Methods for diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NASH with or without advanced liver fibrosis in a subject are provided, such methods including the detection of levels of a variety of biomarkers diagnostic of NASH versus simple steatosis and NASH with advanced liver fibrosis versus NASH without advanced liver fibrosis. The invention also provides methods treating NASH (e.g., NASH with or without advanced liver fibrosis) by administering a biomarker or an agent that modulates a biomarker of NASH or fibrosis. Compositions in the form of kits and panels of reagents for detecting the biomarkers of the invention are also provided.

The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing and/or predicting the risk of developing autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in a subject. The methods are based on the inventors' identification of a novel biomarker for AIH. The invention further comprises the use of said biomarker in the methods disclosed herein, and kits comprising agents for detecting said biomarker. The invention also relates to a method of treating AIH in a subject, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with AIH or determined to be at risk of developing AIH using the methods disclosed herein.

A method for implementing an adapted patient care for an individual suffering from liver fibrosis after assessing liver fibrosis progression in the individual, and thus determining whether the individual is a slow, medium or fast fibroser. Also, a method for treating an individual suffering from liver fibrosis and identified as a fast fibroser, which includes the steps of identifying the individual as a fast fibroser by assessing fibrosis progression and treating the individual by administering without delay at least one therapeutic agent for treating liver fibrosis, or for treating the underlying cause responsible for liver fibrosis, or both.

The present invention can induce stronger cellular immunity to hepatitis C and provide a treatment means and a prevention means that are effective in completely eliminating the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Provided is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of hepatitis C, said composition comprising a recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and a recombinant vector (b) and characterized in that after one of the recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and the recombinant vector (b) is administered for initial immunity, the other is administered for additional immunity. The recombinant vaccinia virus (a) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV genome. The recombinant vector (b) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV (where the cDNA contained in the recombinant vector (b) has a different base sequence than that included in the recombinant vaccinia virus (a)).

The application relates to methods of treating chronic viral infection by modulating Tim-3 activity. In addition, the present application relates to methods of diagnosing or monitoring immune system activity or function, chronic viral infection and inflammatory disease using Tim-3 expression.

New use of ADAMTS13 in the clinical filed is provided. The use of ADAMTS13 as a biomarker for monitoring the onset of liver damage, hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury or the liver function after liver transplantation: a method of testing liver damage, a method of testing hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, or a method of testing the liver function after liver transplantation, each of the methods comprising measuring or monitoring the ADAMTS13 activity in a sample from a mammal; an agent for treating diseases selected from the group consisting of liver damage, hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and hepatic dysfunction after liver transplantation, which comprises ADAMTS13 or a mutant of ADAMTS13 as an effective ingredient.

New use of ADAMTS13 in the clinical filed is provided. The use of ADAMTS13 as a biomarker for monitoring the onset of liver damage, hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury or the liver function after liver transplantation: a method of testing liver damage, a method of testing hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, or a method of testing the liver function after liver transplantation, each of the methods comprising measuring or monitoring the ADAMTS13 activity in a sample from a mammal; an agent for treating diseases selected from the group consisting of liver damage, hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and hepatic dysfunction after liver transplantation, which comprises ADAMTS13 or a mutant of ADAMTS13 as an effective ingredient.

Identification of urokinase-type plasminogen, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and β-2-microglobulin as novel biomarkers associated with liver fibrosis and uses thereof in diagnosing liver fibrosis.

Identification of urokinase-type plasminogen, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and β-2-microglobulin as novel biomarkers associated with liver fibrosis and uses thereof in diagnosing liver fibrosis.

The present disclosure relates to polypeptides, including fusions thereof, nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, immunodiagnostic reagents, kits, and immunoassays for use detecting the presence of HCV antibodies. More specifically, the present invention describes specific NS3 antigens that can be used for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies.