Articles tagged with Liver
A study found that children with fathers who were clinically obese at a young age had higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, indicating a potential genetic connection between early-onset paternal obesity and increased risk of liver disease. The results persisted among non-obese children, suggesting an independent association.
Researchers at Penn's School of Medicine present innovative discoveries on a new drug therapy that may prevent heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, studies reveal significant disparities in the treatment of women with atrial fibrillation, highlighting the need for more referrals to ablation therapy.
Data indicate pre-existing lamivudine resistance predisposes patients to higher rates of BARACLUDE resistance. Nucleoside-naive patients experienced a cumulative probability of genotypic resistance of 1.2% through five years.
A new CT imaging technique has significantly improved the outcome of living donor liver transplants by enhancing accurate visualization of vital bile duct anatomy. This innovation, adopted by radiologists at the University of Alberta Hospital, aims to reduce screening time and improve convenience for potential donors.
Research found prokineticin 2/Bv8 is downregulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma, but expressed in liver resident macrophages, suggesting a role in Kupffer cell physiology.
This study found that laparoscopic hepatic left lateral lobectomy combined with fiber choledochoscopic exploration of the common bile duct reduces liver function damage compared to traditional open operations. The procedure also significantly decreases post-operative pain and complications such as biliary fistula, cholangitic stenosis,...
Researchers found that combining stenting with photodynamic therapy improved survival rates for patients with advanced liver bile duct cancer, reducing mortality by 57% compared to stenting treatment alone. The study suggests that this combined approach can help extend survival rates for these patients.
Chronic hyperglycemia disables the molecular switch that normally shuts off glucose production in the liver, leading to insulin resistance and complications. Inhibiting the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway may provide a new therapeutic target for lowering glucose levels and reducing long-term diabetes complications.
A combination therapy of Prostacyclin, Sildenafil, and Bosentan improved a young male patient with severe portopulmonary hypertension, allowing him to undergo liver transplantation. The therapy was also used post-transplant to maintain his health.
Researchers found that mice treated with rimonabant, a cannabinoid receptor blocker, developed resistant livers to alcohol's fat-building effects. This discovery suggests that treating fatty liver with CB1 antagonists may slow its progression and prevent severe liver disease.
A new US population-based study found that elevated liver enzymes discovered during routine medical care are associated with a higher risk of mortality. Elevated AST and ALT levels were linked to increased standardized mortality rates, suggesting these simple blood tests could be valuable indicators of long-term outcome.
A study found that a 3-variable model of serum fibrosis markers, including HA, TIMP-1, and platelet count, can accurately predict cirrhosis in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C. The model outperformed other published models and showed strong correlation with collagen content.
Embryonic livers store glycogen by overproducing the enzyme hexokinase (HK), which can produce glycogen independently of blood-glucose levels. This adaptation safeguards energy storage for newborns. Meanwhile, a protein called NCKX5 plays a key role in skin color production, exchanging sodium for calcium across cell membranes.
Researchers at the University of Sydney found evidence linking kava to liver damage, revealing changes in liver tissue structure and impacting immune system function. The study's findings support earlier literature observations on kava's adverse effects on the liver, highlighting the need for further investigations.
Patients with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis exhibit higher levels of nitric oxide (NO•) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), contributing to liver disease progression. Elevated oxidative stress is also linked to a positive correlation with clinical liver disease severity.
Research on loggerhead turtles reveals significant levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) causing liver damage and immune system suppression. Exposure to PFCs may pose a similar risk to humans, with potential for immunocompromise.
Researchers at Einstein College of Medicine successfully cured hemophilia A in an animal model by transplanting healthy liver endothelial cells from donor mice. The study overturned conventional wisdom regarding the source of factor VIII, a crucial clotting protein lacking in people with type A hemophilia.
A University of Illinois study found that exercise-trained mice had fewer gallstones than sedentary mice, with improved cholesterol levels and increased bile acid solubility. The researchers identified potential mechanisms to explain this link, providing new insights into the benefits of physical activity for reducing gallstone formation.
Researchers discover hereditary hemochromatosis is a liver disease caused by a genetic defect in the liver that leads to increased iron absorption. The study reveals that the liver cells make an iron hormone called hepcidin to regulate iron uptake, but a mutated HFE gene reduces its production, leading to iron overload.
The US donor organ allocation system, MELD score, and its impact on liver transplant outcomes are discussed. Early referral for liver transplant evaluation is found to offer advantages unrelated to waiting time, including early detection and treatment of liver cancer.
A meta-analysis found that former substance abusers have a low rate of relapse after organ transplantation, with significant associations between relapse and poor social support and family alcohol history. The study included over 3,600 individuals who received transplants and examined the rates of alcohol and drug relapse.
New studies validate non-invasive methods for diagnosing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, with enhanced panels showing good diagnostic accuracy and simple markers augmenting performance, offering potential for eliminating the need for liver biopsy in over 80% of cases.
A study of 136 Bulgarian patients with HCV found that 76.5% had extra-hepatic manifestations, with common symptoms including fatigue, renal impairment, and paresthesia. The risk of developing B-cell lymphoma was higher in cryoglobulin-positive patients.
A study by MIT researchers reveals that genetic differences between males and females contribute to the higher incidence of liver cancer in men. The research suggests that chronic inflammation and male sex hormones play a role in this increased risk.
The review highlights the importance of carefully planned medical management to optimize outcomes for liver transplantation. Doctors emphasize the need for careful assessment, optimization, and timing for transplantation, leading to high long-term survival rates.
A retrospective study found that NAC treatment in children with non-acetaminophen induced acute liver failure resulted in shorter hospital stays, higher liver recovery rates, and improved survival after transplantation. Adverse effects were minor and self-limited, supporting the safe use of NAC for this condition.
Recent studies have shown that magnetic resonance elastography and other imaging strategies can detect hepatic fibrosis with high sensitivity and specificity. Non-invasive techniques like MRI could replace liver biopsy, which is currently the best way to assess fibrosis but carries serious side effects.
Researchers at UC-San Diego have developed a modified protein that can block excessive scar tissue growth in the liver, stopping its progression and even reversing some cell damage. The peptide has shown promising results in animal studies, opening new possibilities for treating conditions like cirrhosis of the liver.
Researchers found that IETM is the arch-criminal in HPS development, leading to increased NO and CO production and vascular abnormalities. The study suggests that targeting LPS may be effective in preventing and treating HPS.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that protein PEPT2 shields the brain from a naturally occurring but toxic compound found in lead poisoning and liver diseases. The study found that mice lacking PEPT2 died sooner and had higher concentrations of the toxin in their cerebrospinal fluid.
Researchers found that 71% of patients taking baclofen achieved and maintained alcohol abstinence, compared to 29% of those receiving placebo. Baclofen reduced clinical markers of liver injury associated with significant reductions in self-reported alcohol use.
A study of 25,647 adult liver transplant candidates found that obesity alone should not exclude patients from transplantation. Patients with high BMIs experience a significant survival benefit from liver transplantation and have similar rates of mortality after transplant compared to patients with normal BMI.
A University of Wisconsin-Madison study reveals a genetic basis for why high-carb diets lead to weight gain. The SCD-1 gene in the liver is responsible for synthesizing fatty acids, and when this gene is active, mice on high-carb diets store excess energy as fat.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have created a new chimeric mouse model that can test how drugs affect the liver. The model involves transplanting human hepatocytes into immunodeficient mice, allowing for a natural environment to study drug metabolism and toxicity.
A study of adolescent offenders found a new upper limit for ALT that is more sensitive for diagnosing liver disease. The findings suggest targeted interventions for at-risk youths, who are high-risk for HCV infection and obesity-related liver disease.
A new organ allocation system has been linked to a significant decrease in deaths among individuals on the liver transplant waiting list. The improved outcomes have also led to shorter wait times for transplantation, with many patients receiving transplants within days of being added to the list.
Researchers at MIT have created a novel way to model the full-sized human liver using tiny colonies of living human liver cells. These model livers can survive for up to six weeks and allow for more accurate prediction of drug toxicity, reducing the costs associated with their development.
The study found that a subtle disorder in optimal systemic hyperdynamic state influences portal venous flow, which is crucial for liver regeneration after LDLT. Maintaining an ideal systemic hemodynamic state ensures sufficient splanchnic blood flow and excellent clinical outcomes in cirrhotic LDLT recipients.
A national study found that long-term pegylated interferon does not prevent the progression of liver disease in patients who haven’t responded to previous treatments. Despite significant viral level decrease and inflammation reduction, 34.1% of treated patients experienced worsening outcomes.
Researchers developed a new modified comorbidity index to predict post-liver-transplant survival, considering comorbidities such as coronary disease, diabetes, and COPD. This index predicted survival as well or better than other models using recipient characteristics.
Scientists question mandatory folic acid fortification in flour, citing risks of unmetabolised folic acid entering the bloodstream and causing problems for people with certain medical conditions. The study suggests that even low doses of folic acid could lead to overconsumption and health issues.
A study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology found that plasma serotonin levels significantly increase in patients with liver cirrhosis, correlating with the degree of liver damage. This discovery provides a potential non-invasive diagnostic method for assessing liver insufficiency.
A recent study published in Hepatology found that minority patients do not have worse outcomes after liver transplantation when treated at high-volume academic medical centers. The study, led by W. Ray Kim, analyzed data from over 2,800 adult patients and found no relationship between recipient race and survival.
Researchers found that a high-fat diet decreases regulatory T cells in the liver, leading to inflammation and increased susceptibility to liver injury. Switching to a normal diet reverses this effect.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville have found that tiny radioactive spheres can effectively treat cancer that has spread to the liver, halting tumor growth in 71% of patients. The treatment works by delivering radiation directly to tumors using millions of tiny polymer beads containing yttrium-90.
The study found that TCPOBOP stimulation of CAR induced genes involved in fatty acid microsomal omega-oxidation and beta-oxidation pathways, reducing hepatic steatosis. This research offers a potential pharmacologic treatment for NASH by enhancing hepatic fatty acid oxidation.
A recent study found that diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) can predict moderate to severe chronic liver disease. The technique measured water diffusion in the liver tissue and showed promise as a non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy.
Researchers have identified activin receptor-interacting protein 2 (ARIP2) as a potential target for treating liver fibrosis. The study found that ARIP2 negatively regulates activin signal pathways, which can help prevent collagen type IV production and alleviate liver damage.
Over two decades, a study in the UK found that ultrasound-guided liver biopsy is the preferred method due to its reduced complications. The majority of biopsies were performed on patients with raised liver tests and hepatitis C infection.
Researchers found that prolonged antiviral therapy can improve residual liver function and reduce portal hypertension in patients with compensated hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. The study, published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests that this treatment approach may delay complications and prolong survival rates.
A study of over 400 patients found that those over 60 years old had similar 1-year and 5-year survival rates as younger patients, with fewer rejection episodes. The researchers attribute this to the older patients' softer immune systems, which may also increase their risk of infection and cancer.
Researchers have found promising results with three new non-invasive imaging tests that can diagnose fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver without a biopsy. Ultrasound-based transient elastography was accurate in identifying patients with cirrhosis, while MR elastography showed nearly 100% accuracy in detecting any degree of liver fibrosis.
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have developed a new method to treat liver failure by modulating the immune response. The approach uses mesenchymal stem cells to reduce inflammation and promote organ regeneration, showing promising results in animal studies.
A mouse study suggests that high-glycemic index diets can cause fatty liver disease, while low-glycemic index diets may prevent it. Researchers plan a clinical trial to confirm the findings and explore reversing the condition in overweight children.
Researchers discovered that nerve growth factor (NGF) is positively related with liver cancer, the No.2 killer among all kinds of cancers. NGF and its receptor trkANGF were expressed in liver cells of patients with liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma.
Researchers discovered that first-degree relatives of PBC patients have a higher prevalence of anti-mitochondrial antibodies, a biomarker indicative of the disease. This finding enables early screening and assessment of high-risk family members through simple blood tests, potentially leading to better outcomes for PBC patients.
Researchers found beta blockers to be more effective and safer than banding in reducing the risk of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. The study, published in Liver Transplantation, compared the two treatments and found that beta blockers lowered the risk of bleeding by over 90%, while banding reduced the risk by less than 70%.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified TORC2 as a crucial biochemical control point linking feeding, insulin, and elevated blood sugar production in the liver. The study found that insulin turns off the CREB/TORC2 switch during feeding, highlighting potential drug targets for type II diabetes treatment.
Non-Caucasian patients with primary biliary cirrhosis have more severe liver disease compared to Caucasian patients. Minority patients reported more limitation of activity, severe itching, and serious complications.
Researchers discovered that nerve growth factor (NGF) is positively related to liver cancer and may be expressed by liver cells to affect themselves or adjacent cells. Targeting NGF could suppress or prevent the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.