Hepatology News and Research

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Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree and pancreas as well as management of their disorders.

Research article addressing incidental findings in MRI-enterography in patients with CD to be published

MRI is increasingly used in the assessment of small bowel CD. Unlike conventional radiology, MRI enables visualization of disease extension beyond the intestinal wall, i.e., abscesses and fistulas. However, some extra-intestinal findings are unexpected and without relation to CD.

18 Jan 2010

Dr. Michel Kahaleh uses pCLE technique to diagnose and treat cancer

The world's smallest flexible microscope is diagnosing some big diseases and allowing physicians to treat patients on the spot. Dr. Michel Kahaleh, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Virginia Health System, is the only physician in Virginia currently using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE).

18 Jan 2010

Alterations in intestinal microbiota may lie behind IBS aetiology

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal functional disorder that can greatly affect the patient's well being. Multiple interacting mechanisms, including alterations in the intestinal microbiota, are suspected to lie behind IBS aetiology.

18 Jan 2010

Results show neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy improves patients with EC

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the major malignant diseases worldwide. Surgery alone cannot obtain satisfactory effects in patients with EC. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has been a hotspot for EC treatment research. Several related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published, but opinions vary among clinicians as to the therapeutic effect of the new method.

18 Jan 2010

Treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin proves effective

The current standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin is effective in approximately 50%-60% of patients, so that a substantial proportion of patients remain unresponsive.

18 Jan 2010

Role of H. pylori in autoimmune atrophic gastritis

Experimental animal studies have shown that H. pylori shares several antigenic regions in common with acid secreting cells in gastric mucosa. Antibodies triggered by H. pylori destroy acid secreting cells due to this antigenic mimicry.

17 Jan 2010

CT-guided biopsy: An alternative method for patients with pancreatic masses

It is reasonable to obtain a histological diagnosis before treating patients who have pancreatic masses and are unsuitable or unwilling to undergo surgery. As the pancreas is a deep seated organ surrounded by other vital structures, it is a challenge for the physician to obtain an adequate specimen for histological examination.

17 Jan 2010

Studies show treatment success for chronic hepatitis C may be predicted by rapid virological response

The likelihood of treatment success of 48 wk peg-interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy for chronic hepatitis C may be predicted by viral kinetics on therapy. In particular, recent studies have shown that sustained virological response (SVR) can be predicted by a rapid virological response (RVR), and an early virological response (EVR).

17 Jan 2010

NVHR supports IOM report on inadequate federal funding for chronic viral hepatitis

With today's release of a landmark study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C, finding that inadequate public-health resources are being allocated to national and local prevention, control, and surveillance programs, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) today renewed its call for the Administration, Congress, and the entire health care system to take immediate and decisive action to implement the report's key recommendations.

12 Jan 2010

Selection of therapeutic workshops to be presented at the Twelfth Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference

“This year’s BIO CEO & Investor Conference will provide a unique forum to showcase therapeutic areas with key catalysts – from new and dynamic therapies to cutting edge investment opportunities,” said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president of Emerging Companies & Business Development at BIO.

9 Jan 2010

Life-saving therapeutic interventions possible with early detection of hepatitis C recurrence

A recent study by doctors from the Hospital Cl-nic in Barcelona, Spain determined that repeated liver stiffness measurements (LSM) in the first year following liver transplant (LT) could discriminate between slow and rapid "fibrosers" (patients with fibrosis stage of F2-F4 one year post LT).

6 Jan 2010

Quercetin may prevent hepatitis C infection; findings may lead to less toxic treatments

Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.

6 Jan 2010

Increased coffee consumption linked to reduced hepatic fibrosis

Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) determined that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who consumed more than 308 mg of caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis. The daily amount of caffeine intake found to be beneficial is equivalent to 2.25 cups of regular coffee.

5 Jan 2010

Autism Speaks lauds recommendations for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of GI in ASD children

Autism Speaks applauds the consensus statement and recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) released online in Pediatrics as one step in advancing physician awareness of unique challenges in the medical management of children with autism.

5 Jan 2010

St. John's wort not effective in treating IBS

A Mayo Clinic research study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology finds that St. John's wort is not an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While antidepressants are frequently used to treat IBS, to date, no study has examined the success of using the herbal supplement St. John's wort in treating IBS.

5 Jan 2010

FDA grants Priority Review designation for InterMune's NDA for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review and granted Priority Review designation for the company's New Drug Application (NDA) for pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

4 Jan 2010

High prevalence of type 2 diabetes may be linked to excess niacin intake

Facing the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes worldwide in the past few decades, one may ask what is wrong with humans. Geneticists tell us that the human genome has not changed markedly in such a short time.

23 Dec 2009

GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes not associated with increased risk of GC or CRC in Koreans

The glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotypes have been linked to increased risk of developing cancer. The results regarding the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and the risk of GC or CRC were contradictory.

18 Dec 2009

Shift working may accelerate metabolic syndrome

Shift work exposures can accelerate metabolic syndrome (MetS) development among the large population of middle-aged males with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (e-ALT) is a common abnormality of health examinations in middle-aged working populations.

17 Dec 2009

Research article addresses the relationship between PEG and GER

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common problem in mechanically ventilated patients and contributes to the development of esophageal mucosal injury and even erosive esophagitis. The relationship between percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and subsequent development of GER is complex and not well understood.

9 Dec 2009

Hepatology News and Research

Further Reading

Research article addressing incidental findings in MRI-enterography in patients with CD to be published

Dr. Michel Kahaleh uses pCLE technique to diagnose and treat cancer

Alterations in intestinal microbiota may lie behind IBS aetiology

Results show neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy improves patients with EC

Treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin proves effective

Role of H. pylori in autoimmune atrophic gastritis

CT-guided biopsy: An alternative method for patients with pancreatic masses

Studies show treatment success for chronic hepatitis C may be predicted by rapid virological response

NVHR supports IOM report on inadequate federal funding for chronic viral hepatitis

Selection of therapeutic workshops to be presented at the Twelfth Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference

Life-saving therapeutic interventions possible with early detection of hepatitis C recurrence

Quercetin may prevent hepatitis C infection; findings may lead to less toxic treatments

Increased coffee consumption linked to reduced hepatic fibrosis

Autism Speaks lauds recommendations for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of GI in ASD children

St. John's wort not effective in treating IBS

FDA grants Priority Review designation for InterMune's NDA for pirfenidone

High prevalence of type 2 diabetes may be linked to excess niacin intake

GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes not associated with increased risk of GC or CRC in Koreans

Shift working may accelerate metabolic syndrome

Research article addresses the relationship between PEG and GER

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

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