Coffee—caffeinated or decaffeinated—protects liver and gastrointestinal cells from toxic compounds, according to Sandra Kalthoff et al. in the November issue of Gastroenterology. In many epidemiology studies, coffee consumption reduced the risk of inflammation, chronic liver diseases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and other GI disorders. Its mechanisms are unclear, however, because coffee
Read moreLiver biopsies are relatively safe and well tolerated among patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C, based on data from the HALT-C trial. Liver biopsy analysis provides information for diagnosis and planning of treatment strategies for patients with acute and chronic liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis C infection. However, biopsies
Read moreThe only effective treatment for liver failure is transplantation, which is limited by the short supply of organ donors. A study by Laura Erker et al. in the September issue of Gastroenterology reports that liver cells from human cadavers might someday be used for transplantation. Erker et al. showed that
Read moreIt is a challenge to monitor the course of chronic hepatitis B. Patients still carry the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but have varying levels of viral DNA, HBeAg, and liver inflammation—and remain at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two papers in this month’s issue of Gastroenterology investigate Hepatitis
Read moreInsurance companies and government agencies attempt to assess healthcare quality to develop quality-based reimbursement models. It is a challenge to define and measure quality of care, however, especially for complex, chronic diseases such as cirrhosis. Two studies in the August issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH) identify tools for
Read moreWhich Roads Lead to NASH? The progressive liver disease nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is mediated by an innate immune response in the liver that causes tissue damage and fibrosis. The innate immune system protects against invading pathogens, but it’s not clear how it becomes activated in livers of patients with NASH.
Read moreWelcome to “The AGA Journals Blog”—a forum for discussion of the latest discoveries in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. Each week we will comment on a new article from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journals Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH). The goals for the blog are two-fold:
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Dr. Kristine Novak has worked as an editor at biomedical research journals and as a science writer for over 15 years, covering advances in gastroenterology, hepatology, cancer, immunology, biotechnology, molecular genetics, and clinical trials. She has a PhD in cell biology and an interest in all areas of medical research.
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