Research on the liver in health and disease. Covers liver-disease subtypes, the liver's role in circadian timing, targeted therapies, and cell regulation.
A new study finds that video consultations between primary care physicians and specialists improve liver disease care and increase patient survival rates. Patients who participated in these consultations had a 54% higher survival rate compared to those without access to virtual consultations.
A new study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that private insurers deny coverage for life-saving hepatitis C drugs at a rate of 52.4%, while Medicaid and Medicare deny treatment at 34.5% and 14.7% respectively. The high denial rates may be due to varying restrictions on reimbursements among states.
Researchers discovered a naturally occurring antibody that binds to oxidized phospholipids, blocking inflammation and preventing arterial plaque formation. The antibody protected mice from atherosclerosis, aortic stenosis, hepatic steatosis, and prolonged their lives.
A new Canadian guideline recommends screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people born between 1945 and 1975 due to high rates of infection. The guideline also advocates for curative therapy for all individuals affected by HCV, aiming to prevent premature death.
Researchers propose using viruses to restore normal functioning of cells' nuclei, potentially eradicating unwanted effects of aging. Wrinkled nuclear membranes may be responsible for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver disease.
Researchers created a 'quick and robust' blood test that can detect liver fibrosis, the first stage of liver scarring, from a blood sample in 30-45 minutes. The new method uses polymers coated with fluorescent dyes to bind to blood proteins, offering a simple and inexpensive way to diagnose disease.
A new blood test can detect liver damage in 30-45 minutes, distinguishing between healthy and damaged individuals. The test could lead to earlier treatment and potentially save millions of lives.
Researchers found that gut bacteria can control antitumor immune responses in the liver by regulating bile acid metabolism and NKT cell accumulation. This discovery has implications for understanding liver cancer mechanisms and potential therapeutic approaches.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a lab-based system for studying Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of liver disease in the developed world. The new tool enables researchers to investigate biological mechanisms and develop effective treatments.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have shed light on intestinal failure-associated liver disease, a condition that affects people relying on IV nutrition due to intestinal damage. The study suggests three possible new targets for drug intervention to prevent or treat the disease.
A new study reveals that a malaria parasite manipulates liver cells to survive and reproduce, building strength before invading red blood cells. Disrupting this process by targeting the aquaporin-3 protein may lead to new treatments for malaria before symptoms appear.
Liver transplant centers are increasingly accepting transplants for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, showing positive outcomes and high one-year survival rates of over 90%. Centers use selective criteria to evaluate candidates, assessing medical history, social support, and psychiatric disorders.
A team led by CSHL Professor Douglas Fearon found that dormant cancer cells are already in the liver before surgery, expressing MHC1 and CK19 markers. In a post-operative stress-induced state, these cells re-express markers and begin to divide, forming seeds of metastatic lesions.
Duke researchers have identified a key fork in the road for the way the liver deals with carbohydrates, fats, and protein. By targeting BCAA breakdown, they found that activating this process reduces fat deposition in the liver and improves glucose regulation. This approach offers a promising new target for combating fatty liver disease.
A new 'scoring' system developed by Johns Hopkins Medicine enhances the prediction of survival in people with colorectal cancers that have spread to the liver. The system includes traditional Fong indicators plus genetic and morphological evaluation (GAME) factors, which outperform the existing Fong system in predicting patient outcomes.
A study reports that approximately half of young children with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) have received a liver transplant by age 10. Surgical biliary diversion was found to increase survival rates in children with mild or moderate PFIC2 mutations.
Researchers have discovered how nutmeg helps protect the liver, using a mouse animal model of liver toxicity. The spice was shown to restore healthy levels of lipids and acylcarnitines, and a specific compound, myrislignan, had a strong protective effect against liver damage.
Researchers developed a new method to study liver-stage malaria in vitro, using primary human liver cells on 384-well plates. This technique reduces costs and biomaterials requirements, making it more accessible for screening preclinical drugs and vaccines.
A recent study by Michigan Medicine has found that over one-third of cirrhosis cases are related to alcohol consumption, with women being disproportionately affected. The study reveals that patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis have higher healthcare costs and poorer health outcomes compared to those without the condition.
Researchers identified two tryptophan metabolites produced by gut bacteria that modulate inflammation, potentially reducing the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study found that these metabolites reduce cytokine levels and macrophage activity, which are key contributors to inflammation.
Scientists from Cincinnati Children's and UCSF have discovered a mechanism behind an unusual form of tissue regeneration in mice with Alagille syndrome, a rare liver disease. This discovery may lead to a viable treatment for human disease by instructing other types of liver cells to switch identities.
Researchers found that metastatic cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to capitalize on fructose levels in the liver, leading to unchecked growth and proliferation. This discovery could lead to new therapies targeting metastatic cells and provide insight into how cancers adapt to new environments.
A new study suggests that probiotics can improve liver health by reducing oxidative stress caused by acetaminophen. Researchers found that mice treated with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG suffered less liver damage when exposed to a high dose of acetaminophen.
Researchers have identified new treatments for liver diseases, including the use of melatonin receptors to slow disease progression. Additionally, scientists have discovered potential therapeutic targets for acetaminophen-related liver damage and a link between non-coding RNA and alcoholic liver disease.
A new Mayo Clinic study reveals that transplanted livers regulate the host's immune responses and have a protective effect on other organs. This finding may pave the way for reduced immunosuppression needs in transplant patients.
A single treatment of fecal microbiota transplantation produces sustained clinical and cognitive improvements in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. The study showed significant reductions in HE episodes and hospitalizations, as well as improvements in cognitive function over 1 year.
Sebelipase alfa and two investigational RNAi therapeutics, givosiran and ARO-AAT, demonstrate positive findings in treating lysosomal acid lipase deficiency and acute intermittent porphyria. Long-term tolerability and improvements in liver injury markers are observed.
A new study has reported a good correlation between an automated image analysis system and an expert reviewer for the identification of key markers of NASH disease activity in a pre-clinical model. The study used deep-learning algorithms applied to open-source pathology software (QuPath1) to accurately identify cell histology patterns ...
A nationwide US study confirms a significant decrease in liver transplant probabilities for HCC patients between 2005-2007 and 2014-2016. Patients with Medicaid insurance were less likely to receive transplants than those with private/commercial insurance.
A study analyzed outcomes and costs for German patients with NAFLD/NASH who developed compensated cirrhosis, finding significant increases in comorbidities, mortality, and healthcare costs. The study highlights the need for new treatment options to improve patient outcomes.
Phase 2 studies of tropifexor and seladelpar demonstrate potent anti-cholestatic and anti-inflammatory activity without increasing pruritus. Tropifexor and seladelpar are being explored as potential treatments for patients with primary biliary cholangitis, a progressive liver disease.
NGM282, an engineered analogue of FGF19, inhibits bile acid synthesis and decreases markers of hepatic inflammation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Significant reductions in serum levels of ALT and AST were observed in the NGM282 3 mg/day treatment group.
Two nationwide hepatitis C elimination programs in Georgia and Iceland have reported high levels of engagement, initiation of direct-acting antiviral agents, and cure among patients chronically infected with HCV. In Georgia, over 90% of diagnosed individuals were cured, while in Iceland, the prevalence of active HCV infection among peo...
A study found that budesonide add-on therapy improves biochemical markers of disease activity but fails to improve liver histology in high-risk patients with primary biliary cholangitis. Budesonide was shown to produce clinically meaningful improvements in serum alkaline phosphatase levels.
Patients with NAFLD achieved similar weight loss and normalized liver enzymes through a web-based lifestyle modification programme. The study suggested that the degree of weight loss was likely to have resulted in fibrosis regression.
The study confirms that long-term OCA treatment leads to reversal or stabilization of fibrosis/cirrhosis in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who have had an incomplete response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The majority of patients improved or maintained their histological stage, while two patients deteriorated.
A real-world study found that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) after direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment have lower all-cause mortality. Achieving SVR reduced mortality from both liver-related and unrelated causes at all stages of disease.
The percentage of liver transplants performed due to HCV infection has more than halved since the introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs. Post-transplant survival rates among those with HCV infection are now similar to those with HBV infection, reaching an all-time high.
The SORAMIC study found no overall survival benefit of adding selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) to sorafenib for patients with unresectable primary liver cancer. However, subgroup analyses suggested possible survival benefits in younger patients and those with certain cirrhosis characteristics.
Two real-world studies from Italy and Germany report high rates of viral suppression and favourable safety profiles for glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic HCV infection. The treatment was found to be effective across a range of different patient types, with over 98% achieving sustained virological response.
The HEPAHEALTH Project Report reveals a significant increase in liver disease mortality in Europe and Central Asia, driven by high alcohol consumption and obesity rates. The report emphasizes the need for effective prevention strategies to mitigate this growing health concern.
A Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fermented milk products, and coffee has been shown to improve gut microbial diversity and reduce hospitalization risk in patients with liver cirrhosis. The study found that Turkish individuals had higher microbial diversity compared to US participants.
A study found that the Italian outbreak is predominantly caused by strains linked to recent European outbreaks, highlighting the risk of acute HAV infection via sexual transmission in high-risk groups like MSM. The study also emphasizes the importance of hepatitis A vaccine coverage and awareness campaigns for prevention.
A Canadian study found that biannual ultrasound screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis after achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) to direct-acting antiviral agents is likely to be cost-effective. However, surveillance is unlikely to be cost-effective in patients wit...
A global study found that 34% of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis across the world are multi-drug resistant, with significant regional differences. The risk of developing a multi-drug-resistant infection was higher in Asia, particularly India, and among patients who had recently received antibiotics.
Researchers developed personalized T cell adoptive immunotherapy for patients with HBV-related HCC, resulting in an objective positive response with volumetric reduction of lung lesions and no new lesions detected. The therapy showed promise with no therapy-related adverse events.
A large-scale study in Punjab, India found that mass treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection using decentralized care and generic DAAs resulted in high cure rates among almost 20,000 individuals. The study validated the efficacy and safety of this approach, with over 90% of patients achieving sustained virological response.
A Swedish study found that statins significantly reduce the risk of death, liver transplantation, and variceal bleeding in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The study also showed a reduced risk of these outcomes in patients receiving azathioprine but not ursodeoxycholic acid.
Researchers found that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections can be fatal in immunocompromised individuals and are linked to blood-borne transmission, highlighting the importance of HEV RNA screening of all blood products destined for transplant or immunosuppressed patients. The studies also show that HEV infection has been increasing ste...
A new assay using droplet digital PCR has been developed to detect closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in serum, single cells, and preserved tissue samples. This allows for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and more effective treatment.
A prospective study found that linkage to care specialists can facilitate rapid access to hepatitis C treatment, with 60% of patients initiated on treatment. The study highlights the importance of increasing HCV diagnosis and treatment to meet WHO goals by 2030.
DAAs therapy in Scotland significantly reduced HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis presentations, with a 29-39% reduction. Early treatment initiation also showed lower lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years.
Alcoholic liver disease has become the leading cause of liver transplantation in the US, surpassing hepatitis C infection, according to two studies. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is also on the rise, ranking second as a cause of liver transplantation due to chronic liver disease.
The animated short film aims to raise public awareness about the challenges of liver failure and liver cirrhosis. The film highlights the DIALIVE technology, a novel liver dialysis device undergoing clinical trials to assess its safety and efficacy.
Research by BfR scientists reveals that inflammatory processes disrupt liver enzyme function, impairing detoxification capabilities. Fatty liver cells treated with inflammation-promoting substances showed reduced ability to break down foreign substances.
A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that children as young as 8 years old with obesity are at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Elevated waist circumference at age 3 and increased weight gain between ages 3 and 8 are associated with higher levels of a liver enzyme called ALT.
Stanford researchers discover that telomerase-expressing liver cells can rapidly regenerate the liver during normal turnover or tissue damage. These rare cells are evenly distributed throughout the liver's lobules and play a crucial role in enabling the organ to replace damaged cells, potentially leading to cancer.
Researchers found that a liver enzyme increases abdominal fat inflammation in obese mice, leading to insulin resistance. Soothing this inflammation improves insulin sensitivity without affecting weight.
Empagliflozin, a treatment for type 2 diabetes, has been shown to reduce liver fat in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study found that patients receiving empagliflozin experienced a significant decrease in liver fat compared to those on standard treatment alone.
A new study suggests that e-cigarette use may lead to an accumulation of fat in the liver, potentially detrimental to health. Researchers found changes in 433 genes associated with fatty liver development and progression in mice exposed to e-cigarettes.