Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Liver Disease / Hepatitis News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/liver_disease/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125213.php BA, the congenital absence or destruction of intra- or extra-hepatic biliary system, affects about 5 - 10/100 000 live births. End stage liver cirrhosis develops in some BA patients later in life. As a result of liver cirrhosis, regenerative nodules may develop in cirrhotic liver including a specific type termed MRN. The clinical significance and pathological features of MRN have been discussed in some articles. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125121.php Genelabs Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:GNLB) announced that three presentations were made at the 15th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses, each on a non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor discovered by Genelabs. The presentations focused on the discovery, in vitro antiviral activity, resistance profile, pharmacokinetics and mechanism of action of GL60667 (NVP-LDI133), a potent non-nucleoside inhibitor of the HCV NS5B polymerase. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124827.php A novel delivery system that could lead to more efficient and more disease-specific vaccines against infectious diseases has been developed by biomedical engineers at The University of Texas at Austin. Immune System / Vaccines Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124777.php Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a serious complication but unavoidable problem in liver surgery including liver transplantation and hepatic resection. The most important consequence of this pathological process is multiple organ failure with a high mortality rate. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124780.php They investigated the effects of ethanol on the IGF-I system with the involvement of JNK1/2 activity and ADH by using each chemical inhibitor in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The results indicate that ethanol inducedp-JNK1/2 activation is associated with the IGF-I system and cell viability in hepatocytes. Furthermore, alcohol dehydrogenase is involved in the relationship between ethanol-induced inactivation of p-JNK1/2 and the changes of the IGF-I system and cell viability. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124721.php A simulated gastrointestinal system is helping scientists test contaminated soil for its potential to harm humans. The method is likely to save time and money for people hoping to repurpose land with an industrial past. Most testing for potential arsenic exposure is conducted in recognition of a dirty little secret of modern life: Humans unknowingly eat a little bit of soil each day. GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124568.php Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) today announced the successful completion and outcome of its pivotal Phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rifaximin in preventing hepatic encephalopathy, or HE. This study demonstrates that the protocol-specified, intent-to-treat, primary endpoint comparison of a 6-month course of rifaximin at 550 mg dosed twice-a-day provides a highly statistically significant result in preventing HE, compared to placebo. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124552.php Vitamin D replacement may be necessary to reverse deficiency-related bone loss New research presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Orlando found patients with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic liver disease were at increased risk of developing Vitamin D deficiencies. Two separate studies highlight the importance of regular Vitamin D checkups in the evaluation of patients with certain digestive diseases. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124502.php Delcath Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCTH) reported that the Adjunct Principal Investigator for its Phase III clinical trial, James Pingpank, Jr., MD, discussed interim results from its randomized study of high-dose melphalan, delivered via the Company's Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) system, in patients with inoperable liver metastases from melanoma. Dr. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124297.php StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) announced that it has been awarded a $305,000 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to research and develop a potential cell-based therapeutic for liver disease arising from infection by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is a global health challenge, with approximately 170 million people affected worldwide and an estimated three million new infections each year. Stem Cell Research Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124146.php Cancer incidence is higher among liver transplant recipients in Finland compared to the general population, according to a new study in the October issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal by John Wiley & Sons. The article is also available online at Wiley Interscience (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/). Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124030.php It's another result of an aging baby boom population: an upsurge in cases of liver cancer and other forms of liver disease caused by years of chronic infection with a virus many people don't even realize they have. Fortunately, scientists at an upcoming international conference will report that improved ways of stopping hepatitis C are on the horizon. Approximately 3. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123488.php In a first-of-its-kind finding, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study, published in the Oct. 1 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, also suggests that patients with this lethal form of cancer treated with chemotherapy may face danger of reactivation of their HBV. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123217.php HBV infection remains a major health problem in the world. Several data have revealed that lamivudine can efficiently promote the treatment of hepatitis B. However, a long-term treatment of lamivudine leads to the emergence of lamivudine-resistant mutants (YMDD mutants), which hampers the anti-HBV therapy. Therefore, researches related to HBV lamivudine-resistant mechanism has been of great significance. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123231.php Two patients with the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension related to hepatitis infection were admitted to Shanghai Ruijin hospital due to recurrent melena and hematemesis. Isolated gastric varices were observed in the gastric fundus during the retroflexion of gastroscope. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123201.php The majority of children vaccinated against hepatitis B are not at an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study to be published in the October 8, 2008, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study based in France involved 349 children with MS and 2,941 children without the disease. The children were all under the age of 16. A total of 24. Multiple Sclerosis Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123175.php Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that individuals who carry a specific form of the gene PNPLA3 have more fat in their livers and a greater risk of developing liver inflammation. They also found that Hispanics are more likely to carry the gene variant responsible for higher liver-fat content than African-Americans and Caucasians. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123076.php While there are many causes of advanced liver disease, fatty liver, or NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), has become the second leading cause of liver transplant in the United States. Obesity, along with elevated cholesterol and diabetes, has long been known to cause increased fat stores, which may be injurious to the liver. Such was the case in Sonny B., a patient at Atlanta Health Institute. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123054.php Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) today announced that key data on sustained viral response (SVR) rates in both treatment-naïve and treatment-failure genotype 1 hepatitis C (HCV) patients who received telaprevir-based treatment regimens will be presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), October 31 - November 4, 2008 in San Francisco. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123045.php In China, the incidence of liver cirrhosis is still high, although new therapeutic approaches have recently been proposed, there is no established therapy for liver fibrosis, and Authors investigated the prevention effects of Chinese Medicine Qianggan-Rongxian Soup on liver fibrosis induced by DMN in rats. Chinese Medicin Qianggan-Rongxian decoction can inhibit hepatic fibrosis resulted from chronic liver injury, retard the development of cirrhosis, and notably ameliorate the liver function. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123050.php Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSN) announced today that its global Phase III Primary Liver Cancer trial is proceeding as planned. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122969.php The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China recently released details of a new law regarding illegal blood sales, which state that any agent collecting or supplying blood that causes at least five people to become infected with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C or syphilis could face a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, the Blood / Hematology Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122995.php HBV infection may lead to acute liver disease, chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Over 350 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected chronically by HBV and are therefore at risk of liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. The principal treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) involves the use of interferon alpha (IFN-a) or nucleoside analogs. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122807.php Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDS) announced preliminary results of a Phase I clinical trial of ANA598 in healthy volunteers and finalization of the protocol for a Phase Ib trial of ANA598 in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the healthy volunteer study, ANA598 was well tolerated at all doses analyzed to date and no serious adverse events were reported. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122863.php The liver plays a pivotal role in fuel and energy metabolism. Many studies have shown that patients with liver cirrhosis have nutrient and energy metabolism imbalances, which lead to malnutrition and can seriously affect their prognosis. However, the characteristics of the fuel and energy metabolism in patients with chronic severe hepatitis are not clear. A research article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. Liver Disease / Hepatitis