Risk Of Developing Liver Cancer After HCV Treatment

Friday, January 28, 2011

Hepatitis In The News


In The News

Hepatitis C Articles at HIV and Hepatitis

One-quarter of Patients Clear Hepatitis Delta with Pegylated Interferon
SUMMARY: Treatment with pegylated interferon (Pegasys) -- either alone or in combination with the antiviral drug adefovir (Hepsera) -- led to clearance of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and improvement in liver enzyme levels, according to a small study published in the January 27, 2011, New England Journal of Medicine. Adefovir alone, however, had no effect on HDV.

Peretinoin Improves Hepatocellular Carcinoma in People with Mild Liver Impairment
SUMMARY: The investigational liver cancer drug peretinoin, or NIK-333, appeared to reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence or death among people with Child-Pugh stage A, or mild liver impairment, in a Phase II/III clinical trial, even though it did not lead to significant improvement when looking at the study population as a whole. These results, reported at a medical conference last week, indicate that the drug may be effective for a selected subset of patients.
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Latest News From Medical News Today
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Reuters Examines How Russia's 'Drug Problem' Has 'Become An AIDS Problem'
28 January 2011Reuters, in a piece exploring the issue of heroin use in Russia describes how the country's "drug problem has now become an AIDS problem." Despite having what Reuters refers to as "one of the world's biggest heroin
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Secretary Of State For Health Launches Revolutionary New Services For People Living With HIV, UK
28 January 2011The Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP and HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust launch a new resource, Life Plus, today, which will transform the way people with HIV manage their condition long term
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T-Cells Become Resistant To HIV Infection Using New Anti-HIV Gene Therapy
28 January 2011An innovative genetic strategy for rendering T-cells resistant to HIV infection without affecting their normal growth and activity is described in a paper published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc...
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Medpage Updates

Gene Variant Protects Against Anemia in HCV Tx
1/28/2011Genetic variants in the inosine triphosphatase gene can strongly influence the success of antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus by protecting carriers from anemia, and a retrospective study suggested a possible role for genotyping at least some patients.

HIV No Bar to Liver Transplant in Carcinoma
1/27/2011Hepatocellular carcinoma patients who have HIV do just as well after a liver transplant as those who are not infected, French researchers reported.

Hepatitis Delta Yields to Peginterferon, Not to Adefovir
1/27/2011Treatment with the antiviral drug pegylated interferon alfa-2a cleared hepatitis delta in about a quarter of patients, researchers reported.

Featured Hepatitis C Articles at Medscape

Women Experience Higher Rates of Adverse Events During Hepatitis C Virus Therapy in HIV Infection: A Meta-Analysis
This study takes a look at the reasons why women have a higher risk of adverse events than men in HCV/HIV coinfection.
JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, January 2011

Clinical Features of Biochemical Cholestasis in Patients With Recurrent Hepatitis C After Living-donor Liver Transplantation
What are the reasons why hepatitis C recurs after liver transplants more often and faster than in non-transplant settings?
Journal of Viral Hepatitis, January 2011

Review: New Direct-acting Antivirals in the Development for Hepatitis C Virus Infection
What are some of the more promising drugs on the horizon for the treatment of hepatitis C?
Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, January 2011
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San Francisco
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San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force Releases Recommendations for Fighting Epidemic

For immediate releaseJanuary 24, 2011 -
The San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force today released a report expressing grave concern about the hepatitis C epidemic in the City and outlining a series of recommendations for the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to mount a comprehensive effort to fight the disease.
The report, entitled "Recommendations for Strategically Addressing Hepatitis C in San Francisco" is the result of a year-long process by the Task Force to identify gaps to addressing hepatitis C in San Francisco and create a set of strategic directions for San Francisco to have an immediate impact in the following areas of hepatitis C: Research and Surveillance; Prevention, Education, Awareness and Testing; Care and
Treatment; and Public Policy.
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Some recommendations in the document include: establishing a hepatitis C coordinator position at the San Francisco Department of Public Health; ensuring full access to hepatitis C treatment and care through Healthy San Francisco; developing citywide educational/awareness campaigns; and creating a pilot legal supervised injection facility as part of a comprehensive hepatitis C prevention strategy. The report is dedicated to the memory of Randy Allgaier, who served as the Task Force's co-chair until his untimely death in November, 2010."This report highlights significant gaps in services for people like me living with hepatitis C and others at risk of infection," said Dominique Leslie, Task Force Co-Chair. "We urge Mayor Lee and the Board of Supervisors to take swift action to implement our recommendations."The Task Force was convened in September, 2009, by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom and includes over 30 advocates, medical and social service providers, public health officials, and people living with hepatitis C.
The group was formed in response to growing concern about the hepatitis C epidemic in the City. There are an estimated 12,000 San Franciscans infected with hepatitis C, with most not aware of their status. The disease disproportionately affects African-Americans, Latinos, veterans, people involved with the criminal justice system, injection drug users, men who have sex with men, people with HIV, immigrants, and low-income people. Hepatitis C can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death.
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In January of 2010, the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) released a national report highlighting the severity of the hepatitis B and C epidemics in the United States and calling on public officials to participate in efforts to prevent, control, and care for the diseases."Hepatitis C is a growing epidemic that puts a significant burden on our public health and medical systems," said Todd Frederick, M.D., of California Pacific Medical Center Department of Transplantation and Task Force member. "The lifetime cost of treating one person with hepatitis C is estimated to be between $100,000 and $300,000.
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Those who go untreated face increased risks of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer, and the cost for a liver transplant, for which HCV is the leading cause, is estimated at $500,000. By implementing the Task Force's recommendations, San Francisco has a unique opportunity to prevent new infections and save money for the City, provide care and treatment for those living with hepatitis C, prevent long-term complications of the disease and be a leader in the national fight against this disease."The San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force will continue as a community coalition focused on advocating for full implementation of all recommendations and educating public officials, medical and social service providers, at-risk communities, and the general public about hepatitis C and its impact on San Francisco. For more information about the Task Force, visit http://www.hepcsf.org/.
Contact: Ryan Clary, 415-235-8593 (cell),
Laura Thomas, 415-241-9800,
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Scotland
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Contaminated blood victims denied payouts PATIENTS infected with...
hepatitis C from contaminated blood transfusions are missing out on thousands of pounds each year because they live in Scotland, it emerged today.
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Taiwan

Scientific finding aids anti-HCV therapy

2011/01/28 18:04:59
Taipei, Jan. 28 (CNA)

Taiwan's top research institute Academia Sinica announced new findings Friday on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that could help refine anti-HCV therapies in the future.The team, led by research fellow Steve Chen, found that autophagy, a condition in which cells digest themselves, plays an important role in HCV replication, a process linked to the spread of infection in the body, the institute said.

The study offers medical scientists a direction for seeking more effective drugs for hepatitis C sufferers, Chen said, adding that drugs developed to suppress autophagy can be effective in stopping the virus from multiplying in the host body.

The findings were published in the Jan. 4 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.Although there are six major genotypes of HCV, only two drugs -- interferon and ribavirin -- are currently used for hepatitis C patients, who sometimes do not respond well to the drugs, Chen said."We hope that by understanding the mechanism by which HCV works, we can find ways to curb it," he added. "This is only the first step in a long journey to find an effective drug for treating HCV," he said. "More work still needs to be done in this field."
(By Nancy Liu) ENDITEM/J
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201101280019&Type=aLIV


India

Health problems/Sterilisation/Hepatitis B;Primitive tribes in India
Wayanad district has the largest infant mortality and maternal death rates in Kerala. The state average of infant mortality is 13 per 1,000 but here it is 50 per 1,000. Last year, 86 infant deaths were reported of which 46 were from tribal communities.

Recent figures set off yet another alarming signal. The prevalence of Hepatitis B is disproportionately high among tribals in Wayanad. In 2009, 13 cases were identified in the district hospital alone, with 11 being tribals. In 2010, the number of cases of Hepatitis B was 81, for tribals 47. “No study has been done with regard to this,” says Dr Santhosh. “Men and women are being taken to estates in Karnataka as contract labour. I assume this is the reason for Hepatitis B being rampant.” ported, six were of Adivasi mothers.


Accreditation for blood banks to prevent infectious diseases
CHENNAI: The Quality Council of India (QCI) has constituted a national committee for accreditation of blood banks across the country to prevent spread of infectious diseases through blood transfusion. The committee chaired by Dr Bharat Singh of GTB hospital, Delhi will have four other members to recommend accreditations for blood banks and review the status of the accredited banks. The committee, appointed for two years, will monitor the quality of blood dispensed from the accredited blood banks. They will also recommend policy changes to the QCI board. The other members of this board include Dr K Selvarajan of Government General Hospital, Chennai, Dr R C Khurana of the Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi, Dr Sukesh Nair of Chirstian Medical College in Vellore and Dr BK Rana, who is the deputy director of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals. Read more..
India has more than 2,635 licensed blood banks. The country requires 8.5 million units of blood annually, but gets only 6.5 million units from 2.5 million voluntary donors. One unit of blood is 450 ml. Half-a-litre of blood can often help save three lives. On some occasions due to carelessnerss of blood banks, the recipients get infected with HIV and Hepatitis. More than 81 million units of blood are collected globally every year. According to WHO, annually, unsafe transfusion causes an estimated 8-16 million Hepatitis B infections, 2.3-4.7 million Hepatitis C infections and around 1.6 lakh HIV infections.
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Shanghai
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Shanghai Daily
Hep B testing exposed
PHYSICAL examination services at a hospital in south China's Guangzhou were suspended by health authorities after a whistleblower revealed it tested for hepatitis B in pre-employment physicals, a practice banned to protect the rights of virus carriers.
Provectus Pharma concludes patient enrollment in Phase 1 cancer trial
Provectus Pharmaceuticals has concluded patient recruitment and treatment of all subjects in its open-label Phase 1 clinical trial of PV-10 for liver cancer.The Phase 1 cancer trial involved 6 patients with cancer metastatic to the liver or with recurrent liver cancer.According to Provectus Pharma, the primary objective of the study is to determine the safety and tolerability of a single intralesional injection of PV-10 in patients with cancer of the liver.Provectus Pharma CEO Craig Dees said preliminary results for PV-10 as a treatment for liver cancer are very encouraging as they show the treatment was generally well-tolerated, with substantial evidence of efficacy.
Last Updated: January 28, 2011
Patients with clinical features of autoimmune hepatitis are likely to have a compatible liver histology and may not need to undergo a liver biopsy, according to a study published in the January issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with clinical features of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are likely to have a compatible liver histology and may not need to undergo a liver biopsy, according to a study published in the January issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Einar Björnsson, M.D., from the Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland, and colleagues reviewed data from 257 patients with AIH for whom clinical, biochemical, and histological data were available.

The investigators found that 71 percent of the patients tested positive for antinuclear antibodies, 45 percent had positive smooth muscle antibodies, and 11 percent were seronegative. Increased levels of autoantibodies and/or γ-globulins were found in 97 percent of patients. In 95 percent of cases, the histology was compatible with AIH. Overall, 77 percent of patients had a score of at least six, which indicated probable or definite AIH according to the most recent simplified diagnostic criteria. The researchers concluded that, in patients who meet other clinical criteria for AIH, biopsy samples may be unnecessary.

"Unless biochemical or clinical parameters are suggestive of a different liver disease, a liver biopsy is in most cases not needed to establish the diagnosis of AIH. Given the discomfort, complication rates, and costs associated with a liver biopsy, it must be questioned whether it is justified to perform a routine liver biopsy in patients with a high clinical suspicion of AIH," the authors write.
Abstract Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
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Healthy You

Natural supplements to improve liver fibrosis; Curcumin/Turmeric/Curry, Blueberries, Milk Thistle, and Coffee.
Is there a natural way to improve liver fibrosis ?
In this entry the goal is to explore published data on natural alternatives to fight or curtail liver damage.
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I may be a little late with this; on January 05, 2011 in the "Journal of Advanced Nursing" was an important study on the dangers of splitting oral medications.
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The study reported, "The split tablets are often unequal sizes and a substantial amount of the tablet can be lost during splitting"
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Aspirin Dose Linked to Risk of Upper GI Bleeding
The study by Huang et al. provides further evidence that use of aspirin increases the risk of major GI bleeding and that this risk increases with increasing dose of aspirin. Meta analysis of randomized trials of low-dose aspirin (75-325 mg daily)for cardiovascular prophylaxis indicates approximately a 2-fold increase in major GI bleeding, similar to the results of this analysis.In addition, increasing the dose above 325 mg daily also has been shown to significantly increase the risk of bleeding. Since regular use of low-dose aspirin provides approximately100% inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and thromboxane, the increased risk of upper GI bleeding with higher-dose aspirin presumably relates to increased mucosal injury (likely due to greater cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition).


Vitamins in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis

2011 Jan 24:1-8.

Fiorino S, Conti F, Gramenzi A, Loggi E, Cursaro C, Di Donato R, Micco L, Gitto S, Cuppini A, Bernardi M, Andreone P.Operative Unit of Internal Medicine, Budrio Hospital, Budrio, BO, Italy.
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic infections represent a major health problem worldwide. Although the efficacy of HBV and HCV treatment has improved, several important problems remain. Current recommended antiviral treatments are associated with considerable expense, adverse effects and poor efficacy in some patients. Thus, several alternative approaches have been attempted. To review the clinical experiences investigating the use of lipid- and water-soluble vitamins in the treatment of HBV- and HCV-related chronic infections, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for clinical studies on the use of vitamins in the treatment of HBV- and HCV-related hepatitis, alone or in combination with other antiviral options. Different randomised clinical trials and small case series have evaluated the potential virological and/or biochemical effects of several vitamins.

The heterogeneous study designs and populations, the small number of patients enrolled, the weakness of endpoints and the different treatment schedules and follow-up periods make the results largely inconclusive. Only well-designed randomised controlled trials with well-selected endpoints will ascertain whether vitamins have any role in chronic viral hepatitis. Until such time, the use of vitamins cannot be recommended as a therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.
PMID: 21255469 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]


January 24: SUNFLOWER SEEDS
by Chuck Garcia

January 24, 2011

In this latest post by Chuck Garcia, we now discuss seeds. Seeds have received a bad rap, especially by those that have diverticulosis (see this link for more details). Until recently, those with diverticulosis were told to avoid seeds at all cost. New research now shows that consuming seeds (and nuts) may actually be good for diverticulosis, reducing the number of attacts. The bottom line remain simple: eat more nuts and seeds. The fiber and vitamin content is needed for a well balanced diet. The variety is so vast that you should be able to find a seed you enjoy. Dr. Galati

Due to a large body of medical and nutritional research, seeds have achieved a well deserved notoriety only recently recognized. Like nuts, they contain oils and phytonutrients that contribute to good health. They are easy to store and make for a very convenient snack. In addition, they simply taste good and take away the hunger pangs.

Seeds come in a variety of tastes and purposes. Some edible seeds are customarily used as flavorings (dill, poppy and cumin). Still others are used for their digestive properties (caraway, anise, and fennel). However, the most popular for daily use include flax (deserved it own blog entry) sesame, pumpkin and sunflower.

Although each seed has earned its own place at the table, the sunflower seed deserves this honorable mention.

Typically fed to birds, they are far too neglected by humans. They are power packed with healthy fats, fiber, minerals, and phytochemicals – all important to nutritional quality. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are great when mixed with other nuts and seeds. Most importantly, they make a great addition to salads, sandwiches, and soups.
Make yourself a commitment to adding seeds (and/or nuts) to your daily eating habit. You will find the addition adds to the texture, spices up your meal, and would make GOD proud that you eating food from the earth. As with any whole food, avoid the salted and processed packaged goods you typically find at the gas station. Try to buy them in a health food store or the health section of the supermarket.

For more on sunflower seeds, see:
Sunflower Seed Nutrition
Nutritional Value of Sunflower Seeds
Nut and Seed Chart
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January 27, 2011
Healthy gums may lead to healthy lungs
By NewsRx.com

Maintaining periodontal health may contribute to a healthy respiratory system, according to research published in the Journal of Periodontology. A new study suggests that periodontal disease may increase the risk for respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. These infections, which are caused when bacteria from the upper throat are inhaled into the lower respiratory tract, can be severely debilitating and are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S (see also Pneumonia).
The study included 200 participants between the ages of 20 and 60 with at least 20 natural teeth. Half of the participants were hospitalized patients with a respiratory disease such as pneumonia, COPD, or acute bronchitis, and the other half were healthy control subjects with no history of respiratory disease. Each participant underwent a comprehensive oral evaluation to measure periodontal health status.

The study found that patients with respiratory diseases had worse periodontal health than the control group, suggesting a relationship between respiratory disease and periodontal disease. Researchers suspect that the presence of oral pathogens associated with periodontal disease may increase a patient's risk of developing or exacerbating respiratory disease. However, the study authors note that additional studies are needed to more conclusively understand this link.
"Pulmonary diseases can be severely disabling and debilitating," says Donald S. Clem, DDS, President of the American Academy of Periodontology. "By working with your dentist or periodontist, you may actually be able to prevent or diminish the progression of harmful diseases such as pneumonia or COPD. This study provides yet another example of how periodontal health plays a role in keeping other systems of the body healthy."
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and other structures supporting the teeth. Previous research has associated gum disease with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Clem stressed the importance of routine oral care in helping to prevent periodontal disease. "Taking good care of your periodontal health involves daily tooth brushing and flossing. You should also expect to get a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year," he advised. A dental professional, such as a periodontist, a specialist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease, can conduct a comprehensive exam to assess your periodontal disease status.
Keywords: American Academy of Periodontology, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Gum Disease, Infectious Disease, Lung Diseases, Periodontal Disease, Pneumonia, Pulmonology, Respiratory Disease, Respiratory Tract Diseases, Respiratory Tract Infections, Risk and Prevention.

This article was prepared by Clinical Trials Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Clinical Trials Week via NewsRx.com.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com/ .


Off The Cuff

From Celebrity Diagnosis

Dying to do Letterman: a Medical Detective Story

by Michele R. Berman, MD

In February or March 2005, 35 year-old comedian Steve Mazan was diagnosed with a "rare form of intestinal cancer." At Celebrity Diagnosis, we always try to provide the most accurate and specific information about diseases because the mainstream media often glosses over important details and sometimes just gets it wrong (such as in the case of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' "pancreatic cancer") So in the case of Steve Mazan, we searched for more information about his precise diagnosis, but it was nowhere to be found. So we decided to treat this case as a medical mystery and track down the most likely suspect, using the few clues we did find in various stories on the web.

A Mix of Tiny Gold and Viral Particles, and the DNA Ties That Bind Them
Scientists have created a diamond-like lattice composed of gold nanoparticles and viral particles, woven together and held in place by strands of DNA. The structure -- a distinctive mix of ...

Stem Cells Show Promise in Repairing a Child's Heart
January 28, 2011 — A study shows promise that heart damage in children could be repaired by using stem cells from patient's own ...

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