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.

Standard HCV therapy less effective in urban minority patients: Study

A recent study confirms that the standard hepatitis C therapy, pegylated interferon and ribavirin, is significantly less effective in urban minority patients treated in an ordinary clinical practice setting compared with results produced during clinical trials.

26 Mar 2010

New therapies increase survival rates in post-transplant liver cancer patients

A recent study found that sirolimus-based immunosuppression following liver transplantation in patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) significantly increases survival rates for this patient population. Results of this study appear in the April issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

25 Mar 2010

Hepatitis C treatment less effective in urban minority patients

A recent study confirms that the standard hepatitis C (HCV) therapy, pegylated interferon and ribavirin, is significantly less effective in urban minority patients treated in an ordinary clinical practice setting compared with results produced during clinical trials. Results of this study appear in the April issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

25 Mar 2010

Hepatic encephalopathy drug XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets receives FDA marketing approval

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval for XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets for reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in patients 18 years of age or older. HE is a serious disorder caused by chronic liver failure, resulting in cognitive, psychiatric and motor impairments. This approval was supported by findings from the largest randomized trial of maintenance therapy in HE conducted to date, which assessed the efficacy and safety of XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets and demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of overt HE recurrence.

25 Mar 2010

EMA validates InterMune's pirfenidone MAA for IPF

InterMune, Inc. today announced that the company's Marketing Authorization Application (MAA), submitted on March 2 seeking approval of pirfenidone for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in adults, was validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Validation of the MAA by the EMA indicates that the application is complete and that the review process will begin on March 24. The proposed trade name for pirfenidone in both the United States and Europe is Esbriet®.

23 Mar 2010

Researchers find some similarities between SPN and PET

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas is relatively rare. There are some similarities between SPN and pancreatic endocrine tumor (PET), especially the non-functioning ones, in clinical and pathological manifestations.

18 Mar 2010

Vertex Pharmaceuticals' telaprevir and VX-222 HCV inhibitor abstracts accepted for presentation at 45th EASL meeting

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that multiple abstracts related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor telaprevir and the HCV polymerase inhibitor VX-222 were accepted for presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Austria, April 14-18, 2010.

17 Mar 2010

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center recommends colonoscopy screening to reduce risk of colon cancer

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center are encouraging men and women to learn more about colon polyps and how they affect a person's risks for cancer.

11 Mar 2010

FDA's Advisory Committee votes 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet for treatment of patients with IPF

InterMune, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet® (pirfenidone) for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to reduce decline in lung function.

9 Mar 2010

NASDAQ halts trading of InterMune's common stock, FDA PADAC to discuss pirfenidone NDA

InterMune, Inc. announced that NASDAQ has today halted trading of InterMune's common stock. The Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration meets today to review and discuss the company's New Drug Application for pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

9 Mar 2010

Abused children more likely to suffer abdominal pain and nausea

Children who have been abused psychologically, physically or sexually are more likely to suffer unexplained abdominal pain and nausea or vomiting than children who have not been abused, a study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers concludes.

9 Mar 2010

Endoscopic and surgical treatment of GV bleeding: MDCTPV could provide valuable references

Gastric varices (GV) are an important complication of portal hypertension. As an almost atraumatic method, computed tomography (CT) angiography has been used widely to show the portal vein system. However, the collateral circulation of GV in different locations has been reported only rarely.

6 Mar 2010

Differentiation of cirrhosis from inflammation in patients with ALD: Novel bedside criteria identified

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis in the Western world. Liver biopsy is currently considered the gold standard for assessing hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis in these patients. However, it is an invasive procedure, with rare but potentially life-threatening complications and its accuracy is limited due to sampling error. Transient elastography (FibroScan-, FS) is a novel rapid and noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis via measurement of liver stiffness (LS).

6 Mar 2010

Research group performs randomized study to evaluate efficacy of ICCBco in treatment of lung lesions

To evaluate efficacy of Calculus Bovis compound preparation (ICCBco) in the treatment of lung lesions in portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis as the experimental animal model, a research group in China performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to observe pathological changes and pathological effect mechanism of expression of fibronectin and laminin in the lung tissue of portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis.

6 Mar 2010

Researchers assess clinical and cost impacts of PPI utilization in hospitalized patients

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective agents for treating acid related gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The utilization of intravenous (IV) formulations of PPIs has dramatically increased in health care institutions for inappropriate indications, route of administration and length of treatment. This is associated with an increased cost burden, increased risk of IV related infections, and utilization of hospital resources.

6 Mar 2010

Study reports increased incidence of colorectal cancer in China

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China is lower than that in the west countries, but has increased in recent years and become a substantial cancer burden in China, particularly in the more developed areas.

6 Mar 2010

Closing small bowel stomas: Minimal delay optimal

It is generally recommended that a temporary stoma be closed within 9-12 wk after its construction. However, because some patients poorly tolerate the temporary stoma owing to extracellular dehydration, difficult pouch fitting, parenteral nutrition requirement in cases when the stoma is very proximal, and psychological or social impact, it might be advisable to opt for early closure.

6 Mar 2010

Hypertension: Regular nifedipine administration may lead to development of GERD

Nifedipine, a calcium-channel blocker, was shown to decrease lower esophageal sphincter pressure and increase esophageal acid exposure time, while atenolol, a b1 blocker, was shown to inhibit relaxation of the smooth muscle of the esophagus. However, the influence of these anti-hypertensive drugs on the segment of esophageal body contraction using high-resolution manometry was not fully investigated.

5 Mar 2010

Study explores prognostic biomarkers in patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer

Tumor budding at the invasive tumor front of colorectal cancer is recognized as an independent prognostic factor significantly related to both lymph node and distant metastasis.

5 Mar 2010

FDA's PADAC meeting to review pirfenidone NDA: InterMune posts briefing documents

InterMune, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted briefing documents for the March 9 Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee (PADAC) meeting to review the New Drug Application (NDA) for pirfenidone, InterMune's investigational drug candidate for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to reduce decline in lung function. The proposed trade name for pirfenidone is Esbriet®.

5 Mar 2010

Hepatology News and Research

Further Reading

Standard HCV therapy less effective in urban minority patients: Study

New therapies increase survival rates in post-transplant liver cancer patients

Hepatitis C treatment less effective in urban minority patients

Hepatic encephalopathy drug XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets receives FDA marketing approval

EMA validates InterMune's pirfenidone MAA for IPF

Researchers find some similarities between SPN and PET

Vertex Pharmaceuticals' telaprevir and VX-222 HCV inhibitor abstracts accepted for presentation at 45th EASL meeting

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center recommends colonoscopy screening to reduce risk of colon cancer

FDA's Advisory Committee votes 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet for treatment of patients with IPF

NASDAQ halts trading of InterMune's common stock, FDA PADAC to discuss pirfenidone NDA

Abused children more likely to suffer abdominal pain and nausea

Endoscopic and surgical treatment of GV bleeding: MDCTPV could provide valuable references

Differentiation of cirrhosis from inflammation in patients with ALD: Novel bedside criteria identified

Research group performs randomized study to evaluate efficacy of ICCBco in treatment of lung lesions

Researchers assess clinical and cost impacts of PPI utilization in hospitalized patients

Study reports increased incidence of colorectal cancer in China

Closing small bowel stomas: Minimal delay optimal

Hypertension: Regular nifedipine administration may lead to development of GERD

Study explores prognostic biomarkers in patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer

FDA's PADAC meeting to review pirfenidone NDA: InterMune posts briefing documents

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