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.

On-going Phase 2b study conducted by Roche of ITMN-191 modified

InterMune, Inc. today announced that the on-going Phase 2b study conducted by Roche of ITMN-191 (RG7227) combined with standard of care (SOC) PEGASYS® (peginterferon alfa-2a) and COPEGUS® (ribavirin) in HCV treatment-naive patients has been modified.

18 Nov 2009

Environmental factors, obesity and diabetes: Long-term study launched

Three Singapore biomedical institutions have launched a major, long-term study of pregnant mothers and their fetuses as well as infant children to determine just how profoundly environmental factors early in life influence the onset of diseases such as obesity and diabetes in later years.

10 Nov 2009

Symposium on non invasive diagnosis and management of hepatic fibrosis sponsored by Echosens

Echosens, the French high-technology company specializing in non-invasive diagnostics in hepatology is the official sponsor of the Symposium held by Pr Sarin in the Famous Institute of liver and Biliary Sciences of New Delhi today. This symposium will focus on the non invasive diagnosis and management of hepatic fibrosis, with speakers from all around the world.

9 Nov 2009

InterMune seeks FDA marketing approval for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that it has submitted an electronic New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pirfenidone has been granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designation by the FDA, and also has been granted Orphan Drug status in Europe.

5 Nov 2009

GI and hepatology societies take initiative to evaluate the current medical school curriculum

Due to the increasing complexities of treating digestive diseases, allowing gastroenterological (GI) trainee physicians the opportunity to develop enhanced abilities and experiences in specific disease areas or procedures will be a great benefit to patients, according to a "Report of the Multisociety Task Force on GI Training."

4 Nov 2009

IBN iCare to develop cutting-edge nanomaterials for ocular therapy

Marking a significant bench to bedside research milestone in Singapore, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, and the National University Hospital (NUH) launched the IBN iCare and the NUH Eye Centre @ Biopolis at an official opening ceremony officiated by the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, S. Iswaran, at the Biopolis on Nov. 3, 2009.

4 Nov 2009

Study results of nucleoside polymerase and protease inhibitor combination therapy for HCV promising

All approved therapy regimens to treat patients with hepatitis C are based on interferon, which must be injected. In this clinical trial to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, researchers treated patients - both treatment naive and experienced patients - with a twice daily oral combination therapy of a nucleoside polymerase and protease inhibitor.

4 Nov 2009

Early-morning colonoscopies yield more polyps per patient than later screenings

The effectiveness of a screening colonoscopy may depend on the time of day it is performed. According to a new UCLA study, early-morning colonoscopies yielded more polyps per patient than later screenings, and fewer polyps were found hour by hour as the day progressed.

4 Nov 2009

Interim data from Schering-Plough's narlaprevir Phase IIa study

Schering-Plough Corporation reported that interim results from an ongoing Phase IIa study of narlaprevir (SCH 900518), its investigational, once-daily protease inhibitor, demonstrated potent antiviral activity in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1.

3 Nov 2009

Hormone deficiency may be the cause for chronic diarrhoea

A common type of chronic diarrhoea may be caused by a hormone deficiency, according to new research published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

3 Nov 2009

Methacetin breath test predicts long-term survival in patients with chronic viral hepatitis

A methacetin breath test (MBT) that can be performed quickly and noninvasively has been proven to accurately predict survival in patients with viral hepatitis and may be used as an adjunctive tool to MELD.

2 Nov 2009

Interim data from Bristol-Myers Squibb's BARACLUDE study for chronic hepatitis B patients

Bristol-Myers Squibb today announced 48-week data from an ongoing study (ETV-048) of chronic hepatitis B patients with decompensated cirrhosis, in which BARACLUDE demonstrated greater viral suppression compared to adefovir. The new BARACLUDE data were presented today at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

2 Nov 2009

Vertex Pharmaceuticals announces study results of telaprevir-based regimen

More than 80 percent of hepatitis C patients in each arm of the Phase 2 Study C208 achieved a sustained viral response (SVR) with a telaprevir-based regimen according to results of an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis announced today by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

2 Nov 2009

HCV progresses more rapidly after liver transplantation in African-Americans compared to whites

Previous studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) progresses slower prior to liver transplantation in African Americans than in whites. However, researchers demonstrate in this study, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, that the opposite is true after transplantation, in that recurrent HCV in the transplanted liver progresses faster in African Americans than in whites.

1 Nov 2009

Meeting to understand gastrointestinal problems in children with ASDs to be held

Autism Speaks, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) will host one of the largest gatherings of researchers, clinicians and pediatric specialists to better understand the gastrointestinal (GI) problems in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

31 Oct 2009

Researchers report an epidemic of sexually-transmitted HCV infection among HIV-infected men in NY City

Researchers in New York City are reporting their work uncovering a new epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) who have HIV infection.

30 Oct 2009

Left side grafting has lower risk to donors; small graft size not the only cause of 'small-for-size graft syndrome'

A recent study by doctors at Shinshu University, School of Medicine, in Japan determined that left side grafting has lower risk to donors compared to grafts taken from the right lobe, and it appears to be the procedure of choice for adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

30 Oct 2009

Women face higher risk of graft loss after liver transplantation compared to men

Although women with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at lower risk for developing cirrhosis, researchers who compared outcomes for men and women after having liver transplantation found that women have a significantly increased risk of overall graft loss and graft loss from recurrent HCV than men.

30 Oct 2009

World Journal of Gastroenterology reports a case of metallic foreign body in lower mid-abdomen

Foreign body ingestion is a frequent gastrointestinal emergency. However, long spoon swallowing is a rare event. Most swallowed spoons have been found in the stomach. Previously, there has been no reported case of a long spoon reaching the jejunum.

29 Oct 2009

Perioperative oral dietary supplements before elective surgery offers no functional benefit

Blood glucose levels in a lot of patients fed normal liquid food (NLF) and a high calorie diet (HCD) were high. There was no significant difference in the blood prealbumin levels. There was a significant increase in the blood cortisol levels in some patients. The stress of surgery may be tolerated by children by feeding up to 2 h before elective surgery.

29 Oct 2009

Hepatology News and Research

Further Reading

On-going Phase 2b study conducted by Roche of ITMN-191 modified

Environmental factors, obesity and diabetes: Long-term study launched

Symposium on non invasive diagnosis and management of hepatic fibrosis sponsored by Echosens

InterMune seeks FDA marketing approval for pirfenidone

GI and hepatology societies take initiative to evaluate the current medical school curriculum

IBN iCare to develop cutting-edge nanomaterials for ocular therapy

Study results of nucleoside polymerase and protease inhibitor combination therapy for HCV promising

Early-morning colonoscopies yield more polyps per patient than later screenings

Interim data from Schering-Plough's narlaprevir Phase IIa study

Hormone deficiency may be the cause for chronic diarrhoea

Methacetin breath test predicts long-term survival in patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Interim data from Bristol-Myers Squibb's BARACLUDE study for chronic hepatitis B patients

Vertex Pharmaceuticals announces study results of telaprevir-based regimen

HCV progresses more rapidly after liver transplantation in African-Americans compared to whites

Meeting to understand gastrointestinal problems in children with ASDs to be held

Researchers report an epidemic of sexually-transmitted HCV infection among HIV-infected men in NY City

Left side grafting has lower risk to donors; small graft size not the only cause of 'small-for-size graft syndrome'

Women face higher risk of graft loss after liver transplantation compared to men

World Journal of Gastroenterology reports a case of metallic foreign body in lower mid-abdomen

Perioperative oral dietary supplements before elective surgery offers no functional benefit

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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