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Featured MASLD/MASH Educators

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Gabriella McCarty

NP-C

Gabriella McCarty is a gastroenterology/hepatology nurse practitioner. She obtained her masters and nurse practitioner degree at Case Western Reserve University in 2004. She has been practicing in this field for 26 years. She serves as faculty for Gastroenterology/ Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers (GHAPP) and is an American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) committee member, serving on the education subcommittee. She will be completing her doctorate of nursing in May 2025. She loves all aspects of GI / Hepatology, education and nursing.

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Alison Moe

PA-C

Alison S. Moe, MS, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant specializing in gastroenterology at United Digestive's Braselton office in Hoschton, Georgia. She earned her Master of Science in Medical Education from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Anthropology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Alison is fluent in Spanish and has a special interest in treating irritable bowel syndrome and liver disease. With almost two decades of experience as a Physician Assistant, Alison has developed a strong foundation in both clinical practice and research, particularly in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. Alison's dedication to patient care includes extensive clinical hours, allowing her to cultivate deep relationships with patients as well as national experts caring for individuals, especially those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and advanced liver disease. Alison's commitment to advancing the understanding and treatment of these conditions drives my clinical practice and ongoing research efforts, aiming to provide the highest standard of care for my patients.

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Christie Morrison

AGACNP-BC

Christie Morrison is a Board Certified Adult Advanced Practice Nurse and Lead APP at Oshi Health, a digital digestive health practice and IBD APP at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants in San Antonio, Texas. She strives to improve the lives of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions through a multidisciplinary approach. She has worked in various roles as a GI advanced practice provider, including inpatient, outpatient clinic, and telehealth since 2015. Mrs. Morrison is currently an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology where she is serving on the Editorial Board. She is also a member of several GI societies, including TSGE, AGA, ASGE, and GHAPP. Christie was recently honored with the ACG APP Clinical Excellence Award for community practice. She collaborates with industry partners and GI colleagues to enhance education and engagement for APPs working in Gastroenterology. She strives to improve the quality of life and better patient outcomes in all chronic GI conditions and believes that providing resources to her peers through education can help her achieve this goal.

MASLD/MASH Learning Center

Latest News & Blogs

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Ameliorate Liver Fibrosis by Phosphorylating Hepatic Stellate Cell Forkhead Box Protein O1

August 2025

CONCLUSIONS: MCFAs, particularly C10, may modulate hHSC transcriptional inactivation through phosphorylation of the Akt-FOXO1 pathway. This mechanism of regulating the hHSC function via C10 might represent a novel therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis.

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Resmetirom and thyroid hormone receptor-targeted treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a rapidly increasing chronic disease worldwide, particularly among patients with type 2 diabetes. Its severe form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is also on the rise. The treatment of MASLD and MASH poses significant challenges. Thyroid hormones and their receptors (TR) agonists, especially resmetirom, have shown potential in improving metabolism and reducing liver inflammation. Thyroid hormones play a...

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microRNA-21 promotes dysregulated lipid metabolism and hepatocellular carcinoma

August 2025

CONCLUSIONS: Here we characterize microRNA dysregulation in MASH and MASH-HCC in patients, identify miR-21 as increasingly dysregulated from MASH to MASH-HCC, and delineate the impacts of miR-21 overexpression on lipid metabolism and hepatocarcinogenesis in zebrafish β-catenin-driven HCC. This study shows that miR-21, which is similarly dysregulated in human and zebrafish HCC, promotes lipid metabolic changes that may help drive hepatocarcinogenesis.

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Gut microbes mediate the synergistic effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat in driving fibrosing MASH

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects approximately one-third of the global population and can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with fibrosis, increasing risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality. Gut microbes driven by diets high in saturated fat, simple sugar, and cholesterol contribute to disease progression, yet underlying mechanisms remain undefined. We explored the independent and synergistic effects of...

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beta-elemene ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by targeting PPARalpha in experimental diet-induced models

August 2025

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our studies reveal that ELE is a novel stabiliser of PPARα, effectively inhibiting its ubiquitin-mediated degradation in MASH. By preserving the PPARα signalling pathway, ELE enhances lipid homeostasis and relieves the inflammation. Therefore, ELE holds significant potential as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of MASH.

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Molecular spectroscopy of blood plasma differentiates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis from steatosis

August 2025

CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study revealed the potential of blood plasma spectroscopy to identify and differentiate patients with various stages of MASLD.

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FGF21 Analogues and MASLD: A Summary of Preclinical and Clinical Data

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is the most frequent chronic liver disease, which is closely associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity. Although it has now reached epidemic proportions, the treatment of this disease remains a challenge. Currently, there is only one drug approved for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and various pharmaceutical agents have reached phase 3 of clinical trials and appear as potential drugs for the disease....

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Discovery of Highly Potent, Selective, and Liver-Targeted THR-beta Agonists for the Treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis

August 2025

With the improvement of living standards, metabolic-disorder-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has posed a serious threat to public health. In 2024, THR-β agonist Resmetirom was approved by the FDA as the first market drug for the treatment of MASH. In this work, we discovered a new class of THR-β agonists through structure-based rational design. Compound 12 exhibited much higher agonistic activity (EC(50) = 11.0 nM) and higher selectivity for THR-β over THR-α (THR-β/α = 34.1) compared to the...

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A Perfect MASH Comparing Resmetirom and GLP-1 Agonists for Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis: What Does the Current Evidence Suggest?

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease recently due to the rise of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. It will continue to have a major impact on health care systems globally given its association with cardiovascular disease and liver-related complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, promising pharmacotherapies have emerged to address MASLD and fibrosis,...

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Loss of Hepatocyte-Specific RECK Exacerbates Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) continues to be a major health crisis worldwide due to increases in obesity and insulin resistance. The role of the extracellular matrix regulator REversion Inducing Cysteine Rich Protein With Kazal Motifs (RECK) in metabolic liver disease is poorly understood. We previously reported that RECK gain-of-function, specifically in hepatocytes, protects against diet-induced MASH. Here, we hypothesized that hepatocyte-specific RECK...

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Development of AI Based Fibrosis Detection Algorithm by SHG/TPEF Microscopy for Fully Quantified Liver Fibrosis Assessment in MASH

August 2025

CONCLUSIONS: This AI-driven approach enables accurate, continuous quantification of liver fibrosis, overcoming the variability of traditional histopathology. The qFibrosis model has potential as a standardised tool for therapeutic evaluation and disease monitoring in MASLD/MASH, representing a significant advancement in liver fibrosis assessment.

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The Heart of the Matter: A Case of Massive Pedal Edema Erroneously Attributed to Liver Cirrhosis

August 2025

Liver cirrhosis is commonly diagnosed with etiologies such as viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, less common causes should be considered, especially in atypical presentations or suboptimal treatment responses. A 67-year-old man presented with massive bilateral pedal edema unresponsive to furosemide. He had well-controlled diabetes and hypertension but no history of alcohol use. Laboratory tests showed...

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Prospects of Late-Stage Development Agents in the Treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a spectrum of pathology involving fatty liver disease that may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. The prevalence of MASLD and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) continues to increase, mirroring the rise in global prevalence of related comorbidities such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Due to the alarming rise of these comorbidities, a greater proportion of...

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Ubiquitination and ubiquitin-like modifications in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: mechanisms and implications

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a complex metabolic disorder that encompasses a spectrum of conditions, from simple hepatic steatosis to metabolicassociated steatohepatitis (MASH). MASH is characterized by inflammation and accelerated fibrosis progression, which can ultimately lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Given its steadily increasing prevalence, MASLD has emerged as a global health epidemic. Significantly, MASLD represents a stage where...

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Analysis and verification of potential ferroptosis-related diagnostic markers in the early stage of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is currently the fastest-growing cause of liver-related deaths. Intervention in the early stage of MASH will effectively reverse the condition and avoid huge health and economic burdens. To date, our understanding of MASH remains quite limited. Its pathogenesis remains not fully understood, and effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools are lacking. Although ferroptosis is closely related to MASH and seen as a promising target, its exact...

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Sex and gender differences in metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease

August 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most prevalent cause for chronic liver disease globally, with a rising incidence of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and its complications. This review examines the critical role of sex and gender in MASLD/MASH prevalence, progression and clinical outcomes. Biological sex affects MASLD significantly with males exhibiting higher rates of downstream...

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Targeting Myeloid Trem2 Reprograms the Immunosuppressive Niche and Potentiates Checkpoint Immunotherapy in NASH-Driven Hepatocarcinogenesis

August 2025

Macrophages expressing Trem2 play a pivotal role in promoting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, MASH) progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the widespread clinical use of anti-PD1 immune checkpoint blockade, its therapeutic efficacy in NASH-driven HCC remains suboptimal. This study investigates the mechanisms by which NAM Trem2 influences the response of NASH-driven HCC to immunotherapy. Clinical analysis...

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Association of Clinical, Psychosocial, and Social Determinants of Health Factors and Liver Transplantation and Waitlist Removal for MASH

August 2025

CONCLUSIONS: Rates of LT and LT waitlist removal did not significantly differ by MASH etiology, though patients with MASH were significantly more likely to die on the LT waitlist. There continue to be SDOH factors associated with rates of LT, with male sex and employment independently conferring higher odds of access to LT.

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Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer in a Patient With Rectal Varices Secondary to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis-Related Cirrhosis: A Case Report

August 2025

Rectal varices (RVs) are a known complication of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis; however, the coexistence of rectal cancer and RVs in the setting of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-related cirrhosis is rare. Herein, we report the successful laparoscopic management of rectal cancer complicated by RVs in an 80-year-old woman with Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis. A colonoscopy revealed rectal adenocarcinoma with surrounding varices. Given the patient's...

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Repeatability and reproducibility of artificial imaging based digital pathology for the evaluation of liver fibrosis

August 2025

CONCLUSION: The qFibrosis system has good repeatability and reproducibility for fibrosis staging. It can provide an accurate reference for pathologists to stage liver fibrosis more objectively.

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