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Cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) are a group of disorders characterized by the impairment of bile formation, secretion, or excretion. Chronic cholestasis can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The most common types of CLDs are primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). CLDs are classified into intrahepatic and extrahepatic types based on their etiology. Intrahepatic cholestasis is mainly caused by immune dysfunction, viral infections, drug-induced injury, and alcohol-related damage, whereas extrahepatic cholestasis often results from bile duct stones, tumors, or strictures. Pharmacological treatment of PBC include: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA): UDCA is the first-line treatment for PBC. It improves...

Scientists have identified an off-patent drug that can be repurposed to prevent COVID-19—and may be capable of protecting against future variants of the virus—in research involving a unique mix of "mini-organs," donor organs, animal studies and patients. The research showed that an existing drug used to treat a type of liver disease is able to "lock" the doorway by which SARS-CoV-2 enters our cells, a receptor on the cell surface known as ACE2. Because this drug targets the host cells and not the virus, it should protect against future new variants of the virus as well as other coronaviruses that...