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Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by chronic and progressive cholestasis, which has a tendency to develop cirrhosis. The pathogenesis of PBC is complicated and still unclear. This paper reviews the atest research progress in mmunological mechanisms and therapies for PBC in recent years, which focuses on the relationship between the development of PBC and autoantibodies, immune cells, and mportant cytokines. The review ndicates that immunological factors play a key role in pathogenesis of PBC, and further research on mmunological mechanisms might be quite mportant for the dentification of pathogenesis and clinical treatment of PBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, non - invasive methods for assessment of hepatic fibrosis have attracted more and more attention, and the application of non - invasive diagnostic techniques such as serum markers and transient elastography (FibroScan) for hepatic fibrosis is reviewed. Anti - fibrosis treatments should integrate etiological treatment, anti - inflammatory and liver - protecting therapy, and inhibiting the synthesis of extracellular matrix and degrading excessively deposited extracellular matrix. Antiviral treatment is the basis for resisting hepatic fibrosis due to chronic viral hepatitis. In this aspect, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has advantages in inhibiting the synthesis of extracellular matrix and degrading excessively deposited extracellular matrix, because it effects on multiple links, at multiple levels, and against multiple targets. So integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy is a promising treatment strategy. However, the benefit of integrative therapy against hepatic fibrosis stiil needs to be supported by rigorously designed, multicenter, large - sample clinical studies, and the mechanism of anti - fibrosis TCM treatment deserves further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have found that endotoxin not only activates immune response, exacerbates liver injury, and induces liver failure, but also plays an important role in the development of hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and other fatal complications. T e recent progress in research on the pathogenesis of intestinal endotoxemia (IETM) and its impact on the development and progression of liver failure is reviewed and summarized. It is suggested that seeking effective methods to prevent and control IETM holds promise as the key to treating severe liver disease and liver failure successfully [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and accurate assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) helps to choose the correct therapeutic scheme and guide the clinical treatment. In recent years, the noninvasive diagnostic models for liver fibrosis have ben constantly emerging, but no consensus has been reached in this regard. The research advances in noninvasive regression models for liver fibrosis in patients with CHB are reviewed according to different staging methods for liver fibrosis, and the existing models are analyzed in terms of problems and shortages. It is thought that further studies should be done to establish simpler, more effective models that have higher diagnostic values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]