In 2018, the World Journal of Gastroenterology (WJG) has published the 9^th issue which containing 10 articles including 1 review, 8 original articles and 1 case report contributed by scientists worldwide. Among these comprehensive articles are (1) “Quantitative and noninvasive assessment of chronic liver diseases using two-dimensional shear wave elastography”, a review by Tian-An Jiang, MD, PhD, Professor, Surgeon, et al from Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China; (2) “Can bacterial virulence factors predict antibiotic resistant Helicobacter pylori infection?”, a basic study by Sinéad M Smith, PhD, Ussher Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Medicine, et al from Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Centre, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Ireland; and (3) “Four cancer cases after esophageal atresia repair: Time to start screening the upper gastrointestinal tract”, a case report by Manon CW Spaander, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, et al from Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Netherlands, etc. We invite you to peruse all 10 articles in this issue, as they present the latest research progress/findings and provide insightful comments in gastroenterology and hepatology that will guide basic research and clinical practice in these fields.

This journal is an open-access journal which allows free immediate access to all full-text articles. For details, please visit: Volume 24, Issue 9, March 7, 2018.

Figure 1 The cover of the issue. Editorial board member of World Journal of Gastroenterology, Sang Chul Lee, MD, PhD, Chief Doctor, Full Professor, Professor, Surgeon, Surgical Oncologist, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, Daejeon 34943, South Korea

We encourage gastroenterologists and hepatologists worldwide to submit manuscripts to the WJG describing their original basic or clinical research findings that are of high academic value and which report new diagnostic techniques or summarize their treatment experiences.