Articles tagged with Liver
Research suggests that exposure to phthalates, commonly found in everyday items, may increase the risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Higher levels of phthalate exposure were associated with markers of impaired liver function, insulin resistance, and cholesterol in people with obesity and diabetes.
A study of 18 million people across Europe found that people with type 2 diabetes are at particular risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its aggressive form NASH. The study suggests that targeted interventions and treatments can be effective in preventing life-threatening disease progression.
A large-scale study found that adults who engaged in regular walking and strength training had a significantly lower risk of cirrhosis-related death. The researchers observed that even moderate levels of physical activity, such as brisk walking, were associated with substantial reductions in mortality.
A recent study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found a significant association between glyphosate exposure and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in human subjects. The study, led by Paul J. Mills, PhD, examined urine samples from patients with NAFLD and healthy individuals, revealing higher levels of glypho...
Researchers studied 16 donated livers and found significant impacts of race and gender on hepatocyte yield and viability. The findings suggest expanding liver selection criteria for improved therapeutics development and bioengineering applications.
Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University use genome editing to create a human stem cell model of congenital hepatic fibrosis, uncovering molecular players that contribute to the illness. They identify IL-8 and CTGF as key genes involved in the disease's progression.
A study comparing percutaneous liver ablation interventions (IRs) to surgical procedures for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) found IRs had significantly lower inhospital mortality rates and hospitalization costs. IRs were also associated with shorter lengths of stay and a higher routine discharge rate to home.
A team at IRB Barcelona has identified Mitofusin 2 as a protein that protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Early diagnosis and treatment options for this condition are limited, but researchers hope to enhance levels of Mitofusin 2 without side effects.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that liver transplant recipients with alcoholic hepatitis have a comparable alcohol relapse rate regardless of their sobriety period. The study's outcomes support waiving the six-month sobriety requirement for selected patients, promoting equal access to lifesaving transplants.
Rhythmic food intake drives liver gene expression independently of the molecular clock, regulating metabolic pathways and potentially leading to health issues like aging and obesity. The study's findings have implications for understanding circadian biology and the impact of timing on health.
A new study published in the Journal of Hepatology reports that whole-exome sequencing (WES) can diagnose the genetic cause of liver disease in a significant proportion of adult patients. The analysis identified four monogenic disorders in five unrelated adults, enabling new treatment options and shedding light on underlying molecular ...
Researchers found that serum AKR1B10 levels were significantly associated with advanced liver fibrosis stages, particularly stage 4. The protein's origin was confirmed via immunohistochemical staining, and its combination with WFA(+)-M2BP showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting NASH fibrosis and life-threatening events.
Researchers have developed a new method for transporting medicine through the body, using a sliding molecule that can jump between polymers to deliver medication to specific organs. Laboratory tests confirm the model's effectiveness in delivering molecules to gel-like materials.
Two large real-world studies confirm the efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in a broad range of individuals with HCV infection, including those with comorbidities. The treatment showed significant improvements in physical and mental well-being, with high sustained virological response rates.
A study of over 4,000 young adults in the UK found that nearly 20% had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and one in 40 had advanced fibrosis. The condition is linked to obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia, highlighting the need for greater public health awareness.
The Phase 3 REGENERATE study confirms obeticholic acid's effectiveness in treating NASH with liver fibrosis, improving fibrosis in almost one-quarter of recipients. The treatment also shows significant improvements in other histological markers of NASH, including lobular inflammation and hepatocellular ballooning.
Two studies presented at The International Liver Congress highlight the increasing burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people with HIV infection, leading to a risk of progressive liver disease. NAFLD prevalence is higher in HIV-infected individuals than the general population.
Two independent studies found high rates of liver disease progression and mortality among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH), highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment to prevent progression and reduce mortality. Advanced liver diseases progressed in up to 11% o...
A large cohort study in northern England found significant clustering of primary biliary cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis in specific regions. The researchers suggest that exposure to a persistent environmental agent may play a key role in the development of these autoimmune liver diseases.
A new study finds that an enzyme involved in liver function also triggers a protective response when liver cells are damaged. By boosting the levels of this enzyme, researchers hope to develop new treatments for acute liver injury.
A new study suggests that increasing thrombospondin-1 levels may aid liver recovery after acetaminophen overdose. Mice with higher thrombospondin-1 levels showed improved liver function and reduced cell death compared to those without the protein.
Researchers at CNIC have discovered a hormone called adiponectin that protects the liver from liver cancer, which affects more men than women. Adiponectin is produced in higher amounts in women and slim people, with levels declining after puberty in men.
A new study from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research identified a genetic variant associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. This finding is crucial for preventing health complications and reducing the number of patients requiring liver transplants.
Scientists found that platelets play a key role in the development of fatty liver disease and liver cancer. Blocking platelet function or attaching to specific molecular sites may help prevent the condition.
Researchers at UC San Diego identified unique bacterial features in the stool of people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and their twins, allowing for 92% accurate diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. The test also showed promise in detecting previously undiagnosed cases with 87% accuracy.
Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a potential new therapy for liver diseases, finding that the drug sivelestat may effectively lower portal hypertension. The study showed that deposits of fibrin and inflammatory cells contributed to portal hypertension, which was successfully inhibited by sivelestat.
A new study suggests that short-term strength training can improve liver health and blood sugar regulation in obese mice. The findings indicate that strength training may be a fast and effective strategy for reducing the risk of diabetes and fatty liver disease in obesity. However, further research is needed to confirm these results.
A machine learning approach using high-quality animal model data sheds new light on the biology of the liver and kidneys after toxin exposure, revealing nine distinct patterns of response to chemical exposure that may be broadly relevant to studies of human disease. The analysis highlights defense mechanisms and novel biomarkers, provi...
Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have made breakthroughs in treating liver cancer with a combination immunotherapy approach. This therapy successfully suppresses tumor growth and induces complete remission in some mouse models, offering new hope for patients diagnosed with this devastating disease.
The company has isolated rare inhibitory MAbs against CB1 using its MPS Antibody Discovery platform, offering a therapeutic solution for NASH. With over 10 million people affected in the US, this development could bring new hope to those suffering from liver disease and metabolic disorders.
A Michigan State University study found that fibrinogen accumulates in the remaining liver after surgery and triggers platelet activity to aid in regeneration. Low fibrinogen levels are associated with delayed regeneration and dysfunctional livers, making it a potential predictive marker for doctors.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that hepatocytes orchestrate cancer spread to liver by activating protein STAT3, which increases production of SAA proteins. This 'soil' allows cancer cells to 'seed' and establish in the liver.
A new study suggests that glucagon can help regulate insulin action and prevent blood sugar levels from becoming too high. By activating a protein called PGC1A, glucagon can prepare the liver to respond quickly to insulin signals after meals.
Researchers created an engineered human liver tissue model to investigate the effects of RNA interference, a process that can block specific genes in patient's cells. The model successfully tested RNA-based therapies for genetic disorders and infectious diseases, including malaria and liver disorders.
Researchers identified the first genetic defect linked to biliary atresia, a mysterious liver disease causing liver transplantation in children. The study found five patients with disabling mutations in the gene PKD1L1, which was also linked to heterotaxy and congenital heart disease.
Researchers have identified six proteins associated with early-stage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that can progress to end-stage liver cirrhosis. The discovery of protein PIGR as a candidate biomarker for liver damage tests offers a promising new diagnostic tool.
A team of researchers has identified biomarkers in the blood that can predict the accumulation of toxic fats in the liver, a sign of early fatty liver disease. The discovery has the potential to lead to a blood test to detect those at risk of advanced fatty liver disease and could represent a new approach in precision medicine.
Researchers identified a genetic mutation in the PKD1L1 gene linked to Biliary atresia, a devastating condition that affects many children. The study found five patients with two copies of mutations and three additional patients with one mutation, providing new insights into the cause of the disease.
A new study confirms that obesity impairs vitamin D conversion in the liver, affecting its major form in the blood. This finding highlights the need for targeted treatment approaches, such as calcidiol, to address vitamin D insufficiency in obese individuals.
Researchers at TIFR have identified molecular mechanisms that allow the liver to adapt to nutrient intake after fasting. These 'fed-microRNAs' inhibit protein synthesis, maintaining blood glucose levels. The study's findings offer potential therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.
The HOPE in Action Multicenter Liver Study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of transplanting livers from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients. Researchers will monitor participants for signs of organ rejection, failure, and HIV-related complications, as well as track their psychological and social responses.
The study found that livers from older donors (70 and older) decreased in use despite improvements in liver graft loss and death among recipients of these older liver grafts. This suggests it may be reasonable to expand the donor pool with broader use of liver grafts from older donors.
A new study published in the Journal of Hepatology has identified a pathway connecting some antiretroviral (ARV) drugs with liver disease. The research suggests that ARV drugs interact with the pregnane X receptor, stimulating fatty acid uptake and cholesterol synthesis in the liver.
The University of Warwick has identified the enzyme DGAT1, which controls how much fat is added to particles released by the liver. Inhibiting this enzyme allowed scientists to 'slim down' particles and load them with less fat, reducing the amount of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood.
A recent study found that the MELD score does not fully identify patients with life-threatening syndrome ACLF-3, which involves multiple organ-system failures. ACLF-3 patients have a higher risk of being removed from the waitlist or dying while waiting for a transplant.
A randomized clinical study found that a diet low in free sugars significantly improved nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescent boys. The study showed a reduction in NAFLD from 25% to 17% in the intervention group, compared to a 20% reduction in the usual diet group.
The proportion of U.S. liver transplants for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) has doubled in the last 15 years, with a shift away from the six-month abstinence rule contributing to the increase. Despite this, ALD patients still appear to be disadvantaged in transplant access.
Researchers found that a low-sugar diet resulted in significant improvement in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescent boys. The study showed a 31% reduction in liver fat in the low-free sugar diet group compared to the typical diet group.
A 15-year study found a significant increase in US liver transplants for alcohol-associated liver disease, but with lower five-year survival rates compared to other liver conditions. The study suggests changing attitudes towards sobriety length may be driving this trend.
A study found that supplementing mouse moms with nicotinamide riboside increases the quantity and quality of their milk, resulting in long-lasting physical and behavioral advantages in their offspring. The pups benefited from improved metabolic health, better motor coordination, learning and memory, and resilience to stress.
Researchers at UNIST have discovered that endotrophin plays a crucial role in producing a pathological microenvironment in liver tissues of chronic liver disease. ETP levels are associated with metabolic dysfunction and systemic insulin resistance, making it a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target.
A study published in The BMJ found that people with the most common genetic disorder in northern Europe are associated with substantially higher levels of disease than previously thought. The faulty genes often lead to serious health problems, including haemochromatosis and liver disease.
Researchers have developed a new model to study the health effects of metabolic protein AMPK, revealing its potential as a treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other diseases. By activating AMPK in mice with fatty liver disease, scientists found that it lowered liver fat and protected against weight gain and obesity.
Researchers analyzed national data and found that African-American transplant recipients lived 4.75 years longer on average if their livers were donated by someone of the same race. The study suggests a possible way to improve survival rates for this patient population, which typically faces poorer outcomes with liver cancer.
Research suggests that PCSK9 inhibitors can protect against NAFLD by inducing degradation of hepatic HNF1a protein, insulin resistance, and other mechanisms. The use of PCSK9 inhibitors also ameliorates NAFLD independently of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level reduction.
A nurse-led specialist clinic in GP surgeries has been shown to diagnose twice as many cases of liver disease than usual care. Simple tests, such as liver stiffness measurements and blood samples, detected nearly half of the patients as having some form of liver disease, including cirrhosis and fatty liver disease.
A new study by USC researchers reveals that a fatty diet can trigger changes in the immune system leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a serious form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study identified a novel type of reparative macrophage that counteracts inflammation, offering potential pathways for future therapies.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich discovered that immune cells attacking liver sinusoidal endothelial cells disrupts the organ's blood and nutrient supply, leading to overwhelming damage. A new perforin inhibitor agent has been identified to prevent this lethal process.
A new study published in Radiology found that MRI effective for monitoring liver fat levels in obese patients undergoing weight loss treatments. The study assessed liver fat before and after bariatric surgery using quantitative chemical shift-encoded MRI, showing a significant decrease in liver fat content after six to ten months.
Researchers identified optimal recipients for split liver transplants, including children weighing under 10 kilograms and those with rare diseases. Split liver transplants were found to have similar outcomes as whole liver transplants when adjusting for variables such as donor age and recipient health.