Articles tagged with Hepatitis
Researchers found that asymptomatic autoimmune hepatitis patients had lower liver enzyme and IgG antibody levels, but did not differ from symptomatic patients in terms of inflammation. Despite treatment recommendations, most asymptomatic patients do well without immunosuppressive therapy as long as they remain asymptomatic.
Researchers have discovered a new role for NKT cells in the liver, which crawl along vessel walls to detect foreign molecules and trigger an immune response. This finding offers a potential new approach to treating hepatitis by manipulating the NKT cell's behavior and reducing inflammation.
A study in Japan found that consuming raw Japanese deer meat may transmit Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a rare liver disease. The infected deer meat tested positive for HEV RNA, suggesting an animal route of transmission. This discovery adds the Sika deer to the list of foods with a risk of transmitting HEV.
A study found that over 80% of wild rats in the US have HEV antibodies, suggesting they are a natural reservoir for the virus. This raises concerns about the possibility of infected rats transmitting the virus to humans, although experts emphasize there is no evidence of human risk.