Liver News and Research

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Certain platelet-derived growth factors can encourage regeneration of liver tissue following surgery

A team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna has discovered that certain platelet-derived growth factors are of major significance for the liver's regeneration processes. It has been shown that platelets can encourage the regrowth of liver tissue in patients who have had parts of their liver removed surgically.

23 Nov 2015

Fewer than 1 in 3 UK hospitals employ full-time doctors specialized in liver medicine

Despite rising rates of alcohol- and obesity-related liver disease, fewer than 1 in 3 UK hospitals employ a full-time liver specialist

22 Nov 2015

Crucial tumor-suppressing gene protects immune attack against lung cancer

A crucial tumor-thwarting gene protects an immune attack against lung cancer by blocking the key to an off switch on T cells, the customized warriors of the immune system, a team led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

21 Nov 2015

Type II diabetes drug can effectively clear fatty liver disease from some patients

New research published in The Lancet has shown that a drug, currently used in the treatment of Type II diabetes, can be effective in clearing fatty liver disease from some patients.

20 Nov 2015

New nanocarriers may effectively deliver therapeutic drug to GBM tumors

Glioblastoma multiforme, a cancer of the brain also known as "octopus tumors" because of the manner in which the cancer cells extend their tendrils into surrounding tissue, is virtually inoperable, resistant to therapies, and always fatal, usually within 15 months of onset.

20 Nov 2015

Urine-derived iPSCs model could help predict patient response to cholesterol-lowering drugs

We all know how important it is to keep our levels of blood cholesterol - especially the 'bad' variety - in check with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Although cholesterol is a key structural component of cell membranes and is vital for the biosynthesis of certain hormones and vitamins, high levels can lead to the formation of arterial plaques, which are a major risk factor for coronary heart disease.

20 Nov 2015

New drug combination may reduce need for complex regimens to treat hepatitis C

The prognosis for people with hepatitis C has improved dramatically in the last few years, thanks to the introduction of direct-acting anti-viral medications, including Harvoni (the brand name for a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir) and Viekira Pack (a mix of ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir and dasabuvir).

19 Nov 2015

New insulin pill shows promise as novel form of therapy for diabetes

An insulin pill being developed by researchers at UC Santa Barbara may in the near future give another blood sugar management option to those who suffer from diabetes. The novel drug delivery technology may also apply to a wide spectrum of other therapies.

19 Nov 2015

Potential treatment strategy for glycogen storage disease

Researchers from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore and Duke Medicine have identified a potential treatment strategy for an often-fatal inherited glycogen storage disease.

18 Nov 2015

Gamma interferon may have potential to prevent Ebola infection

The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa has claimed more than 11,300 lives and starkly revealed the lack of effective options for treating or preventing the disease. Progress has been made on developing vaccines, but there is still a need for antiviral therapies to protect health care workers and local populations in the event of future outbreaks.

18 Nov 2015

UCLA researchers find new way to reduce ascites with minimal side effects

Women who have ovarian cancer often develop a condition called ascites, which is a buildup of fluids in the abdomen. The most common treatment for ascites is puncturing the abdomen and manually draining the fluid, which is painful and risky and must be repeated every few weeks.

18 Nov 2015

Vitamin E shows same efficacy in diabetic and nondiabetic patients

There have been numerous studies on the safety and efficacy of using vitamin E to treat nondiabetic patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but researchers at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases presented results of vitamin E in diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

17 Nov 2015

Viking submits IND application to FDA to conduct VK2809 Phase 2 study in patients with LDL-C and fatty liver disease

Viking Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced that it has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct a Phase 2 study of VK2809 in patients with hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease.

17 Nov 2015

Positive data from AbbVie's HCV clinical development program presented at The Liver Meeting of AASLD

AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced data from the SURVEYOR studies of its investigational HCV regimen, ABT-493, an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and ABT-530, an NS5A inhibitor, that show high rates of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR 12) in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

17 Nov 2015

Nearly 50% of Medicaid patients infected with hepatitis C denied coverage for life-saving antiviral drugs

Nearly 50 percent of Medicaid patients infected with chronic hepatitis C whose doctors had prescribed newer, life-saving antiviral drugs were denied coverage to the therapies because they weren't considered "a medical necessity" or because the patients tested positive for alcohol/drugs, among other reasons, according to new Penn Medicine research.

17 Nov 2015

Birmingham researchers identify how Salmonella infections can lead to life-threatening thrombosis

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have, for the first time, identified how Salmonella infections that have spread to our blood and organs can lead to life-threatening thrombosis.

17 Nov 2015

Scientists show how absence of microbiota has remarkable effect against obesity

In the past few years, research on gut microbiota (that is, all microorganisms, mainly bacteria, inhabiting our gut) has started to unravel its tremendous role in our body, and how it symbiotically affects the functioning of our organs. In particular, microbiota has also an impact on the way calories are absorbed and how fat cells develop.

17 Nov 2015

Study finds that living liver donors highly satisfied with donation process

A study of living liver donors found donors were highly satisfied with the donation process. Findings published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, indicate most donors would donate again, independent of any complications from transplantation.

17 Nov 2015

MedUni Vienna researchers discover genetic cause of a rare disease

Researchers at MedUni Vienna have discovered the genetic cause of a rare disease characterized by life-threatening "liver crises" in early childhood and subsequent manifestation of neurological symptoms, such as neuropathy and ataxia (a movement disorder), when they reach school age.

15 Nov 2015

UC Irvine Health researchers develop one-step test to detect HCV infections

UC Irvine Health researchers have developed a cost-effective one-step test that screens, detects and confirms hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Dr. Ke-Qin Hu, director of hepatology services, will present findings at the Annual Meeting of American Association for the Study of Liver Disease in San Francisco, Nov. 14-16. Current blood-based HCV testing requires two steps and can be expensive, inconvenient and is not widely available or affordable globally.

15 Nov 2015

Liver News and Research

Certain platelet-derived growth factors can encourage regeneration of liver tissue following surgery

Fewer than 1 in 3 UK hospitals employ full-time doctors specialized in liver medicine

Crucial tumor-suppressing gene protects immune attack against lung cancer

Type II diabetes drug can effectively clear fatty liver disease from some patients

New nanocarriers may effectively deliver therapeutic drug to GBM tumors

Urine-derived iPSCs model could help predict patient response to cholesterol-lowering drugs

New drug combination may reduce need for complex regimens to treat hepatitis C

New insulin pill shows promise as novel form of therapy for diabetes

Potential treatment strategy for glycogen storage disease

Gamma interferon may have potential to prevent Ebola infection

UCLA researchers find new way to reduce ascites with minimal side effects

Vitamin E shows same efficacy in diabetic and nondiabetic patients

Viking submits IND application to FDA to conduct VK2809 Phase 2 study in patients with LDL-C and fatty liver disease

Positive data from AbbVie's HCV clinical development program presented at The Liver Meeting of AASLD

Nearly 50% of Medicaid patients infected with hepatitis C denied coverage for life-saving antiviral drugs

Birmingham researchers identify how Salmonella infections can lead to life-threatening thrombosis

Scientists show how absence of microbiota has remarkable effect against obesity

Study finds that living liver donors highly satisfied with donation process

MedUni Vienna researchers discover genetic cause of a rare disease

UC Irvine Health researchers develop one-step test to detect HCV infections

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (2nd edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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