Stem cell technology applied to liver diseases
August 24, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Great excitement greeted the discovery a few years ago that certain cells from mice and humans could be reprogrammed to become inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), as they hold promise for cell replacement therapy and modeling human disease. Two independent research groups one led by Ludovic Vallier, at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and the other led by Holger Willenbring, at the University of California San Francisco have now shown that both possibilities are true for iPS cellderived liver cells known as hepatocytes.
High fructose, trans fats lead to significant liver disease, says study
Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have discovered that a diet with high levels of fructose levels equivalent to that in high fructose corn syrup and of trans fats not only increases obesity, but also leads to significant fatty liver disease with scar tissue.
Adults with newly diagnosed diabetes at risk of liver disease
June 20, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Adults with newly diagnosed diabetes are at higher long-term risk of serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver failure, according to a research article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only) http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj092144.pdf.
Study finds beta blockers alone more effective for first variceal bleeding
June 8, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Dawn Peters
healthnews@wiley.com
781-388-8408
Wiley-Blackwell Read more
Pitt team finds commonly used seizure drug could treat severe genetic liver disease
June 2, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Anita Srikameswaran
SrikamAV@upmc.edu
412-578-9193
University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
PITTSBURGH, June 3 The liver scarring of α1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency, the most common genetic cause for which children undergo liver transplantation, might be reversed or prevented with a medication that has long been used to treat seizures, according to findings from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine that will published in Science and are available online today through the Science Express website.
Molecular adsorbent recirculating system treatment for acute liver failure
May 11, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Lin Tian
wjg@wjgnet.com
86-105-908-0039
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Numerous studies have documented the favorable effects of MARS albumin dialysis treatment on clinical and laboratory parameters and survival in liver failure patients. However, to ensure that limited resources are utilized in an ethical manner, the subjective feelings of the patient in terms of health-related quality of life and costs should also be taken into account. So far, only a few small non-randomized studies have focused on the cost-utility and the health-related quality of life of MARS-treated acute-on-chronic liver failure patients. Currently, there are no studies on the health-related quality or cost-utility of MARS treatment in acute liver failure (ALF).
Researchers make advances in understanding causes, treatments and outcomes of liver disease
May 1, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Amy Levey
alevey@gymr.com
202-745-5116
Digestive Disease Week
Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010
Vitamin E effective for ’silent’ liver disease
April 29, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Jennifer Homa
jeh9057@nyp.org
212-305-5587
New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center Read more
Hormone mimic reduces liver damage caused by common genetic kidney disease
April 28, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Shari Leventhal
sleventhal@asn-online.org
202-416-0658
American Society of Nephrology Read more
Molecular mechanism underlying natural taurine protection against hepatic fibrosis
April 19, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Contact: Ye-Ru Wang
wjg@wjgnet.com
86-105-908-0039
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Hepatic fibrosis (HF) occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases and approximately 25%-40% of HF cases may ultimately progress to hepatic cirrhosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute significantly to the occurrence of HF and the activation of HSC is the key issue in the pathogenesis of HF. Taurine is a kind of important anti-injury substance in the body. Taurine has a protective effect on various types of liver injury. It has been clear that the antifibrotic mechanism of taurine may involve its inhibition of the activation and proliferation of HSCs. However, the molecular mechanism of taurine-mediated antifibrotic activity is largely unknown.
