Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and pharmaceutical compositions to treat systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition disclosed herein comprises at least two short chain fatty acids or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof in a ratio of at least 4:1. In some embodiments, administering a pharmaceutical composition of the disclosure reduces a level of a cytokine in the subject.

Abstract: A method for identifying individuals at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma is described. The method detects differential patterns of gene expression that are caused by the presence of hepatitis B virus x antigen.

Abstract: Transgenically modified animals which replicate hepatitis viruses are provided for use in evaluating virus-chemical and virus-drug interactions in chronic hepatitis infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the detection of hepatitis B virus in atypical infections by simultaneously detecting antibodies against the X and polymerase gene products of HBV. Further, the present invention provides methods for the detection of HBV in atypical infections in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay employing selected primes. These primers allow the detection of a specific class of HBV variants. These methods are useful for demonstrating the presence of productive virus infection and may prove useful in monitoring therapeutics.