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Liver Health: 25% Function, Risks, and Treatment Options

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

Liver Can Function at 25% โฃCapacity, โ€‹But Experts Warn of Escalating Risks from Lifestyle โฃFactors

New Delhi, September 18, 2025 -โฃ The liver, a critical organ responsible forโ€ detoxification,โ€‹ protein production,โค digestion, andโ€ energy storage, can continue โ€to sustain essentialโข bodily functions โฃeven when โฃoperating at just 25% capacity. However, experts are issuing a stark โ€Œwarning: chronicโค liver diseases,โฃ compounded by lifestyle factors like obesity, stress, and alcohol consumption, can rapidly accelerate damage and ultimately necessitate โ€‹a liver transplant.

Chronic conditions such as hepatitis and cirrhosis – severe scarring ofโข the liver – can silentlyโค diminish liver function over time. While the liver possesses a remarkable ability to regenerate, โคthis โ€Œcapacity is severely limited โ€Œinโ€Œ advanced chronic disease, making complete recovery rare once meaningful damage has occurred.

“The liverโ€ dose โฃhave aโ€Œ natural ability to โ€Œregenerate. But inโ€Œ advanced chronic diseases,this ability isโ€ severely reduced. Complete recovery is rarely possibleโ€‹ onceโค significant damage has occurred,” explains โขDr.Piyush Ranjan, Senior Consultant and Co-Chairperson, Department ofโ€ Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, new Delhi.

Dr. Ranjan emphasizes the life-threatening potential of severely compromised liver function due toโฃ cirrhosis or progressing hepatitis.He also highlights the increased risk posed by other health issues, including tuberculosis andโ€Œ diabetes.

A key component ofโค managing declining liver health is strict abstinence from โ€alcohol. “Even a small amount can trigger severe hepatitis or worsen cirrhosis. Lifelong abstinence, or ‘zero alcohol,’ โขisโ€ absolutely mandatory,” Dr. Ranjan warns.

Beyond alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight is paramount. โ€Œ”Obesity puts extra โฃstress on the โ€‹liver and must be carefully managed,” Dr. Ranjan stated. He also cautioned against self-treatment, advising, “Only take medications prescribed by โขyour doctor โฃand avoid unverified alternativeโ€ remedies, including Ayurvedic or Homeopathic treatments, which canโ€ be โคtoxic.”

for individuals who diligentlyโ€Œ manage their lifestyleโ€Œ – through careful monitoring, obesity control, and stress management – a longerโข and healthier lifeโ€ is possible. However, if liver function continues โ€‹to โคdeteriorate โคdespite these efforts, a liver transplant may become the only viableโข option.

This report underscores the โฃcritical importance of proactive liver health management and the potentially โขdevastating consequences of neglecting this vital organ.

Published By: Chaitanya Dhawan
Published On: Sep 18, 2025

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Health

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fibrosis, HSCs, and New Treatment Targets

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

Liver Scarring: The Hidden Pathway to Cancer Revealed

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New research published in *Hepatology International* has illuminated the critical link between liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The study details how chronic liver damage transforms healthy tissue into a pro-cancerous surroundings, with over 80% of HCC cases originating from advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.

At the heart of this change are hepatic stellate cells (hscs). When activated by persistent liver injury, such as from viral hepatitis or excessive alcohol consumption, HSCs initiate the deposition of stiff scar tissue. This scar tissue isn’t merely structural; it actively secretes molecules that promote tumor development, such as VEGF and Ang-1, which fuel blood vessel growth for tumors. Moreover, these activated HSCs can suppress the body’s immune response by expressing PD-L1, effectively hiding cancer cells from immune surveillance. In a concerning development, HSCs can also morph into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which further accelerate the progression of malignancy.

The review also highlights the role of disrupted cellular signaling pathways, including TGF-ฮฒโ€‘smad, NF-ฮบB, and Wnt, alongside changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM), mitochondrial function, and epigenetic modifications.These cumulative alterations create a microenvironment within the liver that is highly conducive to cancer formation.

“This fibrosis-to-cancer axis isn’t inevitable,” stated co-author Dr.Peng Luo of Southern Medical University. “By targeting key mechanisms – like HSC activation or immune evasion – we can intercept progression before malignancy takes hold.”

Promising therapeutic avenues are emerging, including:

  • Liquid Biopsies: These advanced diagnostic tools can detect tumor DNA and exosomes in bodily fluids, offering the potential for early cancer detection.
  • CAF-targeting Therapies: Treatments aimed at disrupting the tumor-supportive niches created by CAFs, such as FAP inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies, are showing promise.
  • Combination Therapies: Strategies that simultaneously target fibrosis drivers and bolster the immune system, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, are being explored to prevent the transition to cancer.

The research team stressed the critical importance of early intervention. “Reversing fibrosis is possible, but once HCC develops, prognosis plummets. Our findings spotlight actionable checkpoints to prevent this transition,” they emphasized.

Source: Lin, A., et al. (2025).Decoding the hepatic fibrosis-hepatocellular carcinoma axis: from mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities. *Hepatology International*. doi.org/10.1007/s12072-025-10838-y.

Stay informed on the latest breakthroughs in health and medicine. Comment below with your thoughts, and Subscribe to World-Today-News.com for daily updates.

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Health

Machine learning improves prediction of death risk in hospitalized cirrhosis patients

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

AI Predicts Cirrhosis Patient Deaths With Unprecedented Accuracy

Machine Learning Outperforms Traditional Methods in Risk Assessment

Hospitalized patients with cirrhosis facing a critical prognosis can now be identified with greater precision, thanks to an advanced machine learning model. This innovative tool promises to revolutionize patient care by enabling more effective triage and resource allocation.

Revolutionary Risk Stratification

Researchers have found that a machine learning approach, specifically random forest analysis, significantly surpasses conventional methods in predicting mortality risk for hospitalized individuals diagnosed with cirrhosis. This groundbreaking discovery was detailed in a new publication within the esteemed journal *Gastroenterology*.

โ€œThis gives us a crystal ball – it helps hospital teams, transplant centers, GI and ICU services to triage and prioritize patients more effectively.โ€

โ€”Dr. Jasmohan S. Bajaj, study’s corresponding author

Global Data, Local Impact

The model’s efficacy was demonstrated through an analysis of data from 121 hospitals worldwide, as part of the CLEARED consortium. Crucially, its performance remained consistent across both high-income and low-income nations, underscoring its broad applicability. Further validation using United States veterans’ data confirmed its enduring accuracy.

Scalable and Practical Tool

The predictive tool proved robust even when its complexity was reduced to just 15 key variables, making it highly practical for clinical settings. Patients were effectively categorized into distinct high-risk and low-risk groups, indicating the model’s scalability and real-world utility. An interactive demonstration of the model is available at https://silveys.shinyapps.io/app_cleared/.

Broader Research Context

This study is part of a trio of recent publications focusing on critical aspects of liver disease management in leading American Gastroenterological Association journals. One of these papers offers a global consensus on organ failure, including liver involvement in cirrhosis patients. Another study pinpointed specific blood markers and complications that critically influence the likelihood of in-hospital death among those with liver failure.

According to the World Health Organization, liver disease tragically claims over 1 million lives annually, with alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, and delayed diagnoses being primary contributors (WHO). โ€œLiver disease is one of the most underappreciated causes of death worldwide – alcohol, viral hepatitis, and late diagnoses are major drivers,โ€ stated Dr. Bajaj. โ€œWhen someone is hospitalized, it’s often because everything upstream – prevention, screening, primary care – has already failed.โ€

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Health

Predictive role of the Albumin-Bilirubin score in ICU patients with cirrhosis and sepsis: insights from a large retrospective cohort | BMC Gastroenterology

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on its key points and structure:

Main Topic: The text discusses the prognostic value of the ALBI score in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with cirrhosis and sepsis.

Key Findings/Arguments:

Diabetes and Sepsis Interaction: The text highlights how diabetes can worsen sepsis outcomes by:
 Inducing inflammasome activation and increasing proinflammatory cytokines.
Causing immune dysfunction (impaired neutrophil chemotaxis, macrophage phagocytosis).
 These effects can amplify the existing immune impairment in cirrhosis, leading to worse clinical outcomes.
ALBI Score Robustness: the study’s findings regarding the ALBI score’s association with worse outcomes were validated through sensitivity analyses using a median-based dichotomization.
 ALBI Score Utility: The ALBI score is presented as a “simple, objective, and effective tool for early risk stratification” in this patient population.

Limitations of the Study:

Retrospective Design & Single Center: This limits the generalizability of the findings to other settings or populations.
 Exclusion of Short ICU Stays: patients with ICU stays less than 24 hours were excluded, potentially underestimating early mortality risk.
Static ALBI Score: ALBI scores were calculated based on initial lab values, not accounting for dynamic changes in liver function during the ICU stay.
 Incomplete Organ Dysfunction Assessment: The neurological component of organ dysfunction (Glasgow Coma Scale) could not be fully included due to data limitations in the MIMIC-IV database, potentially leading to incomplete adjustment for overall disease severity.

Future Directions/Recommendations:

External Validation: Prospective and multicenter studies are needed to confirm the findings.
 Broader Data Sources: Analyses using other public critical care databases (e.g., eICU, hirid) are recommended.* Integration into Workflows: Further exploration of integrating the ALBI score into ICU workflows and dynamic risk models is warranted.

Overall Structure:

The text appears to be part of the discussion section of a research paper. It starts by elaborating on a specific aspect of the findings (diabetes and sepsis interaction), then discusses the validation of their main findings (ALBI score), followed by a detailed enumeration of the study’s limitations, and concludes with recommendations for future research and clinical request.

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Health

Hepatitis C treatment gaps persist for children and new mothers

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

Hepatitis C Treatment Access Lags for Moms, Kids

Vulnerable populations face significant disparities despite available cures.

Despite highly effective treatments, access to hepatitis C care remains unequal for children and pregnant women, especially those with opioid use disorders. New research highlights the urgent need to address these gaps.

Disparities in Pediatric Care

A recent study in *Pediatrics* revealed only one in eight children with hepatitis C received treatment, according to research led by Megan Curtis at Washington University School of Medicine. The study, using anonymized data, showed that treatment rates varied based on race, age, and location.

Hispanic and White children were significantly more likely to receive care compared to Black children. Moreover, children in the South were least likely to be treated. These disparities highlight socioeconomic barriers and regional differences in healthcare access.

According to the CDC, in 2022, only 65% of people with diagnosed Hepatitis C received treatment, showcasing how 35% are missing out from getting the right treatment (CDC).

Pregnancy as a Barrier

A second study, published in *Obstetrics & Gynecology Open*, found that recently pregnant women with hepatitis C were less likely to receive treatment compared to men or non-pregnant women. Researchers, including Kevin Xu, analyzed data from patients in treatment for opioid use disorder who also had hepatitis C.

Recent pregnancy was strongly associated with a lower likelihood of receiving antiviral treatment. Specifically, recently pregnant patients were almost 30% less likely to receive treatment than men and about 11% less likely than women who were not recently pregnant.

People with hepatitis C are often asymptomatic for years after being exposed, so if you are young, otherwise healthy and have a new baby, getting prompt treatment may not be a top priority, especially if it is challenging to access. It’s imperative to make hepatitis C care more readily accessible to new moms considering the long-term consequences of the condition.

โ€”Caroline Cary, third-year medical student at WashU Medicine

Effective Treatments Exist

Direct-acting antiviral therapies can safely and effectively treat hepatitis C in both adults and children. However, Curtis notes that challenges remain in getting these treatments to those who need them most.

We have treatments for hepatitis C where it’s just two or three months of pills and then over 95% of people are cured, said Curtis. But we are still having difficulties in getting the treatments to the populations that need them the most. These kinds of studies can help us identify where those barriers are.

Increased awareness and improved access are essential to eliminate hepatitis C, according to researchers. By addressing the identified barriers, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the long-term adverse health outcomes associated with untreated hepatitis C.

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Health

Fatty Liver Disease: Leading Cause of Cirrhosis in Mexico – Expert Warns

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

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Fatty Liver Disease: Mexico Faces Rising Threat Amid Obesity and Diabetes Surge

Table of Contents

Mexico is grappling with a silent epidemic: fatty liver disease,also known as hepatic steatosis,affecting a notable portion of its population. With obesity and diabetes on the rise, experts warn that the prevalence of this condition could escalate further, perhaps leading to severe complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer.Gastroenterologist Diana Selene morgan Penagos highlights that up to 70% of Mexicans may have fatty liver disease without even knowing it, as it often presents no noticeable symptoms until advanced stages.

understanding Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease occurs when there is an excessive buildup of fat in liver cells, causing inflammation and potential damage. This infiltration is commonly observed in individuals with obesity or metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes. According to the National Institute of diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of liver disease in the United States, affecting an estimated 24% of adults [https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash].

Fatty Liver Disease: Leading Cause of Cirrhosis in Mexico – Expert Warns
An unhealthy lifestyle increases risk.

The Silent Progression and Serious Complications

One of the most concerning aspects of fatty liver disease is its asymptomatic nature in many cases. often, it is detected incidentally during ultrasounds performed for other reasons, such as gallbladder pain. However, if left unaddressed, fatty liver can progress to more severe stages, including hepatic fibrosis (scarring of the liver) and ultimately, cirrhosis.

Did You Know? Cirrhosis, once primarily linked to alcohol abuse, is now increasingly caused by fatty liver disease associated with metabolic disorders.

Dr. Morgan Penagos emphasizes that cirrhosis is an irreversible condition that can lead to life-threatening complications such as esophageal varices (swollen veins in the esophagus), digestive bleeding, anemia, protein loss, coagulation disorders, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, and neurological impairments.

Risk Factors and Early Detection

Individuals with obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary habits are at a significantly higher risk of developing fatty liver disease. Early detection is crucial to prevent the progression of the disease and its associated complications.Dr. Morgan Penagos advises that people with these risk factors should undergo regular check-ups and specific blood and imaging studies to assess their liver health.

Pro Tip: Don’

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