Abstract: Provided are compositions related to HSD17B13 variants, including nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides related to variants of HSD17B13, and cells comprising those nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides. Also provided are methods related to HSD17B13 variants. Such methods include methods for detecting the presence of the HSD17B13 rs72613567 variant in a biological sample comprising genomic DNA, for detecting the presence or levels of any one of variant HSD17B13 Transcripts C, D, E, F, G, and H, and particularly D, in a biological sample comprising mRNA or cDNA, or for detecting the presence or levels of any one of variant HSD17B13 protein Isoforms C, D, E, F, G, or H, and particularly D, in a biological sample comprising protein. Also provided are methods for determining a subject's susceptibility to developing a liver disease or of diagnosing a subject with liver disease.

Abstract: A game system, incorporating co-existent interaction between a virtual character 20 and a user 10 in the real world, comprising a virtual character 20 in a computer sub-system 12,14 including a computer device 12 and means 38,40,42 for inputting real-world actions of a user in the real world into said sub-system 12,14, whereby actions of a user in the real world, at a pre-chosen real world location 36, other than correlative movements, are recorded and inputted into the computer sub-system and influence the character 20 in the virtual world 16.