Welcome to Friday! Check out today's news, along with recent journal and blog updates. Plus this months great index of October newsletters.
In The News
The Cochrane Review of HCV direct-acting antivirals is in the news again, yesterday an "updated article" from Reuters, noted the change in the authors conclusions, pointed out last month via Twitter by "Henry E. Chang." In The News
An excerpt from the updated article; Do direct-acting antivirals curb the long-term effects of chronic HCV infection?
As reported in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, online September 18, the team stated they "could not reliably determine the effect of DAAs on the market or under development on (the) primary outcome of hepatitis C-related morbidity or all-cause mortality."Full-text Cochrane Review with updated conclusions
Again thanks to Mr. Chang, "click here," to read the full-text Cochrane Review with updated conclusions. In addition, check out the backstory or follow the links to each rebuttal, written by HCV experts and devoted advocates.
Begin here...
Today's News
Is Birth Cohort Screening Effective for Identifying HCV Cases?
Yes; in three randomized trials, birth cohort screening was three to eight times more effective than risk-based screening...
California Works to Contain Deadly Hepatitis A Outbreaks - Medscape
"In our outbreak, 45% of the cases are illicit drug users, and nearly one in four had chronic hepatitis B or C yet had not been previously immunized," said Dr ...
Hundreds Hospitalized in San Diego as Hepatitis A Outbreak Spreads
Drug users, the homeless most affected; county has launched vaccination effort..
Denver VA nurse accused of swapping fentanyl syringes
DENVER – A former nurse at the Denver VA has been charged with stealing fentanyl. Investigators say it happened in 2016 and on several occasions Lisa Marie Jones allegedly removed fentanyl from a vial and replaced it with another substance.
How HCV Drug Makers Hit a Wall
There’s reason to believe the well for hepatitis C (HCV) treatments has dried up.
Liver Cancer Remains a Major Public Health Burden Globally
FRIDAY, Oct. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Causes of primary liver cancer differ widely among populations globally, but most cases can be prevented, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Oncology.
Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Fight Against the Odds
Jasenka Piljac Žegarac, PhD
In an interview with Infectious Disease Advisor, Richard Burkhart, MD, assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, and Amulya A. Nageswara Rao, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinic at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, discussed the challenges associated with treating HCC.
Of Interest
October Audio and Teleconference Transcript: Obesity and Cancer
Seasonal Flu
Influenza Vaccine Good Match for Circulating Strains
Read all past and current Seasonal Flu Vaccine articles posted on this blog.
Journal Updates
Real-life results of sofosbuvir based therapy in chronic hepatitis C -naïve and -experienced patients in Egypt
In the real-life setting, Sofosbuvir based regimens for 24 weeks has established an efficacious and well tolerated treatment in naïve and experienced patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection; although shorter treatment durations may be possible. However, patient follow up should extent to at least 6 months post-treatment and verifying viral load on yearly basis is warranted to track any late relapse...
Incidence of DAA failure and the clinical impact of retreatment in real-life patients treated in the advanced stage of liver disease: Interim evaluations from the PITER network
Failure rate following the first DAA regimen in patients with advanced disease is similar to or lower than that reported in clinical trials, although the majority of patients were treated with suboptimal regimens. Interim findings showed that worsening of liver function after failure, in terms of Child Pugh class deterioration, was improved by successful retreatment in about one third of retreated patients within a short follow-up period; however, in some advanced liver disease patients, clinical outcomes (Child Pugh class, HCC development, liver failure and death) were independent of viral eradication...
Restrictions for reimbursement of interferon-free direct-acting antiviral drugs for HCV infection in Europe
All-oral direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus, which have response rates of 95% or more, represent a major clinical advance. However, the high list price of DAAs has led many governments to restrict their reimbursement. We reviewed the availability of, and national criteria for, interferon-free DAA reimbursement among countries in the European Union and European Economic Area, and Switzerland. Reimbursement documentation was reviewed between Nov 18, 2016, and Aug 1, 2017. Primary outcomes were fibrosis stage, drug or alcohol use, prescriber type, and HIV co-infection restrictions. Among the 35 European countries and jurisdictions included, the most commonly reimbursed DAA was ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with dasabuvir, and with or without ribavirin (33 [94%] countries and jurisdictions). 16 (46%) countries and jurisdictions required patients to have fibrosis at stage F2 or higher, 29 (83%) had no listed restrictions based on drug or alcohol use, 33 (94%) required a specialist prescriber, and 34 (97%) had no additional restrictions for people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus. These findings have implications for meeting WHO targets, with evidence of some countries not following the 2016 hepatitis C virus treatment guidelines by the European Association for the Study of Liver.
On Twitter
The following articles were shared on Twitter, by @HenryEChang
High sustained virological response rates using imported generic direct acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C
This analysis assessed the efficacy of generic imported DAAs.
Treatment of HCV with 8 weeks of LDV/SOF: Highly effective in a predominately black male patient population
Reducing the duration of hepatitis C therapy may cut costs and improve adherence, but recent studies suggest that black men have lower cure rates than other patients when treatment durations are shortened. Here, we report high efficacy in a real world cohort of predominantly black male patients with hepatitis C.
Curing HCV infection: Best practices from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The widespread availability of curative oral DAA medications has made HCV epidemiologic control seem achievable. The VA is steadily approaching this goal and remains committed to diagnosing and treating all veterans with HCV infection who are willing and able to be treated.Treatment of HCV with 8 weeks of LDV/SOF: Highly effective in a predominately black male patient population
Reducing the duration of hepatitis C therapy may cut costs and improve adherence, but recent studies suggest that black men have lower cure rates than other patients when treatment durations are shortened. Here, we report high efficacy in a real world cohort of predominantly black male patients with hepatitis C.
Curing HCV infection: Best practices from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Role of Age and Race in the Risk of HepatocellularCarcinoma in Veterans With HepatitisB Virus Infection
We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the national Veterans Administration data to identify patients with chronic HBV infection from 2001 through 2013. We examined the effect of race and age on HCC risk while adjusting for baseline clinical characteristics.
The cost of successful antiviral therapy in hepatitis C patients: a comparison of iFn-free versus iFn-based regimens at an individual patient level in Australia
We performed a retrospective chart review of 30 HCV-infected patients successfully treated with IFN-based therapy between 2013 and 2015. We also generated a model for a virtual group of 100 genotype 1 (GT1) and 100 genotype 3 (GT3) patients treated with IFN-free therapy derived from national guidelines and clinical trial data.
HEPATITISC.NET
By Rick Nash - October 5, 2017
When starting treatment, it’s an important question, how much can I work while on treatment? Of the six different treatments I’ve been on, I’ve worked part-time, full-time, some of the time, and...
The Dark Side of Stigma with Hepatitis C (Part 2)
When starting treatment, it’s an important question, how much can I work while on treatment? Of the six different treatments I’ve been on, I’ve worked part-time, full-time, some of the time, and...
The Dark Side of Stigma with Hepatitis C (Part 2)
By Karen Hoyt - October 4, 2017
Click here to read Part 1 of The Dark Side of Stigma with Hepatitis C. Most of us have experienced stigma from having hep C. It’s easy to recognize the judgment that...
Staying Connected
Click here to read Part 1 of The Dark Side of Stigma with Hepatitis C. Most of us have experienced stigma from having hep C. It’s easy to recognize the judgment that...
Staying Connected
By Daryl Luster - October 3, 2017
Back in the day, when people were said to have connections it had nothing to do with the internet or the modern world of connectivity, where we are almost all involved in...
In Case You Missed It
The Physical and Emotional Toll of Hep C: Results from the Hepatitis C In America Survey
Hepatitis B Foundation
Who is Ted Slavin?Back in the day, when people were said to have connections it had nothing to do with the internet or the modern world of connectivity, where we are almost all involved in...
In Case You Missed It
The Physical and Emotional Toll of Hep C: Results from the Hepatitis C In America Survey
Hepatitis B Foundation
“Who is Ted Slavin? Why haven’t I heard about him before?” crept into my mind as I was reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca Skloot wrote a short snippet about Ted Slavin, detailing the story of a hemophiliac who sold his antibodies and aided Dr. Baruch Blumberg in the discovery of the link between the hepatitis B virus and liver cancer, which eventually led to the first hepatitis B vaccine..
Save The Date - October 12, 2017
On Thursday, Oct. 12, representatives from Hepatitis B Foundation, CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis, and NASTAD (the National Alliance of State and Territorial Aids Directors) will co-host a twitter chat at 2 p.m. EST using the hashtag #liverchat.
Creating a World Free of Hepatitis C
Improving Your Memory
October 5, 2017
Lucinda Porter
HEP - Blog Updates
Hepatitis C Treatment: Taking Care Physically
By Connie M. Welch
Tips for how to take care of your health when living with hepatitis C..
HIV and ID Observations
With Several Wrong Predictions Behind Me, Here’s One I Got Right
By Connie M. Welch
Tips for how to take care of your health when living with hepatitis C..
HIV and ID Observations
With Several Wrong Predictions Behind Me, Here’s One I Got Right
Oct 1, 2017
Paul E. Sax, MD
However, when I wrote this summer that we might be at the end of HCV drug development, it turned out to be pretty spot-on. Since then, two companies have ended their HCV drug development programs, one in early September, then another last week. You can read more about the business reasons here, but the simple medical reason is that it would be an enormous challenge to improve on what we have now — which is good news for our patients, provided remaining access issues can be resolved...
MD Whistleblower
Paul E. Sax, MD
However, when I wrote this summer that we might be at the end of HCV drug development, it turned out to be pretty spot-on. Since then, two companies have ended their HCV drug development programs, one in early September, then another last week. You can read more about the business reasons here, but the simple medical reason is that it would be an enormous challenge to improve on what we have now — which is good news for our patients, provided remaining access issues can be resolved...
MD Whistleblower
Does Secretary Tom Price Deserve Forgiveness?
Oct 1, 2017
Michael Kirsch, M.D.
What is the explanation for Tom Price, a physician and current Secretary of Health and Human Services, taking private charter flights costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars?
Oct 1, 2017
Michael Kirsch, M.D.
What is the explanation for Tom Price, a physician and current Secretary of Health and Human Services, taking private charter flights costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars?
Weekly Bull
Read The Latest Issue: Weekly Bull
Hepatitis B & C Public Policy Association
October 2017 – Newsletter
HCV Advocate
October Newsletter
National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
September/October 2017 NVHR Newsletter
The New York City Hepatitis C Task Force
Hep Free NYC Newsletters
GI & Hepatology
October Newsletter
Support Forums
Get answers to all your health questions, latest news, information and support from people like you.
Our goal is to be friendly, supportive, and most of all, informative about all aspects of transplantation. If we don't have an immediate answer to a question, we will search the Internet for information for you.
Hep Forum
Welcome to the Hep Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people who have Hepatitis B, C or a co-infection, their friends and family and others with questions about hepatitis and liver health. Check in frequently to read what others have to say, post your comments, and hopefully learn more about how you can reach your own health goals.
Hep C Discussion Forum
Global Hepatitis C Support and Information
This message board will allow you to keep in touch with other patients, or caregivers, exchange ideas, as well as give and receive support.
Helpful Links
Helpful Links
The Power to Protect: Vaccination Guidelines for Adults With Chronic Diseases
Should You Recommend Coffee Drinking to Your Patients?
October 2017
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Happy Friday!
Tina
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