EASL

High levels of vitamin D3 appear to induce weight gain in mice that were fed a high-fat diet, a research team found.

Many studies have looked at the link between vitamin D deficiency and liver disease. A Korean team recently examined whether vitamin D deficiency played a pivotal role in abnormal liver enzymes.

The intracellar lipid deposition, mitrochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is likely regulated by microRNAs, particularly in obese patients.

Patients with severe cirrhosis, those who are waiting for a liver transplant, or have recurrent hepatitis C infection following treatment are desperately ill. Researchers at the 2015 International Liver Congress reported that a fixed dose combination of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir given in combination with ribavirin helped many of these patients, according to the results from the SOLAR 2 trial.

An estimated 11,000 attendees from 105 countries are converging in Vienna, Austria for the 50th International Liver Congress, hosted by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (ILC/EASL). Some 200 journalists -- including a team from MD Magazine--are on hand to report the news. Eagerly awaited trials include those of two drugs that show promise for treating a common liver disease associated with obesity, known medically as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its precursor non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Palak Trivedi, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, University in Birmingham, England, shared his fascination with the enigma that is primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Children who develop progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis Type II (PFIC-II) may get better-at least for a while-without getting a liver transplant. But children borne with the condition do not, a team from Belgium found. Bile salt export pump plays a key role.

A large multinational observational study of patients with hepatitis C reveals etiology does not play a major role in HCV survival rates and that early detection and access to treatment have a greater impact.

Preliminary results from the M12-999 study show that treatment with ABT-450/ritonavir/ombitasvir plus dasabuvir and ribavirin is well tolerated and associated with high rates of sustained virologic response in adult liver transplant recipients with recurrent HCV genotype 1 infection.

Results from the phase III ION-2 study show a 24-week regimen of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir does not produce significantly better cure rates than a 12-week regimen in treatment-experienced patients.

Results from the NEED study show combination treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a and either adefovir or entecavir does not increase HBeAg seroconversion rate compared to monotherapy alone in patients with hepatitis B.

Results from the SAPPHIRE-I trial show that Abbvie's 3D therapy produced 96% sustained viral response rates at 12 weeks in treatment-naive patient with genotype 1 hepatitis C.

Data from the PEARL-I trial of patients with hepatitis C genotype 4 show high rates of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks associated with combination treatment with ABT-450 (a protease inhibitor boosted by ritonavir) and ombitasvir.

An 8-week course of treatment with a fixed dose combination of ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir produced sustained virologic response in more than 90 percent of treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C.

Results from the ELECTRON-2 study presented at EASL 2014 show treatment with fixed-dose combo of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir produced sustained virologic response in three cohorts of patients.

Study of farnesoid-x receptor agonist demonstrates protective effects on bacterial translocation from the small intestine in rat model of cholestatic liver disease.

SAPPHIRE II trial results show sustained virologic response in 96% of treatment-experienced patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C who were treated with interferon-free, triple-drug regimen.