifibrotic therapies into the clinic. Cutting-edge translational developments and expert views will presented. These will serve as basis for an interdisciplinary discussion between basic researchers, clinician scientists, and representatives of industry and the FDA. The final aim is to better define and reach a consensus on the goals of antifibrotic therapy, the requirements for useful antifibrotic drugs, current standards of preclinical and clinical antifibrotic drug evaluation, and future strategies to speed up the development and clinical validation of effective antifibrotics.

Program
7:00 – 7:05 pm	Introduction	Hal Yee, MD
7:05 – 7:25 pm	In vitro and in vivo models	Scott L. Friedman, MD
7:25 – 7:35 pm	Questions
7:35 – 7:55 pm	Defining the targets	Massimo Pinzani, MD
7:55 – 8:05 pm	Questions
8:05 – 8:15 pm	Break
8:15 – 8:40 pm	Feasibility of fibrosis/cirrhosis reversal	John Iredale, MD
8:40 – 8:50 pm	Questions
8:50 – 9:15 pm	Translation into the clinic	Detlef Schuppan, MD
9:15 – 9:25 pm	Questions
9:25 – 10:00 pm	Panel/Audience Discussion

Mini-symposium 3 – Recent Advances in the Management of Minimal and Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy: Are We There Yet?
Monday, November 2
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Moderators: Jasmohan Bajaj, MD and Kevin D. Mullen, MD

The overarching purpose of this program is to provide a cutting-edge, detailed understanding of recent advances and research into the impact of overt and minimal HE and the management options in affected individuals. There is an immense interest in the therapy and diagnosis of HE, especially minimal HE, as evidenced by the recent publications and controversies regarding detection and the medico-legal aspects of this issue. In addition, there has not been a systematic review of this rapidly evolving field by the AASLD within the last decade.  This program is distinctive because it incorporates clinical and translational science with a case-based format that will engender a keen debate about both clinical and research issues. The focus of this mini-symposium will be on clinical knowledge with a translational focus in every aspect.

Goals and Objectives:

• Understand the impact of overt and minimal hepatic encephalopathy on patients with cirrhosis and the importance of an accurate diagnosis of these entities.
• Understand the advances in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, including the role of sepsis and inflammation.
• Understand the latest evidence and evolution of therapeutic and research strategies for hepatic encephalopathy, including newer agents, probiotics, and dietary management.
  

Program
7:00 – 7:10 pm	Introduction	Jasmohan Bajaj, MD
7:10 – 7:35 pm	Case of Typical Overt HE and New Insights into the Pathogenesis of HE	Juan Cordoba, MD
7:35 – 8:05 pm	Case with Driving Issues Current Relevance of MHE and its Medicolegal Implications	Jasmohan Bajaj, MD
8:05 – 8: 35 pm	Case of a Blue Collar Worker’s Problems at Work with MHE What is new for the diagnosis of overt HE and MHE: clinical and neuropsychological aspects	Kevin D. Mullen, MD
8:35 – 8:45 pm	Break
8:45 – 9:10 pm	Case of a Patient who Develops Overt HE after Cellulitis Sepsis, inflammation and HE – new concepts	Debbie L. Shawcross, PhD
9:10 – 9:30 pm	Case of a Patient with Overt HE who wants “Natural Therapies Only” Novel treatment options for overt HE and MHE, including probiotics.	Jasmohan Bajaj, MD
9: 30 – 9: 50 pm	End Points for Trials in MHE and the Evidence For and Against using a “Comparator” Therapy Against New Treatments
9:50 – 10:00 pm	Discussion and Wrap-up

Mini-Symposia Registration Rates	Advance	Regular
Mini-Symposium 1
Member	$65	$115
Non-Member	$90	$115
Mini-Symposium 2
Member	$65	$115
Non-Member	$90	$140
Mini-Symposium 3
Member	$65	$115
Non-Member	$90	$140

Note: Space is limited to 150 participants per session.