Research on the liver in health and disease. Covers liver-disease subtypes, the liver's role in circadian timing, targeted therapies, and cell regulation.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
A new study found that inhaling nitric oxide during liver transplantation reduces hospital stays and improves blood-clotting and liver-enzyme activity. The treatment also protects transplanted livers from cell death, promising relief for donor-organ shortages.
A Japanese patient with liver cirrhosis and HCV infection underwent liver transplantation and was cleared of the virus just one month later. The long-term use of PEGylated IFN may have contributed to this outcome.
Researchers compared gene expression in the frontal cortex of cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic alcoholics, finding widespread effects on cellular pathways related to cirrhosis. This suggests that heavy drinking can cause more brain damage in individuals with liver scarring.
A new study suggests that inhaling nitric oxide during liver transplantation can decrease hospital stay time and improve liver function. The authors found increased levels of nitrite in circulation, which may mediate the beneficial effects of NO inhalation.
Researchers found that FTY720 prevents disease in mouse models of leukemia caused by the cancer protein BCR-ABL. Nitric oxide inhalation also accelerates restoration of liver function after transplantation, reducing hospital stay times.
Researchers at Ohio State University are developing a new technology to keep artificial liver cells alive and functioning normally. By creating different types of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, they can recreate natural oxygen gradients, allowing the liver cells to function as well as they do in the body.
Advanced age does not increase risk of death following liver transplant, according to a study. The authors analyzed 26 variables related to the recipients and found that preoperative hospitalization, cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C, and increasing model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score were associated with higher death rates.
Researchers at OHSU have created a technique to produce human liver cells in mice, which can be used to test how pharmaceuticals are metabolized. This innovation has the potential to change the way drugs are tested and could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases such as hepatitis C and malaria.
Two studies have found significant gender-based differences in newborns' hearts and livers that may explain why female infant deaths are higher after heart surgery and pediatric liver transplants are less successful. Newborn girls' hearts accumulate more acid during ischemia, which may lead to injury, while their livers produce more an...
Researchers developed a new blood test to detect liver cancer in an early stage, improving detection accuracy by 70%. The test uses the ratio of two sugar groups on blood proteins to identify liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis.
Two studies examine the role of sodium levels in predicting mortality for patients with severe liver disease, finding that low sodium levels are associated with increased wait-list mortality and poorer post-transplant outcomes. The results suggest incorporating sodium levels into MELD models could improve prognostic accuracy.
A meta-analysis of 11 studies on coffee consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) found a 41% reduction in HCC risk among coffee drinkers. The study suggests that compounds in coffee may act as blocking agents, reducing carcinogenic detoxification and liver disease risk.
A study found that ibuprofen treatment improved cognitive function in rats with chronic liver failure by reducing inflammation and normalizing a key brain pathway. The results suggest a potential therapeutic utility of decreasing inflammation in treating hepatic encephalopathy.
A recent study found that magnetic resonance CAD significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy of liver fibrosis, outperforming experienced radiologists in detection and grading.
A genetic metabolic defect in the liver can lead to obesity in some individuals, a study published in Metabolism reveals. The defect impairs the body's ability to burn fat, leading to increased hunger and overeating.
A joint research by Dr. Leonid Brodsky and Dr. Milton Taylor identified 37 genes out of 22,000 possible genes which fight the hepatitis C virus. The study's mathematical model can be applied to identify key genes in patient response to treatment, potentially leading to more effective medications.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a new biomaterial that can be injected into wounds to deliver targeted payloads of cells and antibiotics, enabling repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. The hydrogels also display antimicrobial properties, making them suitable for treating infections.
Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle leads to altered energy storage, promoting metabolic syndrome.
A recent study discovered a gene variant that significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones, with affected individuals being two to three times more likely to develop the condition. The relevant gene contains instructions for building a molecular pump that transports cholesterol into bile ducts.
Researchers measured the effect of hepatitis B on patients' quality of life, creating a new tool to better assess overall well-being. The study found that psychosocial impact affected many patients more than physical symptoms, underscoring the need for clinicians to consider social and psychological factors in treatment.
Researchers have found a new virus, NV1020, to be effective against colorectal cancer with minimal side effects. The treatment has shown promising results in reducing tumor masses and improving patient survival.