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July, 2025
In this insightful video, Jordan Mayberry, a seasoned physician assistant at UT Southwestern in Dallas, explores the complex intersection of alcohol use and metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including its progressive form, MASH. With over 12 years of hepatology experience, Jordan breaks down why accurate assessment of alcohol intake is essential—not just for diagnosis but for guiding patient management. Learn how to use motivational interviewing techniques to respectfully screen for alcohol use, quantify intake effectively, and differentiate between MASLD, MASH, and the emerging diagnosis of MetALD (metabolic dysfunction-associated alcoholic liver disease). Jordan also shares practical tips on managing patients with MASH who drink above recommended thresholds, including behavioral interventions, medications like acamprosate, and referral pathways such as SMART Recovery or addiction psychiatry. The video also highlights how ongoing alcohol use can skew liver function tests (LFTs), distort non-invasive testing (NIT) results like FibroScan or MRE, and potentially affect eligibility for future MASH pharmacotherapies. This session is a must-watch for clinicians aiming to provide holistic, evidence-based care to patients navigating the dual challenges of liver disease and alcohol use.
Related Podcast
Diet and Nutrition: Tailoring Plans for Diverse Populations
July, 2025
In this quick and practical video, Miu Lai Ng, a nurse practitioner at the hepatology clinic at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, shares simple, culturally sensitive, and cost-effective dietary tips to help patients manage fatty liver disease—also known as MASH (metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis). From avoiding white-colored refined carbs like sugar, white rice, and potatoes to smart swaps like oatmeal—rich in soluble fiber and low on the glycemic index—this video emphasizes realistic changes tailored to diverse backgrounds. Miu Lai Ng also covers powerful tools for sticking with a liver-friendly diet, including food tracking apps, photo logging, meal planning tools, and the importance of social support. Plus, she highlights the hidden dangers of liquid calories found in sodas, juices, and bubble tea, which spike liver fat and cost more than you think. Whether you're supporting a patient or managing MASH yourself, this video offers actionable advice that respects both culture and budget—because small changes can lead to big results for your liver and your life.
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LFTs Demystified: A Practical Guide for APPs
July, 2025
In this informative session, Anthony Derencius, PA-C and sub-investigator at Pinnacle Clinical Research, provides a practical and accessible breakdown of liver function tests (LFTs) and liver-associated enzymes, with a focus on their role in diagnosing and monitoring fatty liver disease—including MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). Drawing from years of experience in both general and transplant hepatology, Anthony explains how to interpret key markers like ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and GGT. He emphasizes why elevated or even normal LFTs don’t always tell the whole story, and how a full workup—including viral hepatitis panels, autoimmune markers, alcohol-related labs, imaging, and non-invasive fibrosis assessments—can help uncover the root cause of liver injury. This video also walks viewers through when to consider additional tools like FIB-4, ELF score, FibroScan, or even liver biopsy. Whether you're a primary care provider or hepatology specialist, this session will sharpen your ability to distinguish between benign lab variations and signs of serious liver disease, ultimately supporting earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for your patients.
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Podcast: Liver Model Overview
July, 2025
Join Alison Moe, PA-C with United Digestive, as she walks through a hands-on demonstration using a life-sized liver model to help patients better understand fibrosis and liver disease progression. In this engaging and practical overview, Allison explains how different stages of liver fibrosis—from normal liver to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma—can be felt and visualized using a segmented anatomical model. She shares how this tool enhances patient education during discussions about non-invasive liver testing, such as FibroScan, CAP scores, FIB-4, ELF testing, and more. Designed to support visual learners and improve comprehension of disease state, this video is a valuable resource for clinicians and patients navigating the complexities of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) and its progression to MASH. Learn how tactile and visual teaching aids can bridge the gap between diagnostics and patient understanding in hepatology care.
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Podcast: Viral Hepatitis and MASH/MASLD: Understanding the Connection
June, 2025
In this episode, Patrick Horne, NP from the University of Florida, explores the important connection between viral hepatitis and MASLD/MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease/Steatohepatitis). While patients may present with a presumed diagnosis of MASLD or MASH, Patrick emphasizes the critical need to rule out coexisting liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C. The presence of both metabolic and viral liver diseases can significantly accelerate liver inflammation, fibrosis progression, and ultimately cirrhosis—a concept he explains using the “two-hit” or even “three-hit” theory. Patrick walks through the recommended screening protocols, including one-time HCV testing for all adults over 18 and complete HBV panels to assess for immunity, past exposure, and chronic infection. He stresses that treating viral hepatitis—especially with today's highly effective antivirals—can and should occur alongside lifestyle modification strategies for MASLD/MASH. He also discusses how liver stiffness measurements can be skewed by active inflammation and suggests reassessing fibrosis after treating viral hepatitis. This episode is a must-watch for providers managing patients with liver disease, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, layered diagnostic approach.
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Differentiating Between F3 and F4
July, 2025
In this comprehensive discussion, HoChong Gilles, a nurse practitioner with 25 years of hepatology experience at the Richmond VA Medical Center, explores the critical importance of accurately distinguishing between F3 (advanced fibrosis) and F4 (cirrhosis) in patients with MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). While both stages carry increased risks of liver-specific and overall mortality, Gilles explains that F3 may still be reversible with lifestyle changes or pharmacotherapy, whereas F4 signals irreversible liver damage with heightened risk of complications like portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, and liver cancer. Viewers will gain a deeper understanding of how non-invasive tests—like FIB-4, ELF, FibroScan, and MRE—perform in identifying fibrosis stage, including their limitations and overlaps. Gilles also outlines when to consider liver biopsy, especially in cases with discordant test results, atypical features, or clinical uncertainty. This video emphasizes how staging accuracy informs eligibility for therapies, surveillance strategies like HCC screening, and overall prognosis. Learn how to approach this nuanced distinction in clinical practice and why F3 vs. F4 isn't just semantics—it's a turning point in patient care.
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Podcast: Discordant NITs, the Gray Zone
June, 2025
In this episode, Gabriella McCarty, NP at Northshore Gastroenterology in Cleveland, Ohio, shares her deep clinical insights on the evolving landscape of MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis). With over 26 years of experience in private practice, Gabriella explains that the majority of fatty liver cases she encounters are found incidentally—often during evaluations for unrelated GI issues like GERD or routine colon screenings. She discusses the updated nomenclature from NAFLD to MASLD and outlines the cardiometabolic risk factors that inform diagnosis, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Gabriella emphasizes the importance of non-invasive assessments like FibroScan, FIB-4, ELF testing, and, in select cases, liver biopsy or MR elastography for accurate fibrosis staging. She also highlights the challenges of discordant test results and shares practical strategies for follow-up and monitoring. With a strong focus on lifestyle modification—promoting a Mediterranean diet, targeted weight loss, regular exercise, and alcohol avoidance—this episode provides essential education for providers managing patients with fatty liver disease, even when it's not the primary reason for the visit.
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Discordant NITs, the Gray Zone
July, 2025
Join Lindsay Pratt, PA-C, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Hepatology and Liver Transplant Department, as she unpacks the challenges of interpreting discordant results between non-invasive liver testing tools such as FIB-4 and FibroScan in patients with MASLD and MASH. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Lindsay walks viewers through how age, transaminase levels, platelet count, and patient factors like BMI and fasting status can impact test accuracy and reliability. She emphasizes when to consider advanced diagnostics like MRI elastography (MRE) or liver biopsy, and how to tailor decisions to the individual patient, especially when results don't align. This practical session is ideal for hepatology and GI providers navigating complex liver disease management, and includes tips for communicating test limitations and next steps with patients. Learn how to make informed decisions using non-invasive tests while maintaining patient-centered care in the management of fatty liver disease.
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HCC Surveillance: Implementation in Patients With Advanced Fibrosis/Cirrhosis From MASH
July, 2025
Learn when and how to effectively screen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk, especially those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this informative video, Maribeth Capuno, an adult nurse practitioner at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, shares her clinical approach to early HCC surveillance. While AASLD guidelines recommend screening only after cirrhosis has been diagnosed, Maribeth highlights the growing evidence that patients with stage 3 fibrosis can still develop liver cancer—and why she begins surveillance earlier. She discusses the recommended tools, including liver ultrasound every six months and alpha-fetoprotein testing, and explores practical workflow tips to ensure patients remain adherent. Learn how imaging modalities like MRI and CT with liver protocol, along with tools like LI-RADS and tumor board consultations, contribute to timely and accurate diagnosis. The video also emphasizes key risk factors—such as obesity, diabetes, viral hepatitis, and lifestyle behaviors—and how managing these can help prevent the progression to HCC.
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Podcast: Alcohol and MASLD/MASH: Navigating the Complex Relationship
June, 2025
In this powerful and highly educational episode, Scott Springer, PA-C at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY, explores the complex and often overlooked relationship between alcohol use and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD/MASH). Drawing from his dual expertise in hepatology and addiction medicine, Scott outlines the importance of accurately assessing alcohol use when diagnosing MASLD, MASH, MetALD, or ALD—emphasizing that MASLD and MASH are diagnoses of exclusion and heavily influenced by alcohol consumption thresholds. He discusses best practices for screening, including patient-centered, nonjudgmental interviewing, the use of biomarkers like PEth and urine ethyl glucuronide, and how these tools enhance accuracy and accountability in care. Scott reviews national guidelines that recommend alcohol abstinence for patients with chronic liver disease and presents data showing how even small reductions in alcohol use can significantly lower the risk of cirrhosis. He also unpacks the challenges of interpreting liver tests in patients with ongoing alcohol use, the limitations of non-invasive testing like FibroScan and FIB-4, and how alcohol may disqualify patients from emerging pharmacotherapy such as resmetirom. Finally, he highlights the promising potential of GLP-1 medications in managing both liver fibrosis and alcohol use. This episode is essential listening for hepatology providers, addiction specialists, and any clinician involved in the care of patients with coexisting liver disease and substance use disorders.
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PCP Screening for MASH/MASLD: Identifying At-Risk Patients
July, 2025
In this essential FAQ video, Jennifer Geremia, PA-C, a seasoned gastroenterology provider practicing in Boston, outlines current primary care screening guidelines for identifying patients at risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and MASLD. With nearly two decades of experience caring for GI and liver patients, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of integrating liver health into routine health maintenance—particularly for individuals with type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and related conditions. She reviews practical steps for risk stratification, beginning with FIB-4 scoring using readily available labs, and discusses how to interpret and act on the results, including when to refer for further testing like elastography or ELF testing. Viewers will also gain insight into patient counseling strategies, alcohol intake guidance, and the urgency of acting early—even in asymptomatic patients. This video is a must-watch for primary care clinicians aiming to improve detection and management of MASH and MASLD through evidence-based screening and timely intervention.
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