Fibrosis

New algorithm enables precise subtyping of metabolic liver disease

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Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a clinically heterogeneous condition with highly variable outcomes affecting more than 30% individuals globally. The disease is conventionally staged by histological progression, ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and ultimately fibrosis or cirrhosis. Beyond liver-related outcomes, MASLD significantly elevates the risk of extrahepatic complications, including cardiovascular … Read more

Researchers identify cellular drivers of gut scarring in Crohn’s disease

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As inflamed regions of the gut form scar tissue, the space within the gut lumen becomes smaller and more restricted, leading to symptoms of gut obstruction. There is currently no drug treatment available for this complication – eventually as fibrosis worsens, surgery becomes the only option. The researchers discovered that the biggest build up of … Read more

EVA1A regulates fatty acid transporter CD36 in fatty liver disease

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Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease（MASLD） is characterized by excessive accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes and is closely associated with the rapid rise in insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes prevalence, making it one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. Fatty liver can lead to systemic metabolic dysfunction and further progress to steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, … Read more

New fragmentome technology can detect early liver fibrosis and cirrhosis

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Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center report that an artificial intelligence (AI)-based liquid biopsy test using genome-wide cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentation patterns and repeat landscapes can detect early liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and may also reveal signals of broader chronic disease burden. The research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, and … Read more

How are GLP-1 drugs reshaping treatment for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease?

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A sweeping Lancet review reveals how modern incretin-based drugs are reshaping treatment for obesity and diabetes, delivering powerful weight loss while simultaneously protecting the heart, kidneys, and metabolic health. Review: GLP-1 receptor agonists and next-generation incretin-based medications: metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal benefits. Image Credit: Gecko Studio / Shutterstock In a recent review published in The … Read more

New pathway found connecting liver congestion to fibrosis and cancer

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Researchers from The University of Osaka find that chronic liver congestion is linked to severe liver diseases through a specific signaling pathway in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells – key cells lining the liver’s tiny blood vessels. The long-term stasis of blood in the liver, known as chronic liver congestion, can lead to a range of … Read more

Disrupted lymphatic vessels may drive chronic organ transplant rejection

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Despite advances in the field of organ transplantation, long-term organ rejection that can become apparent a decade or more after a heart or lung transplant remains a common problem for patients. This chronic organ failure has long been attributed exclusively to the recipient’s immune system attacking the foreign organ over time. Now, a study led … Read more

Artificial lung keeps patient alive after lung removal

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By replacing both breathing and circulatory buffering, a novel artificial lung bought critical time after lung removal, revealed irreversible damage, and made transplantation possible when no other options remained. Study: Bridge to transplant using a flow-adaptive extracorporeal total artificial lung system following bilateral pneumonectomy. Image Credit: AbirArt007 / Shutterstock.com A recent case report published in Med … Read more

Engineered liver tissue model mimics early metabolic liver disease

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More than 100 million people in the United States suffer from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), characterized by a buildup of fat in the liver. This condition can lead to the development of more severe liver disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis. In hopes of discovering new treatments for these liver diseases, MIT engineers … Read more

Updated newborn screening guidelines aim to improve cystic fibrosis detection

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An updated report on cystic fibrosis (CF) from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights the new national guidelines on CF newborn screening that aim to detect affected babies earlier, more accurately and more … Read more