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.

Researchers develop genetic risk score to predict development of alcohol-induced cirrhosis

An international research group led by the Centenary Institute has developed a world first genetic risk score (GRS) test able to identify patients at high-risk of developing alcohol-related cirrhosis.

26 Oct 2021

New protocol reduces hospitalizations, deaths of liver and kidney transplant patients with COVID-19

Liver and kidney transplant recipients have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and/or death should they become infected because the medication they take to ensure a successful transplant suppresses their immune systems.

15 Oct 2021

COVID-19 booster for immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers have published correspondence detailing the reasoning behind providing a third booster dose to patients with inflammatory bowel disease that have been treated with drugs that can reduce the response to the COVID-19 vaccines.

14 Oct 2021

New source of stem cells could help treat people with Alagille syndrome

Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys have discovered a new source of stem cells just outside the liver that could help treat people living with Alagille syndrome, a rare, incurable genetic disorder in which the bile ducts of the liver are absent, leading to severe liver damage and death.

12 Oct 2021

6 months to live or die: How long should an alcoholic liver disease patient wait for a transplant?

The night before Brian Gorzney planned to check into rehab for alcohol use, he began vomiting blood. First at 2 a.m. Then 5. And again at 11.

12 Oct 2021

Small set of beneficial bacterial strains linked to effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplants

The effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in treating ulcerative colitis depends on a small set of beneficial bacterial strains, suggests a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

11 Oct 2021

NRG Oncology launches highly anticipated colorectal cancer prevention study

Today, NRG Oncology activated the highly anticipated colorectal cancer prevention trial, FORTE, NRG-CC005. FORTE (Five or Ten Year Colonoscopy for 1-2 Non-Advanced Adenomatous Polyps) is a large, randomized trial of surveillance colonoscopy for participants with a first-time diagnosis of 1 or 2 small benign polyps, called adenomas.

6 Oct 2021

Novel scoring tools developed for predicting risk of colon cancer and precancerous polyps

Researchers have created novel scoring tools for predicting actual risk of colon cancer and advanced precancerous polyps for patients at average for the disease.

5 Oct 2021

Research shows 40% decline in colorectal cancer diagnoses during COVID-19 pandemic

The number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases diagnosed fell dramatically by 40% in a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research presented today at UEG Week Virtual 2021 has shown.

4 Oct 2021

COVID-19 may trigger hyperglycemia by disrupting key metabolic signals to cause severe disease

COVID-19 may bring high risks of severe disease and death in many patients by disrupting key metabolic signals and thereby triggering hyperglycemia, according to a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

2 Oct 2021

Research shows dramatic decline in colorectal cancer diagnoses during the pandemic

The number of colorectal cancer cases diagnosed fell dramatically by 40% in a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research presented today at UEG Week Virtual 2021 has shown.

1 Oct 2021

Scientists turn into molecular detectives to find clues to why certain cancer therapies stop working

A new research study at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) turns cancer scientists into molecular detectives, searching for clues for why certain cancers are able to spread and evolve by studying tissues collected within hours of death.

29 Sep 2021

Primary sclerosing cholangitis: Therapy with synthetic bile acid acts directly on the immune system

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a rare, chronic inflammatory disease of the bile ducts and is difficult to treat. Studies conducted by the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at MedUni Wien under the guidance of Michael Trauner (Department of Internal Medicine III) were able to show positive effects from the administration of synthetically produced bile acids and bile acid receptor agonists.

28 Sep 2021

Artificial intelligence predicts the risk of metastatic relapse in breast cancer patients

The RACE AI study conducted by Gustave Roussy and the startup Owkin, as part of the AI for Health Challenge organized by the Ile-de-France Region in 2019, was presented as a proffered paper at ESMO.

21 Sep 2021

Colonoscopy retroflexion often poorly preformed in practice, study finds

A colonoscopy maneuver to better detect polyps in the right colon is often poorly preformed in practice, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in BMC Gastroenterology.

8 Sep 2021

Study pinpoints an entirely new approach for treatment of biliary atresia

Biliary atresia is the largest cause of end-stage liver fibrosis in children and the main reason children need liver transplants. Despite many years of worldwide research, scientists have not yet found a way to prevent the condition.

7 Sep 2021

Electronic health systems helped increase HBV screenings during COVID-19 pandemic

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, community health clinics saw a significant drop in patient visits. Important screenings like those for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) were getting missed, which was a setback for a local program called END B to end the transmission of HBV - a leading risk factor for liver cancer.

23 Aug 2021

Dysregulation of innate lymphoid cells drives colon cancer progression and immunotherapy resistance

An immune cell subset called innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) protects against colorectal cancer, in part by helping to maintain a healthy dialogue between the immune system and gut microbes, according to a new study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. The finding opens the door to new strategies for treating this type of cancer.

17 Aug 2021

Understanding hypoxia-induced gene expression variations in aggressive type of pancreatic cancer

Cancer cells have evolved a myriad of mechanisms that support their uncontrolled growth. In case of solid tissue tumors, the tumor microenvironment, which consists of extracellular components and conditions surrounding the tumor, is crucial in deciding the fate of the cancer cells.

11 Aug 2021

Research reveals the economic burden of colorectal cancer across Europe

New research led by Queen’s University Belfast has found that colorectal cancer costs Europe a staggering €19.1 billion (£16.3 billion) per year. This figure includes direct expenditure as well as indirect costs including premature death and sick leave.

4 Aug 2021