Liver Disease News and Research

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The liver is one of the largest solid organs of the body. It is located in the upper right part of the abdomen. Most of the organ lies under cover of the rib cage.

Despite effective anti-viral drugs, majority of HCV patients remain untreated

Just 20 percent of people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) begin the recommended treatment regimen and less than 5 percent go on to successfully overcome the virus, according to a new review in General Hospital Psychiatry.

10 Dec 2012

Baby boomers with liver cancer drive demand for liver transplantation

New research reveals that the greatest demand for liver transplantation due to hepatitis C (HCV)-related liver disease occurs among Americans born between 1941 and 1960. Findings in the December issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), suggest that continuing increased demand for transplantation is driven by the development of liver cancer in baby boomers with HCV, but that the demand may decrease as patients born in this time period continue to grow older.

7 Dec 2012

Researchers unlock mechanisms of how the body converts dietary carbohydrates into fat

A gene that helps the body convert that big plate of holiday cookies you just polished off into fat could provide a new target for potential treatments for fatty liver disease, diabetes and obesity.

6 Dec 2012

Tenofovir DF safe and effective in treating adolescents with HBV

A recent clinical trial found that the adult antiviral drug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF), is safe and effective in treating adolescents with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Trial results published in the December issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), show that tenofovir DF suppressed HBV in 89% of pediatric participants.

6 Dec 2012

Diptheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine: an interview with Dr. Rudi Eggers, World Health Organisation

The Diptheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine is sometimes also called the “triple vaccine” and has been around for about 50 years, and it protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. These are serious diseases caused by bacteria.

28 Nov 2012

Link between high fructose corn syrup intake and diabetes prevalence

A new study by University of Southern California (USC) and University of Oxford researchers indicates that large amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) found in national food supplies across the world may be one explanation for the rising global epidemic of type 2 diabetes and resulting higher health care costs.

28 Nov 2012

Gilead Sciences receives EC approval for Viread to treat HIV-1 infected children

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for two new indications for once-daily Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).

28 Nov 2012

Liver disease therapies: an interview with Eric Halioua, CEO of Promethera Biosciences

Liver disease is a very broad family of diseases. There are two main categories of liver disease:

27 Nov 2012

USPTO grants patent for galactomannan-based carbohydrate galectin inhibitor compounds

Galectin Therapeutics, the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer, today announced that it has received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a divisional patent of Patent Number 8,236,780 "Galactose-prolonged polysaccharides in a formulation for antifibrotic therapies".

26 Nov 2012

Coronary arteries largely arise from cells of the endocardium

During embryonic development, the all-important coronary arteries arise from cells previously considered incapable of producing them, according to scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

22 Nov 2012

UMDNJ, Proteonomix commence screening of patients with ESLD for use in UMK-121 clinical trial

PROTEONOMIX, INC., a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based upon the use of human cells and their derivatives, announced today that the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in conjunction with the Company has commenced the screening of patients with End Stage Liver Disease (ESLD) for use in its clinical trial of UMK-121.

21 Nov 2012

GSK receives FDA approval for PROMACTA to treat thrombocytopenia

GlaxoSmithKline plc announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PROMACTA for the treatment of thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts) in patients with chronic hepatitis C to allow them to initiate and maintain interferon-based therapy.

19 Nov 2012

Biomolecular imaging: an interview with Professor Roger Reddel

The reason Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) exists is to find ways to treat or prevent childhood disease. Our research programs are focussed on the areas of cancer cell growth, nerve cell signalling, embryology and gene therapy. These four programs have a shared aim of translating novel findings into new treatments for the benefit of families everywhere.

19 Nov 2012

HCV medications' side effects can now be replicated and observed in Petri dishes and test tubes

The adverse side effects of certain hepatitis C medications can now be replicated and observed in Petri dishes and test tubes, thanks to a research team led by Craig Cameron, the Paul Berg Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State University.

17 Nov 2012

HUCPVC cell therapy more effective in restoring heart function after myocardial infarction

A study published this month by researchers at the University of Toronto and Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital has shown that cells derived from the umbilical cord, "Human Umbilical Cord PeriVascular Cells" (HUCPVCs), are more effective in restoring heart function after an acute myocardial infarction (in common parlance, a heart attack) in a pre-clinical model than a similar cell population derived from bone marrow.

16 Nov 2012

Peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51 for baby boomers

For baby boomers, the peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51, with a second peak coming near age 65, according to a new study.

16 Nov 2012

ALN RNAi therapeutic program represents novel approach for treatment of AAT deficiency

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has presented new pre-clinical data with an RNAi therapeutic targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) for the treatment of liver disease associated with AAT deficiency. These data were presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD, "The Liver Meeting") held November 9-13, 2012 in Boston.

15 Nov 2012

Abbott releases details on phase 3 hepatitis C registrational program

Abbott today released details on its phase 3 hepatitis C registrational program following promising results from its phase 2b clinical trial, known as Aviator, presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) in Boston.

13 Nov 2012

BMI may not be best measure for estimation of cancer risk

A study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University suggests that body mass index (BMI)-the most commonly used weight-for-height formula for estimating fatness-may not be the best measure for estimating disease risk, and particularly the risk of certain types of cancer. The study was published today in the online edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

8 Nov 2012

Liver transplant waitlist mortality not simply due to lack of donor organs: Study

The majority of patients on the liver transplant waitlist who died received offers of high-quality donated livers that were declined prior to their death, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Therefore, efforts other than simply increasing the availability of donated livers or the number of offers are needed to substantially reduce the deaths among those waiting for a transplant.

7 Nov 2012

Liver Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Despite effective anti-viral drugs, majority of HCV patients remain untreated

Baby boomers with liver cancer drive demand for liver transplantation

Researchers unlock mechanisms of how the body converts dietary carbohydrates into fat

Tenofovir DF safe and effective in treating adolescents with HBV

Diptheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine: an interview with Dr. Rudi Eggers, World Health Organisation

Link between high fructose corn syrup intake and diabetes prevalence

Gilead Sciences receives EC approval for Viread to treat HIV-1 infected children

Liver disease therapies: an interview with Eric Halioua, CEO of Promethera Biosciences

USPTO grants patent for galactomannan-based carbohydrate galectin inhibitor compounds

Coronary arteries largely arise from cells of the endocardium

UMDNJ, Proteonomix commence screening of patients with ESLD for use in UMK-121 clinical trial

GSK receives FDA approval for PROMACTA to treat thrombocytopenia

Biomolecular imaging: an interview with Professor Roger Reddel

HCV medications' side effects can now be replicated and observed in Petri dishes and test tubes

HUCPVC cell therapy more effective in restoring heart function after myocardial infarction

Peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51 for baby boomers

ALN RNAi therapeutic program represents novel approach for treatment of AAT deficiency

Abbott releases details on phase 3 hepatitis C registrational program

BMI may not be best measure for estimation of cancer risk

Liver transplant waitlist mortality not simply due to lack of donor organs: Study

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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