No abstract

Bayer PLC and BTG PLC.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery datasets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined<5×10−8) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signaling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist.

No abstract

SOC is useful for the differential diagnosis of indeterminate biliary lesions and the treatment of 'difficult' biliary stones. The adequacy of SOC-guided biopsies is related to the number of specimens obtained. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is related to failed cannulation with the SOC system, whereas general anaesthesia is related to adequate visualization.