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.

Octreotide inhibits HepG2 proliferation, study confirms

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy in the world and is estimated to cause approximately half a million deaths annually. Undoubtedly, the best available treatment for all liver tumors is complete surgical resection. However, the synthetic somatostatin analogue octreotide has been found effective in inhibiting tumor growth in a variety of experimental models. It has been reported that octreotide inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of different HCC cell lines in vitro.

1 Feb 2011

Study finds E2F5 transcription factor commonly overexpressed in primary human HCC

E2F5 is a member of the E2F transcription factor family, and plays a key role in cell growth and proliferation. Overexpression of E2F5 has been reported in various human cancers, but not in liver cancer, and its biological implication is largely unknown. It is not known whether E2F5 plays a tumor suppressor role or an oncogenic role.

1 Feb 2011

Researchers propose new classification system for SOD

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is a pathological syndrome that is usually classified into the biliary type or the pancreatic type according to the Milwaukee criteria.

1 Feb 2011

Research sheds new light on venous thromboembolism following liver resections

Patients undergoing liver surgery have long been considered to be at low risk of venous thromboembolism. However, pulmonary embolism has recently emerged as an increasingly frequent and potentially fatal complication following liver resections.

1 Feb 2011

MRI T2 can determine iron overload in beta-thalassemic patients

Iron overload is a common and serious problem in thalassemic major patients. As iron accumulation is toxic in the body's tissues, accurate estimation of iron stores is of great importance in these patients to prevent iron overload by an appropriate iron chelating therapy.

1 Feb 2011

Researchers study peripheral blood Tregs as disease marker of gastric cancer

T-regulatory lymphocytes are a subset of T lymphocytes that are involved in the mechanism of immunotolerance to self- and allo-antigens. Activity of these cells is one of the mechanisms of immune evasion of tumors, which inhibits the antitumor activity of effector cells.

1 Feb 2011

Researchers discover new sensory neurons that mediate BP and metabolism regulation in liver

For 60 years, scientists have puzzled over the possibility of a hepatic osmoreceptor that influences blood pressure regulation. Now, researchers of the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin-Buch, the Experimental and Clinical Research Center of the MDC and Charit- and the Hannover Medical School appear to have made a breakthrough discovery.

27 Jan 2011

Alcohol-related liver disease rising among young Britons

According to latest National Health Service (NHS) figures the number of people under 30 admitted to hospital in the past decade has risen by more than 50 per cent. 351 people aged 30 and under were admitted to an English hospital with alcohol related liver disease in 2009/10, up from 230 in 2000/01. That is still only a small fraction of the 14,500 people aged 31 or over who were admitted for alcohol-related liver problems in the last year.

26 Jan 2011

Survival following transplant surgery for liver cancer not impacted by HIV-positive status

French researchers determined that infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impaired results of transplant surgery for liver cancer, with more HIV infected patients dropping off the transplantation wait list. The team found that overall survival and recurrence-free survival was not impacted following liver transplantation in patients with controlled HIV disease.

25 Jan 2011

Evaluating patients for genetic variations impacts adherence to antiviral therapy

In two recent studies, researchers have identified two functional variants in the inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene that protect patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) against anemia brought on by antiviral treatment. The ability to identify those patients protected against treatment-induced anemia will ensure completion of antiviral therapy and successful elimination of the virus.

25 Jan 2011

FDA accepts Vertex's telaprevir NDA for six-month Priority Review

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for telaprevir and granted the company's request for six-month Priority Review. Telaprevir is Vertex's lead medicine in development for people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.

20 Jan 2011

Baked goods made from hydrolyzed wheat flour are not toxic to celiac disease patients

Baked goods made from hydrolyzed wheat flour are not toxic to celiac disease patients, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute.

20 Jan 2011

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

If you are looking to lose weight in the coming year, you may need help from an unexpected place: the bacteria in your gut. That's because scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined.

14 Jan 2011

FibroGen initiates FG-3019 open-label phase 2 study in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

FibroGen, Inc. today announced initiation of an open-label phase 2 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of FG-3019, a human monoclonal antibody against connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), in individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic, progressive, fatal lung disease for which there are no FDA-approved therapies.

13 Jan 2011

Salix and CCA offer Colonoscopy For Dummies

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., in partnership with the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA), is proud to announce the availability of Colonoscopy For Dummies.

12 Jan 2011

Study finds combined treatments safe and effective for severe acute pancreatitis

The use of combined treatments for severe acute pancreatitis is safe and effective in managing the disease, resulting in shorter hospitalizations and fewer radiological procedures than standard therapy, according to a study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. In a related study, doctors found that patients with infected pancreatic necrosis were able to avoid surgery through primary conservative treatment, which is in-patient medical treatment.

7 Jan 2011

Vertex announces modification of telaprevir and VX-222 combination Phase 2 trial for treatment of HCV

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced a modification of its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating 12-week, response-guided regimens of its lead investigational hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, telaprevir, in combination with its lead investigational HCV polymerase inhibitor, VX-222.

22 Dec 2010

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Mount Sinai collaborate to evaluate anti-fibrotic effects of Galectin-targeting compounds

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading developer of Galectin therapeutics to treat cancer and fibrosis, today announced it has entered into a new research collaboration with Mount Sinai School of Medicine to evaluate in pre-clinical models, the anti-fibrotic effects of several of the Company's novel, Galectin-targeting compounds.

21 Dec 2010

Researchers present definitive explanation of how fibrotic cells destroy human liver

In the latest of a series of related papers, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in Austria and elsewhere, present a new and more definitive explanation of how fibrotic cells form, multiply and eventually destroy the human liver, resulting in cirrhosis. In doing so, the findings upend the standing of a long-presumed marker for multiple fibrotic diseases and reveal the existence of a previously unknown kind of inflammatory white blood cell.

21 Dec 2010

InterMune's MAA for Esbriet receives positive CHMP opinion

InterMune, Inc. today announced additions to its senior leadership team to prepare for the commercialization of Esbriet™ (pirfenidone) in Europe. InterMune's Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Esbriet received a positive CHMP opinion that is now awaiting ratification by the European Commission.

20 Dec 2010

Hepatology News and Research

Further Reading

Octreotide inhibits HepG2 proliferation, study confirms

Study finds E2F5 transcription factor commonly overexpressed in primary human HCC

Researchers propose new classification system for SOD

Research sheds new light on venous thromboembolism following liver resections

MRI T2 can determine iron overload in beta-thalassemic patients

Researchers study peripheral blood Tregs as disease marker of gastric cancer

Researchers discover new sensory neurons that mediate BP and metabolism regulation in liver

Alcohol-related liver disease rising among young Britons

Survival following transplant surgery for liver cancer not impacted by HIV-positive status

Evaluating patients for genetic variations impacts adherence to antiviral therapy

FDA accepts Vertex's telaprevir NDA for six-month Priority Review

Baked goods made from hydrolyzed wheat flour are not toxic to celiac disease patients

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

FibroGen initiates FG-3019 open-label phase 2 study in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Salix and CCA offer Colonoscopy For Dummies

Study finds combined treatments safe and effective for severe acute pancreatitis

Vertex announces modification of telaprevir and VX-222 combination Phase 2 trial for treatment of HCV

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Mount Sinai collaborate to evaluate anti-fibrotic effects of Galectin-targeting compounds

Researchers present definitive explanation of how fibrotic cells destroy human liver

InterMune's MAA for Esbriet receives positive CHMP opinion

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