Sunday, November 8, 2015

Nov 2015 HCV Newsletter and Blog Updates

Greetings everyone, welcome to this months index of Newsletters, blog and publication updates. 

In The News

Hospital employees stealing drugs a growing problem, experts say
SALT LAKE CITY - After the discovery that up to 4,800 patients at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden may have been exposed tohepatitis C - and that a former nurse who was stealing morphine may have been the source - patients and hospital officials alike ...

The great European drug problem
France secured Europe's lowest price for treatment with the drug that precipitated much of the current debate on pricing, the so-called “miracle drug” for hepatitis C, Sovaldi: it pays €41,000 for a 12-week course, compared to €77,000 in the United States.

Project Inform hosts community/provider event on Hep C
On Monday, November 16th, Project Inform, along with five other leading hepatitis advocacy organizations, will host a meeting bringing together front-line hepatitis C providers with community advocates to discuss how they can partner together to increase access to vital services and health care. The event, titled “Beyond the Walls of the Clinic,” will take place during the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’s (AASLD) annual meeting in San Francisco, and though not officially affiliated with AASLD, is expected to attract providers who have come from all over the country for the conference

D.C. Week: Drug Prices Raise Hackles in Congress
Also, White House releases official text of controversial Pacific trade deal 

Researchers provide updated HBV treatment algorithm
A panel of U.S. hepatologists convened and provided recommendations for updating the treatment algorithm for hepatitis B virus infection, according to a treatment report…

Hepatitis C Still Focus of Liver Meeting
SAN FRANCISCO - The latest trials of combination hepatitis C drugs aimed at specific genotypes will get top billing at this year's Liver Meeting.

Federal Judge Approves Health Department Subpoena inHepatitis C Lawsuit
A federal judge has granted a motion to subpoena the North Dakota Department of Health as part of the ongoing case in the Hepatitis C outbreak in ...

Utah Hospital Warns 4800 People of Possible Hepatitis C Exposure
Health officials started an investigation after a patient had the same rare type of the hepatitis C virus as a nurse who worked in the emergency room.

How the VA chooses who gets Hepatitis C cure
Military veterans are more likely to have Hepatitis C than the general population. According to the Denver VA, 4,000 veterans have been diagnosed in their region, which covers Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

Actress Pamela Anderson Cures Hepatitis C With Antiviral Medication: Why ...
In 2002, after reportedly sharing a tattoo needle with ex-husband Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson contracted hepatitis C - a liver disease caused by the hep C virus. The former Baywatch star had been relatively quiet about her diagnosis until opening up to ...

Research - Publications

A New Era of Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, November 9, 2015

Hepatitis C virus-associated neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders: Advances in 2015
Neurocognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbance, depression, fatigue and reduced quality of life are common manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Neuropsychological performance is impaired in HCV patients, in the absence of structural brain alterations on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain metabolic and microstructural changes are easily detected by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and perfusion-weighted/diffusion tensor MRI, enabling detection of brain dysfunction in clinically asymptomatic subjects. The regional distribution of metabolic changes indicates an exclusive involvement of telencephalic areas, but not the diencephalon or brainstem. HCV is likely to play a major pathogenic role in these disorders.

Alcoholic Hepatitis and HCV Interactions in the Modulation of Liver Disease
Alcoholic liver disease and chronic HCV infection together are the most common causes of liver disease, and can promote rapid disease progression. How should patients with these concurrent diseases be treated?
November 06, 2015

This review discusses the many extra hepatic manifestations of HCV including heart disease, NHL/cancer, neurologic & the brain, touches on kidney disease, mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC)....and describes how SVR reduces or clears these disease and improves overall survival
November 05, 2015

Hepatitis C virus infection: Are there still specific problems with genotype 3?
This article reviews the complex relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and the possible complications in chronically infected patients. We discuss recent updates on the epidemiology and clinical aspects of HCV genotype 3 infection, including the currently available therapies. We also describe model systems to study the HCV genotype-specific molecular mechanisms.

Therapy With Direct-Acting Antivirals for Genotype 3 Patients: Interferon's Last Gasp? Commentary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes (GTs) 2 and 3 account for approximately 40% of infections by this virus worldwide.1 Patients with HCV GT3 have more rapid disease progression and are less responsive to treatment than those with GT2,2 and GT3 infection is considered relatively difficult to cure with the available direct-acting antivirals 
A retroactive study presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting for the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) suggests that diabetes increases the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer. The disease generally occurs secondary to hepatitis C infection or in cirrhosis from other causes.

Clinical Trial
Harvoni for Acute Hepatitis C
Sofosbuvir-Containing Regimens Without Interferon For Treatment of Acute Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection (SWIFT-C)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02128217

Healthy You

Toxic, Not Healthy: Surprising Liver Dangers of Herbal Products
By Marie Suszynski 
Reviewed by Judy Mouchawar, MD, MSPH
Seemingly healthy herbal teas and supplements can carry the risk of drug-induced liver injury.
Drug-induced liver injury, a form of liver disease, is on the rise as herbal and dietary supplements have become more popular over the last decade, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.

VIDEO: Survey results reveal lack of awareness of heart disease risk among women
Holly S. Andersen, MD, director of education and outreach for the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and scientific advisor to the Women’s Heart Alliance, spoke with Healio.com at the AHA Scientific Sessions about a national campaign launched to reduce the number of women dying from heart disease. In this video, Andersen offers sobering statistics on how unaware and passive women are on the topic of the heart disease, the stigma that discourages discussion and how physicians can create a dialogue with patients on “a disease that is largely preventable.”
Gilead Sciences Inc.’s blockbuster hepatitis C medicine Sovaldi may trigger an abnormally slow heartbeat and put patients at risk of passing out, according to French doctors who said treatments containing the drug should be used with caution.

Find Way to Focus on Dietary Supplement Safety, Experts Say
A former principal deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing a solution to the current gridlock over the regulation of dietary supplements: Focus less on whether these vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts actually do what they claim and instead take important steps to improve their safety

November Newsletters

  

NYC Hep C Task Force
The New York City Hepatitis C Task Force is a city-wide network of service providers and advocates concerned with hepatitis C and related issues. The groups come together to learn, share information and resources, network, and identify hepatitis C related needs in the community. Committees form to work on projects in order to meet needs identified by the community

Newsletter
November 2015 Hep Free NYC Newsletter

In This Newsletter
Upcoming Events
Congratulations NYC Hepatitis Leaders!
New Tools
News
Training & Technical Assistance
Journal Articles & Reports
Begin here

View all newsletters, here.

Subscribe to this Newsletter

Join Us

 



HCV Advocate
The HCV Advocate newsletter is a valuable resource designed to provide the hepatitis C community with monthly updates on events, clinical research, and education.

Read The HCV Advocate Daily
Current edition

Newsletter

In This Issue

Snapshots
by Alan Franciscus, Editor-in-Chief
Read about a study predicting how many people can be treated to get the best bang for the buck, the worldwide transmission (people to people) of viral hepatitis and HIV, and the need for services for people who inject drugs due to HCV disease progression due to lack of access to HCV treatment.

Harvoni Treatment Choices and Outcomes
by Pieter R
Read about one man’s story of his struggles with working with his medical providers to treat hepatitis C to optimize his treatment outcome.

HealthWise: Hepatitis C: Letting Go of Fear
by Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Three studies that look at treating people with advanced liver disease and re-treatment of people who had been previously treated with direct-acting antiviral medications but did not achieve a cure.

Sam’s Story
by Alan Franciscus, Editor-in-Chief
I talked with Sam about his journey from being diagnosed with hepatitis C to trying to get treated with the new HCV antivirals. His story, unfortunately, isn’t new especially when it comes to fighting for treatment.

Hepatitis C Workshop Schedule
We are winding down our HCV workshops. If you live in or near Houston or Tyler Texas please join us for a day of education and fun!

Click here to read this issue.

In Case You Missed It

October Mid-Month
Dr. David Mazoff Retires
Disability & Benefits: Open Enrollment Final
The Five: Clinical Trials
Snapshots
What’s New! Tattoos fact sheets now on this site

View past newsletters here....

Connect With HCV Advocate

 

   

HepCBC Hepatitis C Education and Prevention Society

HepCBC’s MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
The hepc.bull, has been “Canada’s hepatitis C journal” since the late 1990′s and has been published nonstop since 2001. The monthly newsletter contains the latest research results, government policy changes, activities and campaigns you can get involved in, articles by patients and caregivers, and a list of support groups plus other useful links.

November Newsletter
hepc.bull -- 11 2015

Topics
Viral Hepatitis in the Americas 
Ministers of health from across the Americas have recently committed their countries to important new public health actions including a plan to address viral hepatitis. 

HOLKIRA (VIEKIRA) PAK & TECHNIVIE: NEW COVERAGE AND RISKS
“Maybe the government will now understand how necessary it is to treat people before they develop cirrhosis.”—Joan King, hepc.bull Editor

ERADICATING CURABLE DISEASES 
by Shakuntala Soden, PhD, HepCBC Education Project Mgr. (based in Vancouver) 
Recently, the influential publication The Economist (10 October 2015) ran an article about the need to eradicate seven diseases from the world. Hepatitis C was one of them. The Economist highlighted the fact that hepatitis C currently kills half a million people a year, although treatments are now almost 100% effective. 

Don't Miss....
Lisa Harnois Eradicating Curable Diseases Why Test?
SOF-VEL
Conferences
HCV, DVT and Strokes
Honour Roll
View All Newsletters, Here

Stay Connected

 




GI & Hepatology News
GI & Hepatology News is the official newspaper of the AGA Institute and provides the gastroenterologist with timely and relevant news and commentary about clinical developments and about the impact of health-care policy. The newspaper is led by an internationally renowned board of editors.

GI & Hepatology Newsletter

November 2015 PDF ( 14.6MB) | November 2015 Interactive Version

LIVER DISEASES 
Sofosbuvir reduces liver fibrosis - Multiple measures of fibrosis were reduced in small study.
Hep C drove steep rises in cirrhosis, HCC, and related deaths
High ALT/AST ratio linked to fatty liver risk in HCV
NASH a key indicator for liver transplantation

Read breaking news stories now: visit the GI & Hepatology News website.

Stay connected

 



Read this months newsletter from the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Illustration of a woman putting lotion on her face.
November Newsletter 

Keep Your Skin Healthy Protecting Your Outer Self

Skin is your first layer of defense against the outside world, and it can also give important clues to your overall health. Learn to take good care of your skin, so your skin can keep taking good care of you. 
Download a PDF version of NIH News in Health

In Case You Missed It


Are you a veteran & can't get Hepatitis C medications? We're working on a story & want to hear from you
Email us stacey@harrishealth1.com

Welcome to the October/November 2015 edition of the Liver Lowdown. Click on the links below and check out our featured stories for the month!
FEATURE- LIVER CANCER AWARENESS

This issue of Liver Lowdown focuses on liver cancer. Two top specialists answer your questions about liver cancer, a courageous patient tells how he turned down a liver transplant to save another; and American Liver Cancer launches a Liver Cancer Awareness Campaign with advertising on taxi tops and on buses.
READ MORE

BASIC LIVER CANCER Q&A
Are there different types of liver cancer? Find out the answer to this and other questions.
READ MORE

LIVER CANCER RISK FACTORS Q&A
Should you be screened for liver cancer? Learn the facts.
READ MORE

LIVER CANCER TREATMENT Q&A
What options exist for Liver Cancer Treatment? Get current information.
READ MORE

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Giving Tuesday is just around the corner. Get involved.
READ MORE

PATIENT STORY
Art Clark risked his life to save another.
READ MORE

RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Looking for a delicious recipe to try tonight? We have one for you! Have a recipe to share? We would love to hear from you.
READ MORE

NICE announces recommendations on new hepatitis C drugs 
This October, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its guidance on the use of three new hepatitis C treatments; ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni), ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir (Viekirax) with or without dasabuvir (Exviera), and daclatasvir (Daklinza).

In focus: The Hepatitis C Trust helpline
The Hepatitis C Trust’s national helpline, which is staffed solely by people who have or have had hepatitis C, acts as a vital resource for patients (and families of patients) who are seeking advice, support and information on the virus.
View newsletter archive

Blogs Around The Web



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. Visit www.hepb.org

Shop Carefully for the Best Insurance Plan When You Have Hepatitis B
Nov 2 – Over the next two months it’s open enrollment for Medicare recipients and those selecting or updating Obamacare and insurance plans. Be sure to shop carefully, and consider medication and care that may be related to a hepatitis B infection. 
Read more.

Arbutus Provides an HBV Pipeline Update
Nov 2 – Arubutus Biopharma Corp. provided an update of the company’s HBV pipeline for drugs focused on a cure for chronic hepatitis B, with exciting goals and milestones for 2016 and 2017.
Read more.

Paper-Based Test Could Diagnose Hepatitis B
Nov 2 – Scientists have developed a new paper device that analyzes DNA and could rapidly and inexpensively assess disparate conditions including hepatitis B, which could help diagnose people in low-income areas. 
Read more.

New Model for Hepatitis B Helps Identify Potential New Therapeutic Approach
Nov 2 – A promising new approach for treating hepatitis B has been reported by researchers at Hiroshima University, who have developed a new animal model of the disease using “humanized” livers. 


CyTuVax Starts Phase I Clinical Trial With The HBAI20 Hepatitis B Vaccine For Non-Responders
Effective vaccination for persons that do not respond to standard Hepatitis B vaccines
Maastricht, The Netherlands, 03 November 2015 – CyTuVax, a life science company focusing on the development of cancer, viral and bacterial vaccines, today announced the start of a phase I clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of its lead product, a Hepatitis B HBAI20 vaccine for non-responders to standard Hepatitis B vaccines. This trial will be conducted at the Ease Travel Clinic by the Department of Medical Microbiology of the MAASTRICHT UMC and is coordinated by Dr. A.M. L. Oude Lashof, MD PhD, Internist and Consultant Infectious Diseases of Maastricht UMC. The trial, for which 36 subjects are being recruited, will start in the course of October 2015 and data are expected to be published in Q3 of 2016.
Read more....

View more @ HBV Advocate Blog

Creating a World Free of Hepatitis C
by LUCINDA PORTER
Welcome to my website and blog. My name is Lucinda Porter and I am a nurse committed to raising awareness about hepatitis C. I believe that we can create a world free of hepatitis C. We do this together, one step at a time.

Hepatitis C: A Letter to Friends, Family Members, and Caregivers
If you are reading this, perhaps someone you know is living with hepatitis C. 

Hepatitis C and Quality of Life
What does quality of life mean to you? Is it your health, happiness, financial security, spiritual wellness, or social well-being? It usually means different things to different people. In healthcare, researchers use surveys to measure the quality of life related to health, abbreviated as HRQOL. When applied to hepatitis C, HRQOL is an important concern.

View all entries, here

View all entries, here


29 years of hepatitis, 5 failed treatments...It's time to go from HepC to HepFree

The Transplants
I received the call at 8:39 PM
I was expecting a call from my parents when the phone rang. When I saw it was from a restricted number, I started off apologizing saying "Yea, I meant to call you back sooner, sorry about that." A little confused, the man asked my name.

Blogs At HepMag.com

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 HepMag.com are the go-to source for educational and social support for people living with hepatitis.

Rick Nash
Hepatitis C Advocate
An Offer You Can Refuse
Weighing the options of a liver offer.

David Pieper
HIV/Hep C Co-infection activist; on treatment
Anxiety at the end of treatment
The next few weeks, leading up to my first post-treatment blood test, are going to be the hardest yet in my hep C journey, so I'm taking it

Greg Jefferys
My Hep C Travel Diary, Hepatitis C Advocate
Indian Generic Harvoni Release Date
Well after all the worry and confusion the final release date for Gilead licensed Indian generic Harvoni is here! Thanks in large part to the early release of Twinvir in Bangladesh which appears to have put a bit of a bomb under the Indian authorities to speed up the process. So instead of us all wondering if the release of generic Harvoni was going to be blocked by Gilead or delayed until next year it has
moved forward!

Hepatitis, Liver Disease Support Coach
What We Can Learn from Geese and Bikers about Hep C
The geese of New England are currently migrating, honking through the sky on their miraculous journey south for the winter.
Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Author, Hepatitis C Advocate, Health Educator
Hepatitis C Treatment Updates are the Strongest Yet
If the links that I visit the most had visible tread marks, the deepest would likely be at hcvguidelines.org. The full name, Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C, is a living document provided by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), in collaboration with the International Antiviral Society-USA (IAS-USA). When looking for treatment info, it's my hep C "go to source."
Click here
Connect With Us On Twitter and Facebook
 

See you soon
Tina


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