Menopause and Obesity Linked to HCV Relapse after Interferon-based Treatment
On December 10, 2010
On December 10, 2010
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SUMMARY: Obesity, fatty liver, and having hard-to-treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 predicted a greater likelihood of relapse after treatment, and thus failure to achieve sustained virological response, according to a French study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Among women, however, the only independent predictor was being menopausal.
SUMMARY: Obesity, fatty liver, and having hard-to-treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 predicted a greater likelihood of relapse after treatment, and thus failure to achieve sustained virological response, according to a French study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Among women, however, the only independent predictor was being menopausal.
Hepatitis C Experts Sought for FDA Advisory Committee
SUMMARY: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is looking to add new members with medical expertise and experience in hepatitis C to its Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee considers evidence from clinical trials to make recommendations about whether new drugs should be approved. The first of the direct-acting oral hepatitis C agents are in the late stages of testing and will be considered for approval starting next year.......
SUMMARY: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is looking to add new members with medical expertise and experience in hepatitis C to its Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee considers evidence from clinical trials to make recommendations about whether new drugs should be approved. The first of the direct-acting oral hepatitis C agents are in the late stages of testing and will be considered for approval starting next year.......
Pegylated Interferon Lambda for Hepatitis C Produces Good Response with Minimal Blood Toxicity
On December 10, 2010
SUMMARY: Pegylated interferon lambda and pegyalted interferon alfa-2a demonstrated similar activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) for genotype 2 or 3 patients at week 12, and somewhat better early response rates at higher doses in people with genotypes 1 or 4, according to a study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Furthermore, interferon lambda was better tolerated overall, with fewer cases of anemia and less neutrophil loss........
On December 10, 2010
SUMMARY: Pegylated interferon lambda and pegyalted interferon alfa-2a demonstrated similar activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) for genotype 2 or 3 patients at week 12, and somewhat better early response rates at higher doses in people with genotypes 1 or 4, according to a study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Furthermore, interferon lambda was better tolerated overall, with fewer cases of anemia and less neutrophil loss........
SUMMARY: More then one-third of people coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) did not achieve or maintain HBV suppression after 1 year of taking tenofovir (Viread), even though they had undetectable HIV viral load indicating good adherence, according to study findings presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston.......
Tailored Treatment Duration Beneficial for HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients
On December 10, 2010
SUMMARY: Extending treatment with pegyalted interferon plus ribavirin for an extra 3 months raises the odds that HIV/HCV genotype 1 or 4 coinfected people will achieve sustained virological response, or a cure for hepatitis C, according to a Spanish study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Patients with easier-to-treat HCV genotypes 2 or 3, however, did well with 6 months of treatment if they experienced rapid virological response............
On December 10, 2010
SUMMARY: Extending treatment with pegyalted interferon plus ribavirin for an extra 3 months raises the odds that HIV/HCV genotype 1 or 4 coinfected people will achieve sustained virological response, or a cure for hepatitis C, according to a Spanish study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Patients with easier-to-treat HCV genotypes 2 or 3, however, did well with 6 months of treatment if they experienced rapid virological response............
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Last Updated: December 09, 2010.
The visceral adiposity index, a score that combines body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein levels, is associated with liver damage and viral load in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, according to a study in the November issue of Hepatology.
THURSDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) --
The visceral adiposity index (VAI), a score that combines body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein levels, is associated with liver damage and viral load in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (G1 CHC), according to a study in the November issue of Hepatology.
Salvatore Petta, M.D., of the University of Palermo in Italy, and colleagues performed liver biopsies on 236 patients with G1 CHC and conducted examinations to assess for steatosis, evidence of liver damage (such as necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis), and viral loads. The researchers also conducted metabolic and anthropometric tests and computed each subject's VAI.
Salvatore Petta, M.D., of the University of Palermo in Italy, and colleagues performed liver biopsies on 236 patients with G1 CHC and conducted examinations to assess for steatosis, evidence of liver damage (such as necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis), and viral loads. The researchers also conducted metabolic and anthropometric tests and computed each subject's VAI.
The researchers found that VAI scores were independently associated with homeostasis model assessment score, hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels, necroinflammatory activity, and steatosis. Also, in regression analyses, insulin resistance, higher VAI score, and fibrosis all were associated with moderate to severe steatosis, while older age, higher VAI score, and fibrosis were independently associated with steatosis of at least 30 percent, and older age, higher VAI score, and fibrosis were independently related to moderate to severe necroinflammatory activity.
"In conclusion, VAI, a new index of both fat function and distribution, appears to be independently associated with steatosis and necroinflammatory activity in G1 CHC patients and has a direct correlation with HCV viral load. These data suggest a direct role of adipose tissue in liver damage and a possible interference of HCV with adipocyte function. Experimental studies are needed to determine the mechanisms responsible for these associations," the authors write.
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On December 10, 2010
If we compare this to adults, our information of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children is narrow. This is due to the fact that there are lesser children than adults who are infected with HCV and children are less probably to reveal symptoms from their HCV contagion. Acute HCV infectivity in children is hardly ever observed except if there are particular conditions such as a transfusion-associated outburst. Fulminant hepatic malfunction from HCV has never been depicted in children. Most unceasingly infected children with HCV are asymptomatic, with no complaints, or have unclear fatigue and/or abdominal pain. Nearly all children with HCV infection have regular or placidly abnormal serum transaminase level.
Whether maternal-neonatal transfer of HCV is dissimilar as transfusion acquired HCV is vague. At first, these children have eminent serum transaminase levels for a not many years that later on become normal. When these children undertake a liver biopsy, there is confirmation of chronic hepatitis. Although in the mainstream of children with perinatal transmission of Hepatitis C in children, there is placid liver disease in the initial decade of life; in others the infection is more destructive that leads to cirrhosis and end-stage liver illness involves transplantation. The aspects dependable for these disparities remain indefinite. An appraisal of the utilization of interferon as monotherapy in children displays a sustained virologic response (SVR) of 33-45 percent. This is considerably better than the sustained virologic response rate for interferon monotherapy seen in adults...............
Whether maternal-neonatal transfer of HCV is dissimilar as transfusion acquired HCV is vague. At first, these children have eminent serum transaminase levels for a not many years that later on become normal. When these children undertake a liver biopsy, there is confirmation of chronic hepatitis. Although in the mainstream of children with perinatal transmission of Hepatitis C in children, there is placid liver disease in the initial decade of life; in others the infection is more destructive that leads to cirrhosis and end-stage liver illness involves transplantation. The aspects dependable for these disparities remain indefinite. An appraisal of the utilization of interferon as monotherapy in children displays a sustained virologic response (SVR) of 33-45 percent. This is considerably better than the sustained virologic response rate for interferon monotherapy seen in adults...............
Doctors at the University of Miami are treating liver cancer patients by giving immune-system cells more muscle in the lab to recognize and attack their cancer cells. ``It's scary,'' Miranda said Thursday, during an announcement of the medical trial. ``But I feel really good.''
Miranda's liver had been dogging him since 1979, when he contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion. By October 2009, chronic exhaustion forced him to give up his favorite sport, fishing for yellowtail snapper in the Florida Keys. That's when he learned his hepatitis had become liver cancer. Encarnacion Miranda, right, 58, of Key Largo, was the first to undergo an experimental procedure for liver cancer
Miranda's liver had been dogging him since 1979, when he contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion. By October 2009, chronic exhaustion forced him to give up his favorite sport, fishing for yellowtail snapper in the Florida Keys. That's when he learned his hepatitis had become liver cancer. Encarnacion Miranda, right, 58, of Key Largo, was the first to undergo an experimental procedure for liver cancer
December 9, 2010
By MICHELE YOUNGDaily News Staff Reporter
Thousands of Royal Inland Hospital patients, most from the region, face a tiny risk of infection from improperly cleaned internal scopes used for more than two years.
Interior Health went public with the endoscope cleaning issue Wednesday after sending letters to 9,000 patients who underwent procedures at RIH between March 6, 2008 and July 15, 2010.
IHA vice-president for medicine and quality Dr. Jeremy Etherington said in a press conference the odds of being struck by lightning are greater than contracting HIV or hepatitis B or C through dirty endoscopy scopes.
Thousands of Royal Inland Hospital patients, most from the region, face a tiny risk of infection from improperly cleaned internal scopes used for more than two years.
Interior Health went public with the endoscope cleaning issue Wednesday after sending letters to 9,000 patients who underwent procedures at RIH between March 6, 2008 and July 15, 2010.
IHA vice-president for medicine and quality Dr. Jeremy Etherington said in a press conference the odds of being struck by lightning are greater than contracting HIV or hepatitis B or C through dirty endoscopy scopes.
They also will be releasing the results from their Phase 1 study of their hepatitis-C virus(HCV) treatment, INX-189, sometime in the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2011. The HCV market has a growing number of competitor, but INX-189's potential as a second-generation approach(nucleotide, as opposed to nucleoside) should make the results even more interesting. It appears that INX-189 is the most potent nucleotide polymerase inhibitor in clinical development, with PK data supporting a once-daily therapy. (That's potentially huge!). This certainly has potential to attract broader interest(big pharma), especially if the data supports their hypothesis. We think investors should be following INHX closely and we are bullish on their 2011 outlook.
Latest Update: 12/10/10, 12:05 AM
Cafeteria under suspicion as 143 sick at school in France
Posted: December 9th, 2010 - 12:36pm by Doug Powell
Food poisoning is suspected among college students at Puygrelier Saint-Michel, north of Bordeaux in France, with 143 students sick and one hospitalized. The cafeteria recently underwent renovations, but school officials defended food hygiene practices.....
Cafeteria under suspicion as 143 sick at school in France
Posted: December 9th, 2010 - 12:36pm by Doug Powell
Food poisoning is suspected among college students at Puygrelier Saint-Michel, north of Bordeaux in France, with 143 students sick and one hospitalized. The cafeteria recently underwent renovations, but school officials defended food hygiene practices.....
Stricter testing for federal ground beef program may not lead to safer meat
Posted: December 9th, 2010 - 12:19pm by Doug Powell
About a year ago, the USA Today ran a series of stories about the microbial safety of food served in the U.S. school lunch program, stating,
“McDonald's, Burger King and Costco, for instance, are far more rigorous in checking for bacteria and dangerous pathogens. They test the ground beef they buy five to 10 times more often than the USDA tests beef made for schools during a typical production day.........
Posted: December 9th, 2010 - 12:19pm by Doug Powell
About a year ago, the USA Today ran a series of stories about the microbial safety of food served in the U.S. school lunch program, stating,
“McDonald's, Burger King and Costco, for instance, are far more rigorous in checking for bacteria and dangerous pathogens. They test the ground beef they buy five to 10 times more often than the USDA tests beef made for schools during a typical production day.........
Paula Crawford at Long View Gallery
Posted by Randy Shulman on December 9, 2010 9:10 AM
"New Work" features paintings by Paula Crawford of colorful, spherical forms. She started painting these just before she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a disease whose clustered spheres are almost identical to what she had painted. When something occurs that uncannily, you don't just stop willy-nilly. Crawford's still paining these forms even after treatment. Opening reception tonight, Thursday, Dec. 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Long View Gallery, 1234 9th St. NW. Call 202-232-4788 or visit longviewgallery.com.
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Stanford
By Michelle Brandt
There is some discouraging news today about the state of women's health.
There is some discouraging news today about the state of women's health.
As included in the New York Times, a new report from the National Women’s Law Center and Oregon Health and Science University shows that:
Over all, more women are obese, diabetic and hypertensive than just a few years ago, and more are testing positive for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease linked to infertility.
Women are also doing more binge-drinking and less exercising, and fewer are being screened for cervical cancer.
Based on 26 indicators of health status, the report gave the U.S. an overall grade of unsatisfactory. And Michelle Berlin, MD, PhD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at OHSU, told the Times, "The takeaway message is that we’re really not where we should be."
Despite the bleak findings, Danielle Garrett, a policy fellow at the law center, said in a blog entry that there's still reason to be hopeful. The new health law, she said, should lead to "major improvements in many of the areas examined in the Report Card."
Over all, more women are obese, diabetic and hypertensive than just a few years ago, and more are testing positive for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease linked to infertility.
Women are also doing more binge-drinking and less exercising, and fewer are being screened for cervical cancer.
Based on 26 indicators of health status, the report gave the U.S. an overall grade of unsatisfactory. And Michelle Berlin, MD, PhD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at OHSU, told the Times, "The takeaway message is that we’re really not where we should be."
Despite the bleak findings, Danielle Garrett, a policy fellow at the law center, said in a blog entry that there's still reason to be hopeful. The new health law, she said, should lead to "major improvements in many of the areas examined in the Report Card."
HALL OF SHAME
News Date: 9th December 2010
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has cautioned the public on the activities of Tasly Co Ltd, a Chinese company, and its distributors who are engaged in practices that pose serious threat to public health and safety.A statement signed by the Chief Executive of FDB, Dr. Stephen Opuni, said the company and its distributors had been mounting canopies with banners, advertising treatment for various disease conditions, using unapproved medical devices to make misleading diagnosis of certain life threatening diseases and also prescription of food supplements that they claim can treat such diseases.
"The medical devices being used to make these misleading diagnoses by Tasly Co Ltd and their distributors have not been approved by the FDB as required by law", it said.The FDB said Tasly Co Ltd registered Food Supplements with the FDB and that the public should note that these food supplements cannot treat any medical condition."Tasly Co Ltd is now misleading the general public that their food supplements can treat life threatening conditions and certain chronic diseases like leukaemia, cancers, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, fibroid, spinal cord problems, waist pain, asthma, heart diseases, hepatitis, infertility and impotence among others," the statement said.
It said these practices of Tasly Co Ltd posed serious health threat to patients who patronize their products since patients with the above-mentioned conditions could develop serious life threatening complications.The FDB said "this practice of Tasly Co Ltd violates Section 14 of the Food and Drugs Law, which states that 'Any person who labels, packages, sells or advertises any drug, cosmetic, medical device or household chemical in contravention of any regulation made under this law or in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive as regards its character, constitution, value, potency, quality, composition, merits or safety commits an offence
'The statement said two distributors of Tasly products, who were engaged in misleading diagnostic procedures and treatment of patients with unapproved medical devices and food supplements under canopies at Tema Communities One and Nine had been arrested by the police and are assisting the police in their investigation.
Source: GNA
Source: GNA
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