Liver News and Research

RSS

Researchers track cell family trees to discover their role in tissue scarring and liver disease

Researchers have discovered that a key cell type involved in liver injury and cancer consists of two cellular families with different origins and functions.

15 Oct 2019

Koalas protect their germline cells against retroviral attack

In a new study published in the journal Cell, scientists have found that koala DNA is protected against attack by retroviruses by a special type of immune response, which distinguishes foreign DNA from the host genome and destroys it before it can proliferate. This finding could help us understand both how koalas survive these infections, and the mechanics of adaptive gene change.

15 Oct 2019

Rapid and sensitive tracking of fat molecules in the body

Fats have earned a bad name as the source of all that is wrong with our hearts and blood vessels, not to mention our appearance. The dysfunctional handling of lipids or fats in the body is deeply involved in a multitude of metabolic upsets, such as obesity and cancer.

14 Oct 2019

Highly sensitive method can 'track' fat metabolism

Without fat, nothing works in the body: These substances serve as energy suppliers and important building blocks - including for the envelopes of living cells.

14 Oct 2019

Overdose prevention should also focus on alcohol use, study suggests

For several years, the national spotlight has shone on the need to prevent and rapidly treat opioid overdoses. But a new study suggests a need for more focus on the risk of alcohol overdoses among people who use opioids of all kinds, as well as cocaine, marijuana and certain prescription drugs.

14 Oct 2019

SOX9 broadly modifies the severity of Alagille syndrome liver disease in mice

Alagille syndrome is a rare pediatric genetic disorder that can affect the liver, heart, kidneys, blood vessels, skeleton and other tissues.

11 Oct 2019

Newly tested medical device mimics the effects of traditional bariatric surgery in rodents

New research from King's College London published in EBioMedicine, has found that a newly tested medical device, called Sleeveballoon, mimics the effects of traditional bariatric surgery in rodents and produces impressive results on body weight, fatty liver and diabetes control.

11 Oct 2019

Two new grants to support researchers to better understand, manage metastasis of melanoma

The American Cancer Society and Melanoma Research Alliance have selected two new promising projects in a second round of funding under a partnership between ACS & MRA. The first grants funded through the partnership, in 2018, focused on advancing research to reduce side effects resulting from cancer treatments with immune-checkpoint inhibitors.

10 Oct 2019

Vaccine against gastrin may slow spread of pancreatic cancer

New research suggests a vaccine that blocks a digestive hormone may slow the spread of pancreatic cancer, potentially increasing survival rates. The study, published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, was chosen as an APSselect article for October.

10 Oct 2019

Cell discovery could help fight against liver disease

Scientists have identified new sub-types of cells that, when they interact, accelerate the scarring process in diseased livers.

9 Oct 2019

Novel cancer-driving mutation discovered in vast non-coding regions of the cancer genome

An Ontario-led research group has discovered a novel cancer-driving mutation in the vast non-coding regions of the human cancer genome, also known as the "dark matter" of human cancer DNA.

9 Oct 2019

Scientists demonstrate potential method for treating advanced liver cancers

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The most common primary liver cancer in adults is known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and accounts for approximately 780,000 deaths every year.

9 Oct 2019

Study evaluates role of PET/CT in selecting candidates for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy

A new study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine evaluated the role of 68Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography in selecting neuroendocrine tumor patients who may benefit from peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

9 Oct 2019

Combination treatment cures pancreatic cancer, reprograms the immune system

A University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute research team reports that combining a type of radiation therapy with immunotherapy not only cures pancreatic cancer in mice, but appears to reprogram the immune system to create an "immune memory" in the same way that a vaccine keeps the flu away.

8 Oct 2019

New way to prevent malaria bugs from breeding

A new international collaboration reports that the compound called TCMDC-135051 is capable of preventing the synthesis of a protein that is required for growth in Plasmodium falciparum, one of the species of the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. The study, reported in the journal Science, could lead to the development of a new antimalarial drug.

8 Oct 2019

New app helps moms-to-be monitor blood pressure

Elevated blood pressure or gestational hypertension in pregnant mothers can lead to a multitude of complications that can affect the baby. In severe cases, pregnant mothers can develop preeclampsia, a sudden increase in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy.

7 Oct 2019

New genome-wide association study shines light on genetic risk factors for gout

Researchers, using a method called genome-wide association study, have illuminated the genetic underpinnings of high serum urate, the blood condition that brings on gout.

7 Oct 2019

Potential metabolism target could slow or prevent breast cancer metastasis

Cancer cells - especially the more aggressive ones - seem to have an ability to change. It's how they evade treatment and spread throughout the body.

4 Oct 2019

Researchers identify new targets to treat fibrotic diseases

When it comes to repairing injured tissue, specialized cells in the body known as fibroblasts are called into action. Fibroblasts give rise to healing cells called myofibroblasts, which generally is good in the short term - but bad when myofibroblast activation gets out of hand.

4 Oct 2019

RACP marks anniversary of NT alcohol laws with renewed push to roll out minimum pricing signals

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has marked the first anniversary of minimum pricing in the Northern Territory with a renewed push to roll out pricing signals nationally that will help prevent disease, deaths and other alcohol harm.

4 Oct 2019