Healio: Maternal transmission cause of HCV in children

Maternal transmission cause of HCV in children

Indolfi G. J Pediatr. 2013;doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.06.077.

Mother-to-child transmission is the leading causes of hepatitis C virus infection in children, according to recent findings published in The Journal of Pediatrics

“Mother-to-child transmission of HCV is defined as transmission occurring during pregnancy or in the perinatal period from the HCV-infected mother to the fetus or to the child,” according to background information in the study. “The exact timing and the ultimate mechanism of mother-to-child transmission of HCV infection are unknown. Among children acquiring infections from the mother, only a few have been found to be HCV-RNA positive in the first days of life.”
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RVR, baseline characteristics identify patients who will benefit from dual HCV therapy

Andriulli A. J Hepatol. 2013;doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2013.07.040.

A model incorporating IL28B genotype, fibrosis stage, viral load and rapid virologic response was predictive of benefit from dual therapy among patients with chronic hepatitis C in a recent study.

In a retrospective analysis, researchers evaluated 1,045 treatment-naïve Caucasian patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin according to two models: The first incorporated only baseline variables associated with sustained virologic response at 24 weeks post-treatment (SVR), with the second model also included rapid virologic response at 4 weeks of therapy (RVR).
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Research consortium, FDA establish HCV collaboration

The Hepatitis C Therapeutic Registry and Research Network has announced a collaboration with the FDA for sharing data on the use and management of new HCV therapies, according to a press release.
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Hepatobiliary disease linked to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Marschall H-U. Hepatology. 2013;doi:10.1002/hep.26444.

Women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy are at increased risk for hepatobiliary disease, and testing for hepatitis C may be warranted in this population, according to recent results.
In a population-based cohort study in Sweden, researchers evaluated data collected from the Swedish Medical Birth and Swedish Patient registers on 11,388 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) who gave birth between 1973 and 2009, along with 113,893 matched controls without ICP. Incidence of pre-existing hepatobiliary diseases and any that emerged after giving birth was recorded and compared between groups.
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HBV immunization program yields long-term benefits in Taiwan

Chiang C-J. JAMA. 2013;310:974-976.

A nationwide hepatitis B immunization program in Taiwan improved risk and mortality rates for liver disease continuously during a 30-year period, according to recent results.

Researchers evaluated the results of the immunization program, initiated during July 1984. Initially, the program only included infants born to high-risk mothers who tested positive for HBV surface antigen, but coverage extended to all newborns during July 1986, to preschool children during July 1987 and to all primary school children between 1988 and 1990. Coverage rates from 1984 to 2010 were 88.8% to 96.9%.
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Mental illness, substance use leading causes of illness globally

New data published in The Lancet suggest that mental and substance use disorders were the leading causes of nonfatal illness worldwide in 2010.

"Mental and substance use disorders are notable contributors to the global burden of disease, directly accounting for 7.4% of disease burden worldwide," Harvey A. Whiteford, MD, of the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland, Australia, and colleagues wrote. "These disorders were responsible for more of the global burden than were HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, diabetes, or transport injuries."
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