Liver Transplantation News and Research

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New data focuses on different approaches to improve diagnosis and treatment of HCC

Epidemiological, genetic and clinical data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 are collectively focussed on different approaches designed to improve the diagnosis, staging and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

15 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

New drug combination proves effective in treating patients with HCV genotype 1

Treatment options for the 170 million people worldwide with chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) are evolving rapidly, although the available regimens often come with significant side effects. Two multi-center clinical trials led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center show promise for a new option that could help lead to both an increase in patients cured with a much more simple and tolerable all oral therapy.

15 Apr 2014

New research provides new hope for liver transplant patients with recurring hepatitis C

New research announced at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 today provides new hope for the notoriously difficult-to-treat population of liver transplant patients with recurring hepatitis C (HCV).

11 Apr 2014

Low levels of sodium prior to liver transplantation do not increase risk of death, say researchers

Researchers report that low levels of sodium, known as hyponatremia, prior to transplantation does not increase the risk of death following liver transplant. Full findings are published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society.

2 Apr 2014

Research roundup: Distance from a transplant center; Medicaid prenatal care; metastasis of email; profiting from Medicare Advantage

Centralization of specialized health care services such as organ transplantation and bariatric surgery is advocated to improve quality, increase efficiency, and reduce cost.

29 Mar 2014

Johns Hopkins researchers use 3-D MRI scans to accurately measure tumor viability and death

In a series of studies involving 140 American men and women with liver tumors, researchers at Johns Hopkins have used specialized 3-D MRI scans to precisely measure living and dying tumor tissue to quickly show whether highly toxic chemotherapy - delivered directly through a tumor's blood supply - is working.

27 Mar 2014

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): an interview with Jean-François Mouney, CEO of Genfit

The progressive form of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which defines a subgroup of NAFLD where liver steatosis co-exists with cell injury (hepatocyte ballooning) and inflammation with or without fibrosis at histological examination.

18 Mar 2014

Findings reinforce need for standardization of living liver donor liver evaluation consent forms

New research reveals that 57% of liver transplant centers use living donor evaluation consent forms that include all the elements required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and 78% of centers addressed two-third or more of the items recommended by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN).

14 Mar 2014

Patient with autistic behavior experiences improvements in mental health after liver transplant

A patient with a rare metabolic disease that causes liver failure and autistic behavior experienced significant improvements in both her physical and mental health after receiving a liver transplant, according to a new case report published in the American Journal of Transplantation.

12 Mar 2014

Novel treatment strategy during transplantation surgery could spare patients from rejection

Organ-transplant recipients often reject donated organs, but a new, two-pronged strategy developed by UC San Francisco researchers to specifically weaken immune responses that target transplanted tissue has shown promise in controlled experiments on mice.

11 Mar 2014

Researchers personalize drug treatments for cholangiocarcinoma using genomic sequencing

Physicians at Mayo Clinic's Individualized Medicine Clinic and researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have personalized drug treatments for patients with cholangiocarcinoma using genomic sequencing technologies.

14 Feb 2014

Sarcopenia increases risk of sepsis risk in patients undergoing live donor liver transplantation

Japanese researchers have determined that sarcopenia—a loss of skeletal muscle mass—increases risk of sepsis and mortality risk in patients undergoing live donor liver transplantation.

14 Feb 2014

Drug used to treat schizophrenia, dementia has potential for treating liver disease

Opening up a can of worms is a good way to start hunting for new drugs, recommend researchers from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

4 Feb 2014

Morbidity following liver transplant is highest among obese patients with diabetes

Researchers from New Zealand report that morbidity following liver transplant is highest among obese patients with diabetes, but these risk factors do not influence post-transplant survival.

24 Jan 2014

Gilead Sciences gets marketing authorization from European Commission for Sovaldi 400 mg tablets

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) 400 mg tablets, a once-daily oral nucleotide analogue polymerase inhibitor for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in adults, in combination with other antiviral agents (ribavirin and pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN)).

18 Jan 2014

Diflunisal drug reduces neurological decline in patients with familial transthyretin amyloidosis

A recent study led by researchers from the Amyloidosis Center at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center demonstrates that diflunisal, a generic anti-inflammatory drug, successfully reduced neurological decline and preserved the quality of life in patients with familial transthyretin amyloidosis. Diflunisal is an inexpensive and safe medication marketed over the past 40 years for arthritis and pain.

25 Dec 2013

Co-culture with mesenchymal stem cells results in improved viability, function of human hepatocytes

Hepatocyte transplantation is becoming an accepted therapy for acute liver failure, either for liver regeneration or as a bridge to liver transplantation. However, maintaining the viability and functional aspects of hepatocytes has been a concern even with successful freezing.

19 Dec 2013

Research roundup: Long-term care use varies dramatically by state; health spending slowdown explained

In 2012, about 58,500 paid, regulated long-term care services providers served about 8 million people in the United States. Long-term care services were provided by 4,800 adult day services centers, 12,200 home health agencies, 3,700 hospices, 15,700 nursing homes, and 22,200 assisted living and similar residential care communities. Each day in 2012, there were 273,200 participants enrolled in adult day services centers, 1,383,700 residents in nursing homes, and 713,300 residents in residential care communities; in 2011, about 4,742,500 patients received services from home health agencies, and 1,244,500 patients received services from hospices. Provider sectors differed in ownership, and average size and supply varied by region (Harris-Kojetin et al., 12/12).

16 Dec 2013

Patient survival higher among white children than minorities post liver transplant

Novel research reveals racial and socioeconomic disparities among pediatric liver transplant patients. Findings published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, indicate that graft and patient survival was higher in white children than minorities.

6 Dec 2013

Liver Transplantation News and Research

New data focuses on different approaches to improve diagnosis and treatment of HCC

Obeticholic acid meets primary composite endpoint in Phase III study

New drug combination proves effective in treating patients with HCV genotype 1

New research provides new hope for liver transplant patients with recurring hepatitis C

Low levels of sodium prior to liver transplantation do not increase risk of death, say researchers

Research roundup: Distance from a transplant center; Medicaid prenatal care; metastasis of email; profiting from Medicare Advantage

Johns Hopkins researchers use 3-D MRI scans to accurately measure tumor viability and death

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): an interview with Jean-François Mouney, CEO of Genfit

Findings reinforce need for standardization of living liver donor liver evaluation consent forms

Patient with autistic behavior experiences improvements in mental health after liver transplant

Novel treatment strategy during transplantation surgery could spare patients from rejection

Researchers personalize drug treatments for cholangiocarcinoma using genomic sequencing

Sarcopenia increases risk of sepsis risk in patients undergoing live donor liver transplantation

Drug used to treat schizophrenia, dementia has potential for treating liver disease

Morbidity following liver transplant is highest among obese patients with diabetes

Gilead Sciences gets marketing authorization from European Commission for Sovaldi 400 mg tablets

Diflunisal drug reduces neurological decline in patients with familial transthyretin amyloidosis

Co-culture with mesenchymal stem cells results in improved viability, function of human hepatocytes

Research roundup: Long-term care use varies dramatically by state; health spending slowdown explained

Patient survival higher among white children than minorities post liver transplant

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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