Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Hepatitis C Blog Update - How to Keep Your Liver Healthy


Hepatitis C Blogs: Headlines And Research
Welcome folks, here are a few headlines with several blog updates from the people who continue to educate us all about viral hepatitis. Thank you.

In The News
Consumer Reports: How to Keep Your Liver Healthy
Diseases of this often-overlooked organ are on the rise, especially In older adults.
By Cassia Pollock
“Lives are at risk. Protect yourself, your family and the community," added Wooten
A fifth person has died as a result of a hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County.
There have been 228 total cases of the virus and 161 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak in the county. The viral liver disease can cause mild to severe illness.
Continue reading....

Chronic liver inflammation linked to Western diet
A new study in The American Journal of Pathology reports that mice fed a Western diet, which is high in fat and sugar, resulted in hepatic inflammation, especially in males. Moreover, liver inflammation was most pronounced in Western diet-fed male mice that also lacked farnesoid x receptor (FXR), a bile acid receptor.
Continue reading...

Drug-resistant Strains of Hepatitis C Identified Through Deep Sequencing
JULY 11, 2017
Dava Stewart
A new study showed that analyzing plasma — even with precise, deep sequencing technology — is not enough to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) variants that are drug resistant.

Research
First published:
Harvoni
Full Text

Of Interest
We describe a patient with unilateral, painless, acute vision loss with visual field deficits and optic disc swelling. Given the lack of visual field recovery, marked disc pallor at follow-up, and disc at risk appearance of the fellow eye, we made a diagnosis of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. It appeared unlikely to be Hepatitis C-related optic neuritis as viral RNA levels had remained negligible prior to and after presentation. It also appeared unlikely to be optic neuritis in general given the lack of optic nerve enhancement on MRI, lack of pain with eye movement, lack of visual field recovery, and onset of pallor. Of note, our patient had no history of vascular risk factors, obstructive sleep apnea or use of erectile dysfunction drugs. In this otherwise healthy young male patient with no known risk factors, we felt the history of recent completion of Harvoni and ribavirin therapy may have played a causative role.

July 14, 2017
Genotype 3
Collection of full text articles on conditions related to HCV:
Neurologic, rheumatologic, skin, depression, metabolic steatosis which is associated with features of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in patients infected with nongenotype 3....

Head To Head        
Should we screen for cirrhosis?
BMJ 2017; 358 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3233
(Published 12 July 2017)
Liver disease is the second leading cause of potential years of working life lost in England and Wales (72 684), after ischaemic heart disease (77 432). But although years lost from ischaemic heart disease have fallen by a factor of four since 1979, those from liver disease years have increased threefold and are still increasing

Impact of hepatitis C oral therapy in portal hypertension
The available evidence shows that HCV eradication with both INF-based and DAA INF-free therapies can improve liver fibrosis and portal hypertension

Helicobacter pylori infection among patients with liver cirrhosis
H. pylori infection is significantly more frequent among patients with post inflammatory liver cirrhosis (infected with hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus) than in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis or primary biliary cirrhosis. H. pylori infection correlates with elevated concentration of blood ammonia and the incidence of esophageal varices.

Sofosbuvir based treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 infections—A Scandinavian real-life study
We found that sofosbuvir based treatment in a real-life setting could offer SVR rates exceeding 90% in patients with HCV genotype 3 infection and advanced liver disease.
Continue reading...

Twitter
If you are interested in reading full text articles about the treatment and management of hepatitis C follow Henry E. Chang on Twitter.

Latest Tweets By @HenryEChang:
Financial Incentives for Adherence to Hepatitis C Virus Clinical Care and Treatment: A Randomized Trial of Two Strategies→ http://freepdfhosting.com/496e86b238.pdf?platform=hootsuite
EDITORIAL | Do we really need more evidence to use HCV positive donor kidney more liberally in era of DAA therapy?→http://ow.ly/xb2j30dAn7I 
Hepatitis C testing in Canada: don’t leave baby boomers behind→http://ow.ly/XUP030dAnU9
HBV & HCV infection & diabetes mellitus: A cohort study→http://ow.ly/1Kks30dzsHF

In Canada
If you live in Canada follow Don Crocock on Twitter, another wonderful advocate we all admire.
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Blog Updates
Thanks for stopping by, read through helpful tips and advice about living with or treating viral hepatitis provided by your favorite bloggers.

Weekly Bull
HepCBC is a non-profit organization run by and for people infected and affected by hepatitis C. Our mission is to provide education, prevention and support to those living with HCV.

Latest Issue: Weekly Bull

HEP - Blog Updates
Hep is an award-winning print and online brand for people living with and affected by viral hepatitis. Offering unparalleled editorial excellence since 2010, Hep and Hep Magazine are the go-to source for educational and social support for people living with hepatitis.

The Importance of Taking Cirrhosis Medications;
Hepatitis C Patient Interview with Suzanne, part 2
By Connie M. Welch
Connie: After this episode, what were you instructed by your medical team about symptoms of high ammonia levels, taking your cirrhosis medication and the importance of a special diet?
Suzanne: I was told to take my medications as prescribed and I can increase Lactulose if I feel foggy or confused. The only way to keep ammonia levels down is get them out of your system, meaning 3 to 4 bowel movements a day. I am checked every 6 months for elevated ammonia levels through blood work.
Continue reading....


When Hepatitis C Is Medically Acquired
By Lucinda K. Porter, RN
A more recent hepatitis C outbreak occurred in Minot, North Dakota. More than 50 nursing home patients were infected with a genetically similar strain of hepatitis C. The cause was drug diversion and reuse of needles by a phlebotomist.
Continue reading...

Something Rotten in Denmark
By Greg Jefferys
Denmark, like many European nations, prohibits their citizens from importing generic Hep C meds from India.

Continue reading....

To view a list of all bloggers please click here.

HEPATITISC.NET
At HepatitisC.net we empower patients and caregivers to take control of Hepatitis C by providing a platform to learn, educate, and connect with peers and healthcare professionals

Endoscopy Before Hepatitis C Treatment
By Karen Hoyt - July 13, 2017
Getting an endoscopy is practically routine for us with hep C. Your doctor may order one every couple of years. It gives them a general picture of your gut health and helps..
Continue reading...

Harvoni Head: The Unspoken Side-Effect
By Bill Bartlett - July 13, 2017
My first attempt at hep C treatment turned out really badly. I remember reading all the instructions that came with my interferon/Ribavirin cocktail. It was complicated. Calculating for my weight, mixing two...
Continue reading...

The Fine Line 13: Voting and Other Drugs
By Rick Nash - July 11, 2017
The Fine Line is a series of stories from Rick. Check out parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12. With the Election on my TV...
Continue reading....

State Ordered to Treat Inmate for Hepatitis C
By Jenelle Marie Pierce - July 10, 2017
What Is the Background Story? Mumia Abu-Jamal (aka Wesley Cook) was a member of the Black Panthers Party (a socialist movement in the United States from 1966-1982) and is an American citizen...
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Observations in Opioid Country
By Carleen Mcguffey - July 7, 2017
My husband, James, and I offer free hep C testing and resources in rural areas across the US where the opioid epidemic has hit the hardest. Testing clients give us an opportunity...
Continue reading....

View all blog updates, here.

Hepatitis B Foundation
The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and helping to improve the lives of those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Our monthly electronic newsletter, provides research updates, healthy liver tips, information on public health initiatives, and other HBF news.
Click here to subscribe

Learn Which Cancer, Arthritis or Asthma Drugs Can Reactivate Hepatitis B – Even If You’ve Cleared the Infection

By Christine Kukka
Drugs that suppress your immune system in order to treat cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, COPD and asthma can cause a life-threatening reactivation of your hepatitis B
Continue reading....

View all updates, here.

AGA Journals Blog
Dr. Kristine Novak is the science editor for Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has worked as an editor at biomedical research journals and as a science writer for 15 years, covering advances in gastroenterology, hepatology, cancer, immunology, biotechnology, molecular genetics, and clinical trials.

What are the Complications of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy?
Kristine Novak
A review article from Michael F. Vaezi et al discusses potential adverse consequences of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
Continue reading.....

Of Interest

Medpage Today's Kevin MD
KevinMD.com shares the stories and insight of the many who intersect with our health care system, but are rarely heard from.

Impairments vs. diseases in the aging process
Part of a series. Beginning at about age 40, our bodies begin a process of organ and functional decay of about 1 percent per year. Bone mineral density decline leads eventually to osteoporosis and fracture risk, cognition decline leads to memory and thinking impairments, and muscle decline leads to loss of strength while increasing the fracture risk of a fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost ...
Continue reading....

Health News Review
The mission of HealthNewsReview.org is to improve the public dialogue about health care by helping consumers critically analyze claims about health care interventions and by promoting the principles of shared decision-making reinforced by accurate, balanced and complete information about the tradeoffs involved in health care decisions. HealthNewsReview.org evaluates health care journalism, advertising, marketing, public relations and other messages that may influence consumers and provides criteria that consumers can use to evaluate these messages themselves. Improving the quality and flow of health care news and information to consumers can be a significant step towards meaningful health care reform.

Coffee & sleep stories mostly miss the association ≠ causation emphasis
Gary Schwitzer
Just a quickie.  You’ve heard what follows many times before from us.  It is one of the most common flaws in health care journalism. Studies that show a statistical association between two things do not necessarily prove that one thing causes another to occur. We saw that principle violated several times in news coverage of several different studies today – regarding coffee and sleep.

Coffee consumption associated with a lower risk of death
We will have a more in-depth systematic criteria-driven review of one of the coffee stories, but here’s a quick overview. As usual, the problem resided in the headlines of most stories, with some half-hearted attempts in some stories to include the limitations of two observational studies, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine
Continue reading...

The Research: Summary for Patients - Is Coffee Consumption Associated With Lower Risk for Death?

The Blog of Dr. Joseph S. Galati
Discussions about the liver and everything else related to health and wellness

Samantha Boggs, Nurse Practitioner: What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Samantha Boggs, a Nurse Practitioner with Dr. Galati and Liver Specialists of Texas, is a guest on Your Health First this weekend. She explains to listeners on the radio the educational path for nurse practitioners, and the role they play in the current healthcare environment.
Continue reading....

Skinny Liver: A Book for Everyone
By Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Everything you need to know about fatty liver disease is in Skinny Liver by Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD with Ibrahim Hanouneh, MD. Skinny Liver is more than a book about fatty liver disease; it is a comprehensive book about regaining health and staying that way. Kirkpatrick’s nutrition expertise, combined with Hanouneh’s experience treating liver disease, bring together a wealth of knowledge about how to prevent or reverse fatty liver disease.
Continue reading..

New Learning Activity
Watch - Individualizing Initial HCV Therapy
New over at Clinical Care Options, Tram T. Tran MD, Kristen Marks MD, Nancy Reau MD, FAASLD, AGAF, and Norah Terrault MD, MPH discuss "Individualizing Initial HCV Therapy" using a case-presentation format:

Led by Tram T. Tran, MD, a panel of experts discusses their approach to individualizing initial HCV therapy based on key disease and patient characteristics that have an impact on treatment choice, including HCV genotype, race, cirrhosis, comorbidities, and comedications.
Continue reading....

Recommended Links
Research Articles
Current full text articles covering every aspect of hepatitis C.

Fibrosis
Tina

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