A new scoring system defines patients who achieve the most benefit from TACE treatment, differentiating those who may benefit from repeat sessions and those who are unlikely to respond. This finding presents a challenge for the design of phase III trials for intermediate-stage HCC.
A study found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent predictor of early atherosclerosis and 10-year cardiovascular risk. Patients with NAFLD had higher carotid intima-media thickness and Framingham score, indicating increased cardiovascular risk.
A recent mouse study published at the International Liver Congress 2013 suggests that regular exercise can significantly reduce the risk of developing liver cancer. The study found that mice fed a high-fat diet and subjected to regular exercise had a 71% lower incidence of tumours larger than 10mm compared to sedentary mice.
New data from clinical trials demonstrate substantial improvements in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) using urinary metabolite profiles. The tests show higher sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional methods, offering hope for early detection and improved survival rates.
Researchers have made progress in targeting cccDNA using novel therapeutic approaches, including liver regeneration and epigenetic control. Studies show that inducing hepatocyte turnover and blocking cell entry can accelerate the clearance of viral minichromosomes.
Research revealed a significant increase in chronic liver disease risk among women with high BMI and heavy alcohol intake. Women are twice as sensitive to alcohol-related liver damage, and low BMI combined with high alcohol consumption poses greater risks.
A new study at the International Liver Congress found that probiotics reduced the development of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients by 50% over nine months. Probiotics work by reducing ammonia production in the gut, a key mediator of cerebral dysfunction.
Beta-blockers reduce portal hypertension, gastrointestinal permeability, and bacterial translocation in patients with cirrhosis. Non-invasive techniques like spleen stiffness predict clinical complications.
Recent studies demonstrate encouraging data for direct-acting antiviral agents in a wide range of HCV patient populations. The trials showed high SVR12 rates and low adverse events, with some regimens achieving up to 90% success rate, offering new treatment options for patients with genotype 1, 4, 5, or 6.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive test for diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more advanced form of NAFLD. The phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) technique shows fair diagnostic accuracy for NASH and could improve clinical procedures.
Researchers have identified a gene variant ID associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diagnosis, including steatosis, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis. The study suggests that screening for this variant could lead to earlier detection and improved management of NAFLD.
A large-scale Danish study has found a positive link between childhood obesity and the development of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) in adulthood. The study monitored over 165,000 participants and found that as BMI increased during childhood, so did the risk of developing HCC.
Recent clinical trials show promise for treating previously difficult to treat HCV patients, including those co-infected with HIV, and immunosuppressant-free treatment options like TMC435. New findings indicate higher SVR24 rates with addition of Boceprevir to PegIFN-α-2b and RBV.
Studies reveal the significant financial cost of liver disease in Europe, with hospitalisations accounting for 50.6% of direct costs per month. Moreover, acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) has a high short-term mortality rate of 35.5%, emphasizing the need for better diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies.
The EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on Alcoholic Liver Disease provide recommendations for managing alcohol abuse and dependence, diagnosing liver diseases, and treating patients with ALD. The guidelines also identify areas for future research, including clinical trials.
A US study demonstrates that hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication can be limited by innate immune responses in murine cells. Inactivating these pathways and expressing entry factors enables infection and support of HCV replication.
Researchers identified stem cells in gallbladder tissue with the ability to repopulate injured livers and improve synthetic functions. These cells hold promise for treating various liver and metabolic diseases, including diabetes.
A study presented at the International Liver Congress 2012 suggests that gut microbiota transplantation can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study found that transplanting microbiota from healthy mice prevented insulin resistance and liver inflammation in germ-free mice.
Activated CD14+Trem-1+iNOS+ intestinal macrophages increase NO production, leading to enhanced intestinal permeability and bacterial product translocation. This upregulation contributes to the development of decompensated liver cirrhosis.
The study reveals that gut microbiota modulates bile acid synthesis by altering the bile acid pool composition, reducing FXR inhibition in the small intestine.
Recent clinical trials confirm that combinations of antivirals can provide a more effective treatment with fewer side effects. The new therapies target genotypes 1, 2, or 3 and include direct-acting antivirals and host-targeting antivirals.
The EASL-EORTC joint Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide best practice recommendations for surveillance, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies. The guidelines aim to improve access to effective interventions for patients with HCC, an increasing global health burden.
The guidelines describe best practice for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Wilson's disease, a rare genetic disorder that can cause liver failure and brain damage. Treatment options include chelating agents and zinc, with prolonged survival becoming the norm for patients.
A new study presents exciting data showing that quadruple therapy can achieve a 100% sustained virological response (SVR) rate in HCV patients who have failed previous treatments. This breakthrough could mark the next generation of HCV treatment and provide new hope for thousands of patients worldwide.
A new study found thalidomide significantly increased two-year disease-free survival rate (65%) compared to placebo (33%). However, overall survival rates were comparable between treatment groups. This finding provides new hope for difficult-to-treat liver cancer patients.
Researchers have successfully infected and replicated swine hepatitis E virus in human hepatocytes, confirming its zoonotic potential. This breakthrough verifies the infectious disease can be transmitted from animals to humans., Hepatitis E is a major cause of epidemic and acute sporadic hepatitis worldwide.
Researchers present promising entry inhibitors, a new mechanism of action for treating viral hepatitis B and D infections. These drugs could provide the first new treatments in many years and have shown high effectiveness against HBV infection, reducing markers by 90%.
New data show that NAFLD prevalence in the US is expected to increase by 50% by 2030, driven by rising obesity and diabetes rates. The condition can progress to advanced liver disease, significantly impacting mortality rates.
Rapid resistance to novel antiviral therapy develops in response to direct antiviral drugs for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. New HCV treatments face resistance concerns, experts advise careful prescription and monitoring to minimize rapid development. NS3-protease and NS5A inhibitors block essential enzymes for HCV replication.
PegIFN-lambda demonstrates better rapid and complete virological responses than PegIFN-alpha-2a in HCV patients, with fewer side effects. The new therapy holds promise as a future standard of care for chronic HCV treatment.
Researchers successfully reprogrammed diseased human hepatocytes into induced pluripotent stem cells, offering a potentially unlimited source for liver disease treatment. This breakthrough could enable the generation of genetically corrected liver cells via auto-transplantation, avoiding liver transplants and immunosuppression.
Two new studies provide encouraging results on liver transplant donation after cardiac death, showing positive outcomes and viable options for expanding the pool of available organs. The findings suggest that organ allocation policies should be considered on a like-for-like basis to optimize outcomes for patients.
Activated NK cells can excessively down-modulate the antiviral immune response in chronic HBV patients. Blocking the TRAIL pathway partially reconstitutes HBV-specific T cells, suggesting their vulnerability to apoptosis through this death ligand pathway.
In vivo RNAi screening reveals new key players controlling hepatocyte proliferation and regenerative capacity. The study demonstrates increased repopulation efficiency and regenerative capacity in chronically damaged mouse livers after stable knockdown of candidate genes.
Clinical trials confirm efficacy and safety of new protease inhibitors in combination with PegIFN-alpha and ribavirin for HCV patients who have previously failed therapy. The treatments demonstrated good response rates at key timepoints and remarkably high sustained viral response rates.
Researchers have made significant progress in developing a vaccine against viral hepatitis C, with encouraging immunogenicity and safety profiles shown in phase I trials. The vaccine has induced strong T-cell responses in both treatment-naive patients and healthy volunteers.
A recent study found that using acute kidney injury (AKIN) criteria in hospitalized cirrhotic patients can predict outcomes and improve diagnosis. The AKIN criteria is more sensitive than current definitions, considering a ≥50% increase in serum creatinine within 48 hours as renal failure. This may lead to better management of health s...
A new study confirms fluvastatin's antiviral activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C, improving EVR and SVR rates when used with pegylated Interferon-alpha and ribavirin. The findings suggest lipid-lowering drugs like fluvastatin may complement standard HCV treatment.
New modeling studies support EU policy efforts to address HCV-related morbidity and mortality. With ambitious policies, HCV-related mortality could decrease by up to 12% over nine years, corresponding to a relative impact of 117% compared to current practice.
New data reveals novel lymphocyte-hepatocyte interactions regulated by HCV, affecting CD4+ T-cell trafficking and cytokine expression. This understanding may influence anti-viral immune responses and chronic HCV replication.
A double-blind parallel group study of 59 patients showed significant reductions in alkaline phosphatase levels with Obeticholic Acid, a novel bile acid receptor agonist. The results suggest that OCA may be an effective treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis, particularly at the 10mg dose.
A European-wide retrospective analysis found both D-penicillamine and trientine to be effective treatments for Wilson disease, providing positive survival rates in patients free from a liver transplant. The study showed that over 98% of patients did not require liver transplantation.
The European Association for the Study of the Liver has released clinical practice guidelines for managing ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis. The guidelines aim to improve disease outcomes and symptoms for cirrhotic patients.
A dual FXR and TGR5 agonist decreases liver damage and modulates hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of PSC. FXR and TGR5 agonists regulate bile acids, glucose, lipids and inflammation.
A phase II study found GS-9450 significantly reduces levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The treatment also showed promising results in terms of tolerability profile, suggesting its potential as a new treatment option for NASH.
A German study found that high dose UDCA was not superior to placebo in treating NASH, but showed promise in a subgroup of mildly overweight male patients. This result is significant as the incidence of NASH is increasing with rising obesity levels.
A large patient cohort study found that genomic-based portraits can predict liver cancer recurrence. Two gene signatures were identified to identify patients with poor disease outcomes, enabling preventive therapies. The study also highlights potential therapeutic targets for adjuvant treatment following surgical intervention.
Researchers found that between 93 and 100% of treatment-naïve G1 HCV patients achieved a sustained virologic response after 24 weeks of treatment if they had a fast antiviral response to Telaprevir and Peginterferon. The study showed that a twice daily dose of Telaprevir was as effective as three times a day.
Two studies presented at the International Liver Congress 2010 found that extracorporeal liver support therapy may not improve overall survival, but shows positive effects on dialysis and severe hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. A significant survival benefit was observed in patient subgroups with hepatorenal syndrome ...
Results from two French studies presented at the International Liver CongressTM 2010 show that early liver transplantation can be proposed to non-respondents to steroids, while treatment with combined corticoids plus N-acetyl cysteine (C+NAC) increases survival rates in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis. The studies add to growin...