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.

Study: Low-carb diet greatly reduces liver fat

Curbing carbohydrates is more effective than cutting calories for individuals who want to quickly reduce the amount of fat in their liver, report UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.

15 Apr 2011

Saint Louis professor develops new high-flow brain bypass procedure

On the cover of a recent edition of the journal Neurosurgery, the highest circulation medical journal in the field, readers saw an artist's intricate depiction of the high-flow brain bypass technique developed by Saint Louis University professor of neurosurgery, Saleem Abdulrauf, M.D.

15 Apr 2011

Walking slows progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese people

Walking on a treadmill for one hour a day may slow the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese people with prediabetes by jump-starting their metabolism and slowing the oxidative damage wrought by the condition, say researchers at the Cleveland Clinic.

15 Apr 2011

Consumer group calls for ban on weight loss drugs Alli and Xenical

According to the consumer watchdog Public Citizen, the weight loss drugs Alli and Xenical should be removed from the market because of the growing risk of side effects that include liver damage, pancreatitis and kidney stones.

15 Apr 2011

Scientists identify novel mechanism to control cancer spread

Saint Louis University researchers have identified a novel mechanism to control the traffic of cells and fluid from tissues to lymphatic vessels. It may be possible to harness this mechanism to fight cancer spread from one organ to another organ and improve the effectiveness of vaccines.

11 Apr 2011

Experimental Biology 2011 to be held April 9-13 in Washington, D.C.

The meeting Experimental Biology 2011 (EB 2011) begins April 9 and runs through April 13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

8 Apr 2011

HALT-C trial reveals high mortality rates among patients with HCV

A three-year follow-up study of patients in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis trial revealed that increased mortality among patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C who received long-term peginterferon therapy was attributed to non-liver related causes and occurred primarily in patients with bridging fibrosis.

8 Apr 2011

Scientists identify two molecules that enable cancer spread

For many types of cancer, the original tumor itself is usually not deadly. Instead, it's the spread of a tiny subpopulation of cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body—the process known as metastasis—that all too often kills the patient.

8 Apr 2011

Increased mortality rates seen in chronic Hep C patients with pre-cirrhotic advanced fibrosis

A three-year follow-up study of patients in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) trial revealed that increased mortality among patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C who received long-term peginterferon therapy was attributed to non-liver related causes and occurred primarily in patients with bridging fibrosis. No pattern to this excess mortality was evident to researchers, but deaths were unrelated to the peginterferon treatment. Full findings are published in the April issue of Hepatology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

7 Apr 2011

TBL1 levels may help identify obese persons at risk of developing fatty liver

Excess fat around the hips and belly may not really be compatible with current beauty ideals, but, to a certain degree, it is a normal, even vital energy store of our body. However, it is a different matter if the organism stores fat in organs such as the liver, pancreas or muscles. This is a clear sign of a metabolic disorder.

7 Apr 2011

Abbott and Enanta's ABT-450/r Phase 2 study results against HCV presented at EASL meeting

Abbott and Enanta Pharmaceuticals today announced 12-week results from a Phase 2 study of ABT-450/r, an investigational, oral protease inhibitor being developed for the treatment of hepatitis C infection.

4 Apr 2011

New data: Quadruple therapy can effectively treat patients with HCV

Exciting new data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2011 show that quadruple therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients suppressed the emergence of resistant variants and resulted in a 100% rate of sustained virological response - undetectable HCV RNA - 12 weeks after treatment.

4 Apr 2011

New data finds PegIFN-lambda shows RVR in HCV patients with improved safety, tolerability

Highly exciting new data presented today at the International Liver Congress found Pegylated Interferon-lambda shows superior virological response in HCV patients of genotypes 1-4, with improved safety and tolerability, compared to Pegylated Interferon-alpha, the current standard of care in chronic HCV.

4 Apr 2011

Entry inhibitors can provide first new hepatitis B & D treatments for many years

Promising new viral hepatitis data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM show that entry inhibitors --a new mechanism of action for drugs to treat viral hepatitis -- could provide the first new hepatitis B and hepatitis D treatments for many years.

2 Apr 2011

Experts must monitor new antiviral compounds for HCV treatment

Data presented at the International Liver CongressTM highlight the fact that new novel antiviral compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C virus must be prescribed and monitored by experts and specialists to ensure resistance is minimised.

2 Apr 2011

Boehringer Ingelheim's BI 201335 new data against HCV highlighted at EASL meeting

New data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2011, the 46th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, in Berlin, highlighted the efficacy of Boehringer Ingelheim's once-daily oral protease inhibitor BI 201335, in both treatment-naïve and -experienced patients with chronic genotype-1 hepatitis C virus infection. Genotype-1 HCV is the most challenging genotype of HCV to treat.

2 Apr 2011

Thalidomide provides new hope for patients with difficult to treat liver cancer

Thalidomide has shown potential to be used as the first adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, according to data presented at the International Liver Congress 2011.

2 Apr 2011

Prevalence of NAFLD in US expected to increase by 50% in 2030: Study

According to new data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM, the United States could soon be faced with an epidemic of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, one of the major contributing factors of chronic liver disease, considered as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

2 Apr 2011

Boehringer Ingelheim advances into Phase 3 clinical trial of BI 201335

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced a preview of the study designs for the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating BI 201335, its investigational once-daily oral protease inhibitor, in both treatment-naive and -experienced patients with chronic genotype-1 hepatitis C virus, the most challenging genotype to treat.

2 Apr 2011

Series of new clinical trials confirm range of viable treatment options for HCV patients

Highly anticipated data from a number of clinical trials presented for the first time at the International Liver CongressTM confirmed that a range of new proteases inhibitors will help treat patients who have previously failed therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

2 Apr 2011