Scientific Research
This page is in a'blog' format with the latest scientific PSC research identified by Google Scholar, Readbyqmx.com and other sources added regularly.

Evangelos Kalaitzakis, Maria Benito de Valle, Monira Rahman, Björn Lindkvist, Einar Björnsson, Roger Chapman, Nick Kontodimopoulos

PURPOSE: 
The chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) is a frequently used liver-specific quality of life instrument, but it does not provide information on preference-adjusted health status, which is essential for cost-utility analysis. We aimed to develop a mapping function deriving utilities from the CLDQ in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

METHODS: 
​Short form-6D (SF-6D) utilities were calculated from SF-36 data collected in a recent prospective study in which unselected patients with PSC also completed the CLDQ ... please click here to read the abstract.

Quality of Life Research 2015 October 15

R S Goertz
Der Radiologe 2015 October 5

Noninvasive, ultrasound-based methods for visualizing and measuring tissue elasticity are becoming more and more common in routine practice. Using hepatic shear wave elastography, cut-off levels can help to detect the degree of relevant fibrosis (F ≥ 2) with a diagnostic accuracy using the area under the reader operating characteristic (AUROC) of 87 % and cirrhosis (F = 4, AUROC 93 %). Normal values virtually exclude liver cirrhosis (negative predictive value up to 97 %) and high shear wave velocities predict complications in the course of primary sclerosing cholangitis ... please click here to read the remainder of the abstract

Association between serum IgE level and adverse clinical endpoints in primary sclerosing cholangitis 

James H. Tabibian, Felicity Enders, Mohamad H. Imam, Gururaj Kolar,  Keith D. Lindor, Jayant A. Talwalkar.
Annals of Hepatology,  2014, May-June, Vol. 13 No. 3, 2014: 384-389

Abstract

Introduction: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an idiopathic hepatobiliary disorder associated with an increased risk for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and a median survival time of 12 years. Reliable predictors of CCA and other major adverse events in PSC are currently lacking. Recently, serum IgE was found to be as- sociated with CCA in a Japanese cohort of PSC patients. Our aim in this study was to determine whether IgE levels predict time to CCA, liver transplantation, or death in a Western (USA-based) cohort of PSC pa- tints. 

Material and methods: Thirty-eight patients with PSC and IgE levels were identified and categorized into low or high IgE groups based on the sample median. Groups were compared with respect to clinical characteristics and adverse endpoint-free survival . . . Please click here to be taken to the full text article

Mitsuro Chiba, Hidehiko Tsuda, Satoko Tsuda, Masafumi Komatsu, Yasuo Horie, Hirohide Ohnishi

Abstract

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is commonly associated with ulcerative colitis (UC). PSC progresses independently of UC ultimately resulting in liver failure. There is no established medi- cal treatment to improve the natural course of PSC. Normalization of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in early stage might delay the progress of PSC. A 20-year-old female, had a sudden attack of right hypochondralgia with high fever and abnormal liver function tests without elevation of bili- rubin: ALP 478 IU/L, aspartate aminotransferase 360 IU/L, alanine aminotransferase 174 IU/L. Abnormal liver function tests returned to normal after the attacks. Morphological examinations initially indicated then confirmed a diagnosis of PSC. One month after displaying PSC symptoms administration of ursodeoxycholic acid was initiated. Similar attacks of cholangitis were repeated several times over the following two years. Even in the absence of these attacks, she always suf- fered postprandial hypochondralgia ... Full article available by clicking on the title

Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Donor-transmitted, donor-derived, and de novo cancer after liver transplant.

Chapman JR, Lynch SV., Exp Clin Transplant. 2014 Mar;12 Suppl 1:50-4.

Abstract

Cancer is the third most common cause of death (after cardiovascular disease and infection) for patients who have a functioning kidney allograft. Kidney and liver transplant recipients have similar cancer risks because of immunosuppression but different risks because of differences in primary diseases that cause renal and hepatic failure and the inherent behavior of cancers in the liver. 

There are 4 types of cancer that may develop in liverallograft recipients: (1) recurrent cancer, (2) donor-transmitted cancer, (3) donor-derived cancer, and (4) de novo cancer . . . To read further please click on the title.

Researchers explore transplanting stem cells to reduce inflammation in the liver

University of Birmingham researchers are to lead a worldwide collaboration of scientists looking at the possibility of transplanting stem cells from one person to another to reduce inflammation in the liver.

Prof Philip Newsome and Dr Gideon Hirschfield, from the University's School of Immunity and Infection, will lead the €5.4 million Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to Reduce Liver Inflammation (MERLIN) programme which will include the first clinical trial of mesenchymal stem cells in liver disease in the UK.

The EU-funded programme will study how mesenchymal stem cells can reduce inflammation in the liver of people suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a disease which causes inflammation and thickening of the bile ducts, build-up of bile in the liver and life-threatening liver disease . . . To read further, please click on the title.

Provided by University of BirminghamReference: http://phys.org/wire-news/156668415/researchers-explore-transplanting-stem-cells-to-reduce-inflammat.html (accessed 22.03.14)