Articles tagged with Liver
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that chronic alcohol use impairs gut bacterial regulation. This allows bacteria to migrate to the liver, worsening ALD. Targeting this mechanism with existing drugs may provide a new approach to minimizing liver damage from alcohol use.
Transthyretin amyloidosis has transitioned from a fatal underdiagnosed disease to one with multiple effective treatment avenues, including gene editing and targeted therapies that have shown significant improvements in neuropathy scores and quality of life. Ongoing clinical trials aim to halt and potentially reverse disease progression.
In acute liver failure and cirrhosis, adrenomedullin increases in circulating monocytes, while adrenomedullin binding protein decreases, leading to a pro-inflammatory phenotype. ADM restores MerTK expression after LPS stimulation, promoting a pro-restorative function.
The study demonstrates that modulating the vagus nerve can effectively halt the progression of cachexia, enhance chemotherapy outcomes, and improve survival in preclinical models. This intervention restores normal liver metabolism, reduces systemic inflammation, and alleviates cachectic symptoms.
The new guidelines introduce a pivotal terminology shift, replacing NAFLD with MASLD and NASH with MASH. MASLD is now grouped under the umbrella of "steatotic liver disease" (SLD), along with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and other causes.
Researchers developed a human liver organoid platform that closely replicates the liver's region-specific functional architecture, enabling disease modeling and drug screening. The system demonstrated high sensitivity in pharmacological assays and supported region-specific hepatocyte differentiation.
Researchers map the path from liver fibrosis to cancer, revealing how scarred liver tissue becomes a breeding ground for tumor growth. Key findings include the role of hepatic stellate cells and dysregulated signaling pathways in remodeling the liver into a pro-tumor environment.
Researchers found that vitamin D supplementation reduces liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease by upregulating the TXNIP gene in ductular cells. The study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of liver diseases and offers a potential therapeutic target for improving outcomes.
A comprehensive review in Current Molecular Pharmacology explores the mechanisms of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and emerging treatments. Effective strategies include antioxidant administration, surgical preconditioning, and herbal compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Researchers used machine learning to predict patient outcomes in hospitalized cirrhosis patients, outperforming traditional methods. The study found that AI can help hospital teams triage and prioritize patients more effectively.
A new study found that four high-risk population groups - women, adults 45 and older, those living in poverty, and people with metabolic syndrome - are driving the increase. The study also showed that average drinking rates remained unchanged over 20 years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study identifies ANXA2+ migratory hepatocytes as crucial for liver regeneration, highlighting their role in promoting wound closure and treating acute liver failure. The research also explores the therapeutic potential of targeting these cells, offering new avenues for regenerative medicine approaches in hepatology.
A new study from Weill Cornell Medicine sheds light on age-related liver changes that may lead to chronic diseases. The research reveals that aging disrupts the functional organization of liver cells, causing inflammation and impaired metabolism.
A novel 3D culture method enables self-organization of precursor cell types into functional liver organoids capable of producing essential clotting factors. The breakthrough advances organoid-based therapies, drug testing, and disease modeling for liver diseases, including hemophilia A.
The study found a significant increase in extremely severe obesity among US children and adolescents, leading to severe metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Extremely severe obesity was linked to conditions like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, prediabetes or diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
A randomized clinical trial found that cannabidiol (CBD) administration led to liver enzyme level elevations in 5.6% of participants and potential drug-induced liver injury in 4.9%. Hepatic enzymes returned to normal within weeks after discontinuation. Further research is needed on CBD's long-term effects and safety.
Researchers found that combining RFA with anti-PD-1 therapy significantly suppressed non-ablated distant HCC tumor growth and prolonged survival in mice. The treatment remodeled the immune microenvironment, promoting durable immune memory against tumor recurrence.
The study proposes a modified ResUNet approach for automated liver segmentation from CT images, achieving high precision and accuracy. The model outperforms traditional methods, demonstrating stable performance in cross-dataset tests.
Researchers have identified a gene signature indicative of hepatic ferroptosis using an iron overload-induced mouse model and validated it in human liver injury systems. The study highlights the role of ferroptosis in liver injuries and offers potential therapeutic targets.
A research team at Osaka Metropolitan University has developed an AI model that can detect fatty liver disease from chest X-ray images with an accuracy rate of 0.82-0.83. This breakthrough has the potential to improve early detection and treatment of the disease, which affects one in four people worldwide.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have successfully grown liver tissue that can produce its own internal blood vessels. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for people living with hemophilia and those experiencing acute or chronic liver failure, as the liver organoids can secrete coagulation factors.
A study by Toho University researchers reveals a cellular communication network that promotes liver fibrosis. FGF18 and osteopontin enhance the production of OPN, which activates quiescent stellate cells to propagate fibrotic activity. This discovery highlights the critical roles of these molecules in driving liver fibrosis.
This cross-sectional study reveals a substantial rise in alcohol-associated liver disease mortality, particularly among women and younger adults. The findings highlight the importance of targeted public health initiatives to address this growing health concern.
A clinical trial found that dapagliflozin improved metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis in patients with progressive liver disease, a condition affecting over 5% of adults. The treatment also showed resolution of inflammation and improvement without worsening of fibrosis.
Scientists at UC San Francisco discovered how pancreatic cancer cells metastasize to the lungs or liver using the PCSK9 protein. PCSK9 controls cholesterol acquisition, with low levels favoring the liver and high levels supporting lung adaptation.
Surgeons at Mount Sinai performed the world's first heart-liver-kidney triple organ transplants in New York State, with two patients making full recoveries after the surgeries. The procedures were led by Anelechi Anyanwu and Sander S. Florman and represent a significant milestone in complex organ transplantation.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that a single gene plays a big role in how the liver stores energy, which is critical for overall health and managing diseases like type 2 diabetes. The research found that when this gene is more active, the liver tends to store more energy as glycogen.
The USPSTF recommends early, universal screening for syphilis infection during pregnancy to prevent congenital syphilis. Untreated syphilis can cause premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth in the fetus.
Researchers discovered a key step in the hepatic ERK pathway that triggers insulin production in response to colonic inflammation caused by obesity. The study reveals a novel role of the gastrointestinal tract in regulating glucose homeostasis.
A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that patients with low household income were more likely to be diagnosed late and receive less effective treatment for liver cancer. This highlights the need for targeted screening in deprived areas to improve early diagnosis and survival rates.
This study found that intestinal depletion of TM6SF2 exacerbates high-fat diet-induced MASLD by altering the gut microbiota and liver lipid content. The absence of TM6SF2 also led to increased serum biomarkers associated with MASLD progression.
Researchers found novel prognostic scores, such as MELD 3.0/GEMA-Na, exhibit superior discrimination and predictive ability for all-cause mortality up to two years in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. The study suggests these scores are essential for risk stratification and may improve patient outcomes.
This study explored the immune dynamics across different phases of HBV infection, identifying key factors influencing T cell function and liver priming. The research team uncovered distinct types of intrahepatic T lymphocytes and dual roles of DC-SIGN+ macrophages in modulating immune responses.
Researchers identified five blood proteins that can predict liver disease up to 16 years before symptoms. The combined levels of these proteins achieved high accuracy in predicting disease onset and progression, suggesting potential for early diagnosis and treatment.
The study found that serum-derived hsa_circ_101555 showed excellent diagnostic accuracy in differentiating HCC patients from healthy controls. It also demonstrated a prognostic role in predicting tumor progression and response to therapy, with significant correlations with markers of liver inflammation and tumor features.
A new study from the University of Missouri suggests that exercise can improve brain health and mitigate cognitive decline, even when ketone production in the liver is impaired. The research found that endurance exercise can prevent cognitive impairment caused by compromised hepatic ketogenesis.
Researchers believe that post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) is caused by the body's response to remnants of the Borrelia burgdorferi cell wall, which persists in the liver. The unique structural properties of this peptidoglycan molecule promote its persistence and may lead to a stronger immune response in some individuals.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic discovered a rare genetic variant that can directly cause metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. The MET gene malfunction leads to fat accumulation, inflammation, and scarring, potentially progressing to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Researchers found that obesity causes a disruption in the liver's ability to adapt to starvation, specifically in the temporal coordination of molecules. This suggests that obesity makes the body more vulnerable to the negative effects of starvation, despite no significant structural disruptions in the molecular network.
Researchers investigated the therapeutic mechanisms of ursolic acid on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Ursolic acid was found to reduce inflammation by modulating estrogen conversion via HSD17B14, a crucial enzyme regulating estrogen balance.
This study found that inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 reduces liver ferroptosis and fibrosis by upregulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. COX-2 inhibition also restored antioxidant defenses in hepatocytes, reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation.
A Phase 3 clinical study found that adding hydronidone to entecavir resulted in significant reversal of liver fibrosis. The trial aimed to identify the antifibrotic effect and safety of hydronidone for CHB patients with significant liver fibrosis.
The study found that mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of CD8+ T cells is a significant predictor of bacterial infection (BI) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in cirrhotic patients. Low MMP levels were associated with increased risk of BI and ACLF.
A team of experts at Cincinnati Children's reports achieving a milestone in growing human liver organoid tissue that faithfully reproduces key zones, nearly doubling rodent survival rate. This breakthrough paves the way for studying human liver biology and disease, accelerating drug development and potentially leading to repair tissues.
A study published in Journal of Proteome Research reveals that inflammation and aging contribute to the development of non-viral liver cancer. Researchers analyzed gene expression and metabolites in normal and affected samples, identifying potential therapeutic targets for chemoprevention.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most prevalent form of liver cancer, and liver transplantation offers a curative treatment option for appropriately selected patients. Bridging therapies, such as radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization, can improve survival outcomes post-transplant by preventing tumor progression.
Researchers compared surgical resection to immunotherapy in HCC patients with pulmonary metastasis, finding surgery provides better long-term prognosis and overall survival. Treatment allocation and hepatic tumor T stage are independent prognostic factors for overall survival.
A multicenter retrospective study found that routine caudate lobe resection does not significantly improve long-term survival and recurrence for patients with HCCA. However, achieving a negative margin is crucial for improving prognosis.
A new study found that death rates from alcohol in England increased by a fifth in 2020, rising further between 2020 and 2022. The largest increases were among men, people from deprived areas, and those aged 50-69, mainly due to liver damage caused by alcohol.
Regional mesylate anticoagulation in centrifugation artificial liver support systems is safe for liver failure patients at risk of bleeding. Adjusting the mesylate dose based on pre-R and pre-MA enhances safety.
A new review suggests a strong association between gum disease and chronic liver conditions, including cirrhosis and metabolic dysfunction. The 'oral-gut-liver axis' theory proposes that pathogenic bacteria from the mouth can exacerbate liver inflammation and fibrosis through dysbiosis and increased gut permeability.
A new editorial in Oncotarget discusses how artificial intelligence can improve liver imaging by recognizing when it might be wrong. The approach, called 'uncertainty quantification,' helps clinicians better detect liver cancer and other diseases by pointing out areas in medical scans that need a second look.
A new class of zwitterionic phospholipids, DOPE-Cx, enhances the functional delivery of mRNA via lipid nanoparticles, overcoming endosomal escape and improving mRNA expression. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced therapeutic applications, including mRNA vaccines, cancer treatment, and protein replacement therapy.
Researchers propose GLDH as a more liver-specific biomarker for detecting liver injury, offering greater specificity than current ALT and AST tests. The test performed similarly to ALT for detecting liver injury but was not impacted by associated muscle injury.
Researchers discovered that PCSK9 and APOA4 are key regulators of TMAO-induced cholesterol metabolism, leading to gallstone formation. Targeting these genes may be a promising approach for preventing and treating cholelithiasis.
A comprehensive study found that people with fatty liver disease have almost twice the mortality rate of the general population. The disease is caused by overweight or obesity and increases the risk of dying from various causes, including liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infections.
A recent Gut journal study defines Vasomics as a novel research discipline utilizing multimodal imaging techniques and computational pathology to analyze the pathophysiology of liver diseases. The study categorizes existing hepatic vascular phenotypes into five major types, providing new insights into potential therapeutic targets.
Direct-acting antivirals have reduced HCV-related morbidity and mortality, but hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk persists in certain populations. Risk factors include pre-treatment cirrhosis, metabolic disorders, and advanced fibrosis, highlighting the need for tailored surveillance strategies.
Researchers found that females developed ascites later and were more susceptible to carbon tetrachloride toxicity than males. The study highlights the need for gender parity in preclinical studies and suggests that sex hormones may play a protective role against disease progression.
A recent cohort study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that statin use was associated with a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease. This suggests that statins may play a role in preventing the progression of liver disease and reducing the risk of liver cancer.