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Scientists find high proportion of oral bacteria in gut microbiota of liver cirrhosis patients

Scientists from INRA in collaboration with a Chinese team found that the gut microbiota[1] of individuals with liver cirrhosis differ notably from healthy individuals', showing a high proportion of oral bacteria.

26 Jul 2014

Scientists sequence genome of Asian liver fluke, a cancer-causing parasite

Scientists have sequenced the genome and characterised the genes of the Asian liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. This parasite causes diseases that affect millions of people in Asia and is associated with a fatal bile duct cancer.

16 Jul 2014

Genetic mutations in liver cells may drive tumor formation in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Two genetic mutations in liver cells may drive tumor formation in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), the second most common form of liver cancer, according to a research published in the July issue of the journal Nature.

8 Jul 2014

Use of NMR in diagnostic research: an interview with Elaine Holmes, Imperial College

The Phenome Center developed out of the Olympic drug testing facility, and we've adapted it so that we use NMR spectrometry, which we have three spectrometers, and mass spectrometry, to take blood and urine from hundreds and thousands of people and profile them to get a biochemical fingerprint of every person.

From Bruker BioSpin - NMR, EPR and Imaging 1 Jul 2014

New approach may help develop more effective immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma

A new approach demonstrated that the recognition of unique cancer mutations appeared to be responsible for complete cancer regressions in two metastatic melanoma patients treated with a type of immunotherapy called adoptive T-cell therapy.

1 Jul 2014

Novel method triples length of time organs can be preserved for transplantation

A system developed by investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Engineering in Medicine allowed successful transplantation of rat livers after preservation for as long as four days, more than tripling the length of time organs currently can be preserved.

30 Jun 2014

Scottsdale Healthcare, TGen initiate AG-120 clinical trial in patients with solid tumors

The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute are studying the safety and effectiveness of a new drug, AG-120, for treatment of patients with solid tumors, especially those with brain tumors and gallbladder bile duct cancer.

18 Jun 2014

State highlights: Rural telemedicine; two Iowa planned parenthoods closed

A selection of health policy stories from South Dakota, Washington state, Iowa, Arizona and Georgia. Fifty years in farming had given Tom Soukup a few brushes with his own mortality, but after a cow pinned him against a wall, death felt closer than ever.

9 Jun 2014

Innovative device has potential to reduce hemorrhage, save lives

Removing a malignant tumor from the head of the pancreas is a risky and demanding operation. The surgeon must carefully navigate around the stomach, the gallbladder, the bile duct, lymph nodes, and several high-pressure blood vessels.

29 May 2014

Surgeons perform robotic gall bladder surgery more safely

A green fluorescent dye is helping surgeons at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System perform robotic gall bladder surgery more safely.

8 May 2014

Perfusion system at room temperature preserves and improves metabolic function of donor livers

A system developed by investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Engineering in Medicine (CEM) and the MGH Transplant Center has the potential to increase both the supply and the quality of donor organs for liver transplantation.

7 May 2014

High-dose steroid therapy following surgery do not improve bile drainage among infants

Among infants who underwent surgery to repair bile ducts that do not drain properly (biliary atresia), the administration of high-dose steroid therapy following surgery did not significantly improve bile drainage after 6 months, although a small clinical benefit could not be excluded, according to a study in the May 7 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.

5 May 2014

High doses of steroids fail to improve outcomes in pediatric liver disease

A multi-center study concludes that treating infants with high doses of steroids fails to improve medical outcomes in the end-stage pediatric liver disease biliary atresia and leads to earlier onset of serious adverse events.

5 May 2014

Johns Hopkins scientists find a way to prevent atherosclerosis

Working with mice and rabbits, Johns Hopkins scientists have found a way to block abnormal cholesterol production, transport and breakdown, successfully preventing the development of atherosclerosis, the main cause of heart attacks and strokes and the number-one cause of death among humans. The condition develops when fat builds inside blood vessels over time and renders them stiff, narrowed and hardened, greatly reducing their ability to feed oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle and the brain.

23 Apr 2014

Bile acids could be a new target for treating obesity and diabetes, say researchers

Bariatric surgery has positive effects not only on weight loss but also on diabetes and heart disease. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy and University of Cincinnati have shown that the health benefits are not caused by a reduction in the stomach size but by increased levels of bile acids in the blood.

23 Apr 2014

Stool color guide and free mobile app help diagnose liver-ravaging disorder in babies

Fecal color and consistency are well-known markers of digestive health in both children and adults, but paying attention to a newborn's shade of poop can be a decided lifesaver in babies born with the rare, liver-ravaging disorder biliary atresia, commonly heralded by white or clay-colored stool.

22 Apr 2014

New parents need to pay attention to baby’s poop color, say pediatric gastroenterologists

Fecal color and consistency are well-known markers of digestive health in both children and adults, but paying attention to a newborn’s shade of poop can be a decided lifesaver in babies born with the rare, liver-ravaging disorder biliary atresia, commonly heralded by white or clay-colored stool.

18 Apr 2014

Obeticholic acid meets primary composite endpoint in Phase III study

Results from an international Phase III study presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 have shown obeticholic acid (OCA) given to patients suffering from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) who previously had an inadequate response to, or have been unable to tolerate ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), produced meaningful biochemical and clinical improvements. UDCA is the only therapy currently approved to treat PBC.

15 Apr 2014

Researchers receive President of Ireland Young Researcher Award from Science Foundation Ireland

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has today received three recipients of the Science Foundation Ireland, President of Ireland Young Researcher Award (PIYRA) at áras an Uachtaráin.

4 Apr 2014

Retrophin acquires Manchester Pharmaceuticals

Retrophin, Inc. today announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of Manchester Pharmaceuticals LLC for a total of $62.5 million, including an upfront payment of $29.5 million, plus other payments based on product sales.

27 Mar 2014