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.

Metabolic profiling of liver cells suggests new treatments for cirrhosis patients

In a new study that could help doctors extend the lives of patients awaiting liver transplants, a Rice University-led team of researchers examined the metabolic breakdown that takes place in liver cells during late-stage cirrhosis and found clues that suggest new treatments to delay liver failure.

5 Mar 2014

AbbVie's PEARL-III study meets primary, secondary endpoints in patients with chronic GT1b HCV infection

The first detailed results from AbbVie's pivotal phase III study, PEARL-III, were presented today as part of the 21st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) press conference and will also be presented as a late-breaker at the conference on March 4.

4 Mar 2014

Researchers find link between acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

In a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Louis University researchers have found a link between acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and pancreatic cancer, a finding which may eventually lead to some pancreatic cancers being detected earlier.

27 Feb 2014

Phase 2 trial results show GPB reduces hepatic encephalopathy episodes in patients with cirrhosis

Phase 2 trial results published in the March issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, suggests the potential for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate (GPB) to reduce hepatic encephalopathy episodes in patients with cirrhosis, with a safety profile similar to placebo.

27 Feb 2014

Telephone communication in IBD care helps to identify patients at risk of high-cost medical interventions

A comprehensive analysis of patient telephone records at an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinic revealed that 15 percent of patients account for half of all calls to the clinic. Forty-two percent of frequent-caller patients also were seen in the emergency department or hospitalized within the following year.

10 Feb 2014

Adding quinoa to gluten-free diet of patients with celiac disease is well-tolerated

Adding quinoa to the gluten-free diet of patients with celiac disease is well-tolerated, and does not exacerbate the condition, according to new research published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Dr. Victor F. Zevallos, from the Department of Gastroenterology, King's College London, United Kingdom, evaluated the in-vivo effects of consuming quinoa in adult celiac patients. Quinoa, a highly nutritious grain, is traditionally recommended as part of a gluten-free diet.

22 Jan 2014

Gilead Sciences gets marketing authorization from European Commission for Sovaldi 400 mg tablets

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) 400 mg tablets, a once-daily oral nucleotide analogue polymerase inhibitor for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in adults, in combination with other antiviral agents (ribavirin and pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN)).

18 Jan 2014

Monitoring individuals with chronic HBV is cost-effective strategy for China

A novel study determined that monitoring inactive chronic hepatitis B (HBV) carriers is a cost-effective strategy for China. However, results published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that increasing treatment, monitoring and adherence to therapy are necessary to achieve significant health benefits at the population level.

16 Jan 2014

Research: SLPI protein produced by body in response to injury plays vital role in patients with ALF

Findings published in the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases journal, Hepatology, indicate that infection, the commonest cause of mortality in patients with acute liver failure, may be decreased by inhibiting the activity of a protein found in saliva called SLPI.

10 Jan 2014

Takeda terminates development activities for fasiglifam (TAK-875)

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) announced today that it has decided voluntarily to terminate the development activities for fasiglifam (TAK-875), an investigational treatment for type 2 diabetes, due to concerns about liver safety.

27 Dec 2013

Genotyping strategy could boost celiac screening efficacy

Genotyping for human leukocyte antigen followed by biopsy is a sensitive strategy for detecting histopathologic lesions in the close relatives of people with celiac disease, research indicates.

24 Dec 2013

Studies offer new insight into diverticulosis

Diverticulosis, a condition that develops when pouches form in the wall of the colon, is increasing in frequency. It affects the majority of those reaching the age of 80 - a growing portion of the population - and imposes a substantial burden on health-care resources, but curiously there is a lack of data and unanswered questions around this condition.

18 Dec 2013

MTN receives $70M to develop and test products that aim to reduce spread of HIV

With funding of $70 million to support its effort into 2021, the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) will continue to develop and test products that aim to reduce the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, federal officials announced yesterday.

17 Dec 2013

Women are more susceptible to damaging effects of alcohol than men

Women are more susceptible to the damaging effects of alcohol than men because they are generally smaller in stature and have less body water than men, according to a leading Houston hepatologist.

16 Dec 2013

Brazilian study provides evidence to support effectiveness of Tecta in erosive GERD

Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH announced today results showing pantoprazole magnesium 40 mg (Tecta) was as effective as esomeprazole 40 mg for achieving complete remission (defined as combined endoscopic healing and symptomatic relief) and the mucosal healing rate was high, whilst providing significantly higher symptom relief after 8 weeks.

13 Dec 2013

Cook Medical begins clinical study to evaluate removability of Evolution Esophageal Fully Covered Stent

Cook Medical has initiated a clinical study in the U.S. to evaluate the removability of a new Evolution Esophageal Fully Covered Stent. This is the first multicenter U.S. study to evaluate the possibility of removing a self-expanding metal stent after malignant and benign strictures have been treated. The stent design used in the study has been modified to accommodate retrieval.

12 Dec 2013

HCV antiviral therapy also improves diabetes outcomes

Researchers from Taiwan reveal that antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus improves kidney and cardiovascular outcomes for patients with diabetes. Results of the study published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that incidences of kidney disease, stroke, and heart attack were lower in patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin compared to HCV patients not treated with antivirals or diabetic patients not infected with the virus.

12 Dec 2013

Revised Clinical Practice Guidelines on management of HCV published by EASL

The European Association for the Study of the Liver today publishes their revised Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on the management of hepatitis C virus infection. The EASL guidelines, which supersede the previous version published in 2011, are designed to help physicians and other healthcare providers optimise their management of patients with acute and chronic HCV.

9 Dec 2013

Research show that risk of diverticulosis is lower than previously thought

People who have diverticulosis, or pouches in the lining of the colon, often worry that they will eventually develop a painful and sometimes serious condition called diverticulitis, as previous research has shown that one in four, or up to 25 percent, of those with the condition will.

3 Dec 2013

Arrowhead seeks approval to start ARC-520 phase 2a trial for chronic hepatitis B infection

Arrowhead Research Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted RNAi therapeutics, today announced that it recently filed an application for approval to begin a phase 2a clinical trial of its RNAi-based therapeutic candidate, ARC-520, for the potential treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

25 Nov 2013