People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who are at risk of advanced liver disease are less likely to be referred for liver evaluation and care if they present primarily with alcohol-related mental health issues or a mental health diagnosis, according to a study of referral practices in Virginia’s largest health system. The findings point to the possibility of widespread missed opportunities for treating three conditions that commonly co-occur: AUD, mental health disorders, and liver disease. Recent years have seen notable increases in the USA in alcohol-related deaths, mental health disorders, and hospital admissions relating to alcohol use and concurrent mental health conditions. AUD is a significant cause of liver disease, and both addiction and co-occurring mental illness can be barriers to successful liver treatment. Integrating AUD treatment, mental health care, and hepatology (liver care) is necessary to improve outcomes, but data suggests this approach is not the norm. For the st
Tag: Liver Fibrosis
Mesenchymal stem cells: A promising therapeutic avenue for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a pressing global health concern that is associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity. On the basis of the insights provided by Jiang et al, this editorial presents an exploration of the potent
Study finds targeting inflammation may not help reduce liver fibrosis in MAFLD
Researchers at UCLA Health uncovered new information about the role inflammation plays in mitigating liver fibrosis, which is associated with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), one of the most common diseases in the world affecting up to 40 percent of U.S. adults.
Cedars-Sinai Physician-Scientist Leads Association of American Physicians
Paul Noble, MD, professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and a leading physician-scientist in pulmonary fibrosis, recently began his one-year term as president of the highly regarded Association of American Physicians (AAP) at the group’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Modulating a Specific Protein Could Lead to New Liver Disease Treatments
In research published in The FASEB Journal, scientists have discovered that a molecule called Yes-associated protein (YAP) plays a key role in the development of liver scarring, or fibrosis, by influencing the behavior of premature cells called liver progenitor cells.
Phase II Trial Studies Effects of Semaglutide Medication in Patients with NASH
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related cirrhosis can lead to serious liver-related outcomes. In a phase 2 trial, lead author Rohit Loomba, MD, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and collaborators, report semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly in patients with NASH-related cirrhosis…
Selective, Toxin-Bearing Antibodies Could Help Treat Liver Fibrosis
UC San Diego researchers discovered that immunotoxins targeting the protein mesothelin prevent liver cells from producing collagen, a precursor to fibrosis and cirrhosis, in mouse models of human disease.
Overlooked Cilium Could Be Genetic Key to Common Diseases
Long thought a vestigial part of human cells, new genetic analysis of the primary cilium shows that it may be tied to common conditions like diabetes and kidney failure