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 recent US study shows that living donor liver transplants for acute liver failure patients can have high survival rates and acceptable risks. The study found that 70% of recipients survived after transplantation, while the donors experienced similar complication rates as other LDLT recipients.
Researchers found African Americans are twice as likely to die following a liver operation compared to Caucasians, highlighting a significant racial disparity in surgical outcomes. The study suggests that differences in preoperative health status and hospital factors may contribute to this disparity.
The new statistical model incorporates serum sodium and MELD scores to prioritize the sickest patients, reducing mortality by 7% among those with low sodium levels. Mayo Clinic's improved tool aims to ensure timely transplants for those with advanced liver disease.
A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that transient elastography, a non-invasive technique, can accurately diagnose late-stage liver disease. The study showed high correlation between LSM and pericellular fibrosis, allowing for better prediction of cirrhosis
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that senescent liver cells can orchestrate a sequence of events that limit fibrosis, a natural response to acute damage. This discovery suggests a new therapeutic approach for human patients with precursors of serious liver diseases.
Researchers have developed biodegradable polymers called polyketals that can deliver drugs, proteins, and snippets of ribonucleic acid to specific areas in the body. The microparticles degrade quickly into biocompatible compounds, reducing inflammation.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have prevented age-related decline in liver function and shown that maintaining efficient protein clearance can help stave off functional losses. The study suggests therapies to boost protein clearance might help maintain healthy lives well into old age.
A new study found that targeting liver CB1 receptor may treat obesity-related conditions without brain-side effects, reversing severe insulin resistance and fatty liver in mice fed high-fat diets. The research indicates liver-specific CB1 is necessary for high-fat diet-induced fatty liver and related hormonal changes.
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that FOXA2 regulates genes involved in maintaining proper bile levels. The study suggests that increasing FOXA2 expression may be a novel therapeutic goal for treating diseases like primary sclerosing cholangitis and biliary atresia.
Researchers have found that warfarin reduces scarring on the liver caused by Hepatitis C, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. The study is now embarking on a clinical trial to test warfarin as a treatment for people with Hepatitis C.
A study of 489 adult liver transplants found that older donors (age 60+) were not associated with negative outcomes in hepatitis C recipients. In fact, patients with and without hepatitis C had similar survival rates, suggesting the practice is safe. The expanded donor pool may help increase available organs for transplantation.
A UK liver transplant unit reports a higher than average success rate for children receiving living donor transplants, with an 98% year one survival rate. The study found that the majority of children experienced excellent graft function and rapid recovery after surgery.
Researchers discovered that hepatitis C infection causes fatty liver by elevating an enzyme called fatty acid synthase (FAS) in human liver cells. Elevated FAS levels may help determine which patients are at risk of developing life-threatening diseases like cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Scientists are exploring the use of sound waves to assess atherosclerotic plaques, monitor chronic liver disease, and deliver drugs to specific locations in the body. Researchers have also developed new techniques for treating cancer, including minimally invasive thermal ablation methods and microbubbles-based therapies.
Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discovered a molecule called XBP1 that regulates fat and cholesterol production in the liver. Turning off XBP1 dramatically reduced blood levels of cholesterol and triglyceride fats, with no apparent adverse effects on the liver.
The Acoustics '08 conference in Paris features a range of topics, including a clinical assessment of blood vessel ultrasound and its potential to detect vulnerable plaques. The conference also explores the acoustic properties of Stradivarius violins and their modifications for modern playing styles. Additionally, there will be presenta...
A study by the University of Southern California suggests that abdominal fat releases lipids directly to the liver at night, leading to insulin resistance and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings highlight the importance of abdominal obesity in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Topiramate effectively decreases heavy drinking and associated physical and psychosocial harm, including lower blood pressure and improved liver function. The medication also shows promise in reducing the risk of heart disease and improving overall quality of life for alcohol-dependent individuals.
Researchers found that niacin works by reducing the presence of Beta chain on liver cells, which hinders HDL removal and maintains high plasma HDL levels. This new mechanism explains why niacin is especially beneficial for raising HDL while allowing other cholesterol types to be removed.
A study found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes patients. NAFLD was associated with a 69% higher risk of CKD compared to those without the condition.
Scientists have discovered a molecular marker, RIP140, that controls both metabolic processes and inflammatory responses in liver cells of mice with cancer. By switching off this molecule, the lipid balance of the liver normalized within a few days, suggesting its role in causing fatty liver in affected patients.
Researchers found that sea buckthorn leaf extract reduced liver damage in rats, with significant protection observed at higher doses. The study suggests that the leaves' anti-oxidant properties may help ward off liver disease.
Research findings suggest that high-volume surgeons at high-volume centers have improved in-hospital mortality rates for liver resections. Additionally, hospitals with a high annual volume of IBD patients experience lower mortality rates among hospitalized patients who undergo surgery.
Researchers found Prometheus liver support does not worsen systemic hemodynamics but lacks equal benefits as MARS treatment. The study concludes that extra-corporal liver support with albumin dialysis should not be withheld due to safety concerns.
Scientists have created human liver cells from embryonic stem cells, enabling drug toxicity studies and potential treatments for liver diseases. Researchers also found that innate immunity influences the response to treatment for chronic hepatitis C and discovered a link between urinary tract infections and primary biliary cirrhosis.
Researchers have confirmed that Jianpi Huoxue decoction inhibits targets in LPS-activated Kupffer cell signal pathway, reducing cytokine expression and endotoxin receptor activity. The study provides new evidence for JHD's potential therapeutic benefits for alcoholic liver injury.
Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) expression correlates with the progression of fibrosis and angiogenesis in experimental cirrhosis. The study suggests that TSP-1 may contribute to wound healing response to liver injury by inducing angiogenesis.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals that long-term survival and liver rejection rates are equivalent for African-American liver transplant patients as compared to patients of other races. The study suggests that race is not a predictor of survival, contrary to previous findings.
Common bacteria, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, can trigger autoimmune symptoms in mice similar to Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC), a rare and incurable liver disease. NKT cell activation is critical in initiating autoimmune processes leading to liver damage.
Rosiglitazone, an antidiabetic drug, has been found to prevent hepatic fibrosis due to Schistosoma japonicum infection. PPARgamma ligand is thought to play a key role in this process.
IGF-I exerts mitochondrial protection in experimental cirrhosis, reducing caspase activation and increasing ATP production. IGF-I supplementation shows beneficial effects on liver function and fibrosis in animal models.
Researchers analyzed clinical data from 11 liver cancer patients who underwent caudate lobectomy using specific skin incision, mobilization of liver, vascular exclusion, and ideal hepatectomy procedures. The study demonstrates that caudate lobectomy for cancer in the candate lobe can be safely performed with an appropriate procedure.
Research led by Dr. Yi-Jia Lou suggests that LTC4 synthesis enzymes contribute to liver injury in a rat FHF model, leading to accumulation of cys-LTs. The study's findings imply further investigation into the expression and activity of these enzymes in managing viral hepatitis patients.
A study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology found high circulating D-dimer levels associated with ascites presence in liver cirrhosis patients. Ascites depletion may prevent bleeding complications. High D-dimer levels also linked to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients without ascites.
The COPILOT study found that low-dose peginterferon alfa-2b improved disease-free survival in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, especially those who stayed on treatment. In contrast, the medication was not superior to colchicine in overall patient populations.
Scientists are developing a new proteomics project to identify biomarkers for chronic liver disease, which could help predict the progression of the disease and lead to early interventions. The technology aims to detect liver disease via blood test, with potential applications in other diseases and commercialization.
Combining stents and photodynamic therapy significantly improves survival rates for patients with advanced liver bile duct cancer, increasing it from 7 months to over 16 months. The treatment's effectiveness is attributed to the number of stent-replacement procedures and PDT sessions.
A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of multipolar radiofrequency ablation in treating patients with liver cancer, achieving complete tumor destruction in 66 out of 67 cases. After four years, 52% of patients are now tumor-free and 78% are still living.
Researchers link atherosclerosis to widespread organ damage and discover potential targets for treatment. The study found that biochemical signals in arteries can contribute to harm in the lungs, liver, and other organs.
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.
Research found prokineticin 2/Bv8 is downregulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma, but expressed in liver resident macrophages, suggesting a role in Kupffer cell physiology.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.