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What's New At Janis And Friends ?
2009
NOV
Oct
AASLD Liver Meeting Starts Today in Boston
Should Those With Hepatitis C Get a Swine Flu Shot?
A little video for Halloween
For All Our Friends
If you are on treatment you might want to watch this with your doctor
Disclaimer: Printed Really Tiny So You Cant Read It
"Sorry I had to do it"
The Liver Meeting
AASLD Liver Meeting Starts Today in Boston
The Liver Meeting is the premier event in the science and practice of hepatology. Designed for physicians, surgeons, scientists, educators, nurses, physician assistants, and all other hepatology health professionals.
Oct 30 Nov 2 2009
August
Treating with Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin and have have not reached UD at 12 wks what's next?
Upcoming Events
-
Hepatitis B&C Summit
September 10 – 11, 2009
Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington DC
http://www.hepatuitis-summit.com
-
AASLD – The Liver Meeting
October 30 – November 3, 2009
Boston, MA
www.aasld.org
-
Hepdart
December 6 – 10, 2009
Boston, MA
http://www.informedhorizons/hepdart2007/
July
Off Topic/Fun @ J&F Blog: Video/ Taco Bells New Green Menu Takes Nothing From Nature
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A new study found that NASH (nonalcoholic
steatohepatitis) or fatty liver is associated
with a leaky gut and overgrowth of
bacteria. Some experts have wondered if
bacteria leaking from the intestines could
worsen liver disease. These researchers compared
the leakage (permeability) of the intestines
in 35 patients with fatty liver to 27 patients
with celiac disease who hadn’t received
treatment, and to 24 healthy subjects.
They measured the levels of bacteria using
glucose breath testing, and checked the
amount of leakage in the intestines by urine
tests and biopsies of the duodenum. They
found that leakage and bacteria overgrowth
are worse in patients with fatty liver, probably
due to the “disruption of tight junction
integrity.” They formed a theory that the
leakage and bacterial overgrowth may actually
cause fatty liver, and found that probiotics
can improve fatty liver in mice. Also,
antibiotics and prebiotics might be helpful.
Source: Miele, Luca, et al, “Increased Intestinal
Permeability and Tight Junction Alterations in
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).”
Hepatology; June 2009.
AVOIDING LIVER CANCER
Researchers compared two strains of mice.
One strain was prone to cancer and the other
wasn’t. Males of both groups were fed either
high or low-fat diets for 500 days. The mice
prone to cancer developed NASH (fatty
liver) and HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma or
liver cancer) if fed a high-fat diet, but those
not prone to cancer did not develop NASH
or HCC. Interestingly, even the mice prone
to cancer, when fed a high-fat diet, but
switched to a low-fat diet early in the trial,
avoided liver cancer. All of the cancer-prone
mice who received a high-fat diet had liver
tumours at the end of the trial.
Source: www.firstscience.com/home/news/
breaking-news-all-topics/low-fat-diet-helpsgenetically-
predisposed-animals-avoid-livercancer-
page-2-1_65400.html June 9, 2009
Liver disease takes a predictable course,
starting with the formation of fibrosis
(scarring). Then the structure of the liver
becomes distorted, leading to cirrhosis. Some
Italian researchers wanted to know why
hepatitis C gets worse, and took a look at the
effect of nicotine on the liver. There were
previous reports about smokers and fibrosis
that worsened with daily use of tobacco, but
they were controversial.
Nicotine is processed primarily in the liver,
and experiments in animals have shown fatty
liver and liver necrosis (cell death) that
seems linked to lipid peroxidation (where
free radicals “steal” electrons from the lipids
or fats). Studies in Hep C+ patients show that
smoking results in a lack of oxygen, causing
a problem with the growth of the thin layer
of cells lining the inside of the blood vessels.
The authors conclude, “Since this issue is
controversial and smoking is in any case unsafe,
stopping is recommended for patients
with liver diseases.”
pubmed/19305373?
ordinalpos=154&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.P
ubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultRe
portPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
LIVER DISEASE
Some US researchers believe that pollution
may be causing the increase in liver disease
in the population there. The researchers used
data from 2003-2005 to find adults with pollutants
in their blood or urine. The subjects
were tested for 196 different pollutants. An
incredible 37.6% of the subjects had high
ALT levels, even though those with Hep B
and C, those who have abused alcohol, and
those with iron overload were not counted.
The results indicated that about 70 million
adults in the US have liver problems not
caused by the expected risk factors. Most are
due to NASH (fatty liver). The researchers
could blame some of the problem on pollutants
like pesticides (some that were banned
decades ago) and heavy metals.
High levels of heavy metals and pesticides
were associated with higher ALT. Subjects
with the highest levels of mercury had double
the risk of an elevated ALT. Two pesticides
banned in the U.S. since the 1970s and
1980s, dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide, were
also associated with more risk of liver disease.
Most people are exposed to pollutants
through food. Once in the body, they are not
well metabolized. The pesticides are notorious
for accumulating in fat tissue, so those
who are overweight may have higher levels
of pollutants in their bodies.
Source: www.medpagetoday.com/
MeetingCoverage/DDW/14428 DDW 2009; Abstract
289. May 29, 2009
METABOLIC SYNDROME
We with Hep C are at a greater risk of dying
from the disease if we have a problem
metabolic syndrome, according to a study
called NHANES, in which 31,000 people
participated. Among them were 264 people
with HCV infection, and 13,004 who were
free of liver disease and were used as controls.
Among the conditions considered to be
part of metabolic syndrome are obesity, type
2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
While the HCV+ participants were more
likely to have insulin resistance and diabetes,
and were more likely to smoke, they
actually had fewer incidences of high blood
pressure, obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Having said that, there were 51 mortalities
among those with Hep C, a much greater
proportion than among those without liver
disease. The researchers concluded that
those with Hep C would have more serious
effects from metabolic syndrome, especially
if they were overweight and had high blood
pressure. They pointed out that anyone with
any of the conditions associated with metabolic
syndrome should be treated for them,
including those with Hep C, but they can’t
promise that such treatment will improve
survival of those patients…
yet.
Source: www.kenes.com/
easl2009/Orals/324.htm
“CURED” BUT CONTAGIOUS
Some researchers at Memorial University,
Newfoundland, in a study just published in
the May 2009 issue of Hepatology, found
that even though patients achieve an SVR
(Sustained Viral Response) to treatment—no
detectable virus in their blood, more sensitive
tests are finding that some of them still have
tiny amounts of virus. No one knows if they
are still contagious.
The researchers used a system to allow
the spread of HCV in human T cells outside
the body (in vitro). They studied 9 patients
with SVR and detected HCV only with the
very sensitive tests. Then they prepared 12
cultures of lymphoid cells from healthy volunteers
and exposed them to plasma of circulating
lymphoid cells from the HCV SVR
patients. 11 of the cultures became HCV+.
Virus from 3 of the 9 SVR patients was able
to set up active replication in cultures from
the healthy donors.
The researchers reported, "These findings
provide in vitro evidence that trace quantities
of HCV persisting in the circulation for a
long time after therapeutically induced resolution
of CHC can remain infectious." The
good news is that the replication of HCV in
the T cells was neutralized with IFN treatment.
"Our present findings reveal that HCV
circulating in some individuals with resolved
hepatitis C is capable of inducing
productive infection in vitro at doses of 20
to 50 copies," the authors conclude. "This
can be interpreted as a strong indication of
potential virus infectivity in vivo."
Source: www.physorg.com/news160656818.html
May 4th, 2009
FDA panel backs cut in maximum Tylenol dosage
June
May 30 - June 4, 2009, Chicago, Illinois
May
HCV Advocate Newsletter:
May 2009
April
From HCV Advocate:
HCV Advocate Newsletter April, 2009
SVR – 5 Years Later
Alan Franciscus, Editor-in-Chief
March
13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease
March 20-24, 2009
Washington, DC
Also See:
HIV and
Hepatitis.com Coverage of the
13th International Symposium on Viral
Hepatitis and Liver Disease (ISVHLD 2009)
March 20 - 24, 2009, Washington, DC
For up to date Hepatitis related news, blog and clinical trial listings
HCV Advocate Newsletter March, 2009
Stimulus Help with COBRA Premiums
HCV Advocate Newsletter
February 2009
Read the hepc.bull -
online monthly newsletter
HCV Advocate
Newsletter:
January, 2009
Free Hepatitis C Online Book Updated:
Hepatitis C Choices, 4th Edition
Table of Contents
Individual chapters are available below in PDF format, or you can download the complete book here (9.23MB)
PART 1: Information for Everyone with Hepatitis C
1: How to Use Hepatitis C Choices
(4 pages, 436 KB)2: Overview of Hepatitis C (8 pages, 470 KB)
Robert G. Gish, MD3: Alcohol and Hepatitis C (10 pages, 639 KB)
Douglas R. LaBrecque, MD and Lorren Sandt4: Understanding Hepatitis C Disease
Section 1: Liver Disease Progression
(11 pages, 978 KB)
Lorren SandtSection 2: Promoting Liver Health
(8 pages, 413 KB)
Lorren Sandt5: Signs and Symptoms That May Be Associated with Hepatitis C (8 pages, 385 KB)
Tina M. St. John, MD6: Laboratory Tests and Procedures
(20 pages, 1.17MB)
Tina M. St. John, MD7: The Immune System and Hepatitis C
Section 1: Meet the Immune System
(10 pages, 580 KB)
Tina M. St. John, MDSection 2: Immunology Takes on Hepatitis C (19 pages, 1.97 MB)
Stewart Cooper, MD
PART 2: Hepatitis C Treatment and Management Approaches
8: Western (Allopathic) Medicine
Section 1: Allopathic Hepatitis C Treatment Overview
(5 pages, 377 KB)
Douglas R. LaBrecque, MDSection 2: Initial Treatment Options
(15 pages, 538 KB)
Douglas R. LaBrecque, MDSection 3: Options When Initial Treatment Fails to Clear the Hepatitis C Virus
(10 pages, 536 KB)
Gregory T. Everson, MDSection 4: Future of Allopathic Hepatitis C Treatment
(12 pages, 515 KB)
Robert G. Gish, MD9: Integrative Medicine (7 pages, 429 KB)
Randy J. Horwitz, MD, PhD and Julia Jernberg, MD10: Ayurvedic Medicine (13 pages, 535 KB)
Shri K. Mishra, MD, MS, Bharathi Ravi, BAMS, and Sivaramaprasad Vinjamury, MD11: Chinese Medicine
Section 1: Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hepatitis C (8 pages, 401 KB)
Misha Cohen, OMD, LAcSection 2: Modern Chinese Medicine Therapeutics for Hepatitis C (14 pages, 473 KB)
Qing Cai Zhang, MD (China), LAc12: Homeopathic Medicine (8 pages, 424 KB)
Sylvia Flesner, ND13: Mind-Body Medicine & Spiritual Healing
(12 pages, 481 KB)
Sharon D. Montes, MD14: Naturopathic Medicine (14 pages, 509 KB)
J. Lyn Patrick, ND15: Nutrition and Hepatitis C (12 pages, 431 KB)
Lark Lands, PhD16: Nutritional Supplementation (9 pages, 394 KB)
Lark Lands, PhD and J. Lyn Patrick, ND17: Products Marketed to People with Hepatitis C
(12 pages, 467 KB)
J. Lyn Patrick, NDPART 3: Other Topics for People Living with Hepatitis C
18: Women and Hepatitis C (12 pages, 1.49 MB)
Norah Terrault, MD and Jessica Irwin, PAC19: Hepatitis C in Children (6 pages, 431 KB)
Aparna Roy, MD, MPH and Kathleen Schwarz, MD20: HIV/HCV Coinfection
Section 1: Overview of HIV/HCV Coinfection (10 pages, 694 KB)
Misha Cohen, OMD, LAc and Tina M. St. John, MDSection 2: Western (Allopathic) Treatment Options (14 pages, 577 KB)
Tina M. St. John, MD and Misha Cohen, OMD, LAcSection 3: Alternative Eastern Treatment Options (6 pages, 360 KB)
Misha Cohen, OMD, LAcSection 4: Naturopathic Treatment Options
(6 pages, 376 KB)
J. Lyn Patrick, ND21: Mental Health & Hepatitis C
Section 1: Mental Health & Neurocognitive Issues Associated with Hepatitis C Infection
(8 pages, 476 KB)
Julie Nelligan, PhD, David W. Indest, PsyD, and Peter Hauser, MDSection 2: Mental Health Issues in the Setting of Interferon-Based Therapy
(16 pages, 549 KB)
Joyce Seiko Kobayashi, MDSection 3: Interferon-Based Therapy in Recovery (6 pages, 410 KB)
Amy E. Smith, PAC and Diana L. Sylvestre, MDSection 4: Psychosocial Issues and HCV
(8 pages, 435 KB)
Susan L. Zickmund, PhD22: Military Veterans & Hepatitis C
(8 pages, 463 KB)
Terry Baker23: Choosing: My Journey, My Choices
(16 pages, 614 KB)
Randy Dietrich24: A Look to the Future (8 pages, 434 KB)
Lorren Sandt
APPENDICES
I: How to Cut Down on Your Drinking
(4 pages, 357 KB)II: Ayurvedic Herbs (8 pages, 380 KB)
III: Chinese Medicine Herbs and Formulas
(10 pages, 441 KB)IV: Liver-Toxic Medications and Herbs
(4 pages, 366 KB)
Sept
Denise Treating With Protease Inhibitor Telaprevir Vertex-950
Read more on our message boards
I can't believe I only have 3 days of Riba left! It was so great to fill up my pill dispenser for the week and be able to leave some days empty!!!
It's been a rough ride(who's treatment isn't?!?) but if I can hold onto that UD it will all have been worth it.
Iam1a, Stage2, Grade 1-2. I was in a 48 week arm. The first 24 weeks I took the standard treatment as well as the Telaprevir. The last 24 weeks have been standard treatment only.
They did not allow rescue drugs in the Prove 3 trial and I became anemic real quick...just like the last time I treated. Since Procrit wasn't an option they had to dose reduce/discontinue my Riba for most of the trial. I was only on full dose Riba for a few of the 48 weeks. It's been shown that Riba is a necessary part of the cocktail so I was VERY nervous. I wasn't able to get any VL results until my 24 week results. At that time I found out that I went from 12,500,000 on my start date to <30 by week 4! The first time I treated with SOC I didn't have a 2 log drop by week 13 and stopped. At that time I started with a much lower VL of 2,380,000. That just give's you an idea of how powerful these PI's are.
Vertex is continuing trails with the Telaprevir as well as 2 other PI's.
Vertex has submitted some late extracts regarding Prove 3 preliminary results to be presented at the EASL meeting in April. I have a feeling it's going to be more great news from Vertex.
I learned everythingI needed to get me through the past 48 weeks right here on J&F and will always be grateful for this site and the people here.
I owe Karen a huge debt of gratitude. She has been there for me every day and when I didn't feel like talking to ANYONE, Karen was the exception. Thank you my friend. Now, we need to get you on a PI so we can start planning that trip!
A friend of mine has declared Thursday as "All bad things gone and only good things to come,day!";-)
Thanks again to everyone for the well wishes and hope to start posting again as my system starts to clear.
If anyone has any questions about the Prove 3 trail feel free to email me through my profile.
BTW, I LOVE VERTEX!!!
Denise...next stop SVR...
UPDATE April 30th 08
|
April
Janis and Friends Forum: Read and Comment on EASL Coverage.
Advocate EASL 2008 Coverage
April 24
HIV and Hepatitis.com
Coverage of the
43rd
EASL Conference
(EASL 2008)
April 23 - 27, 2008,
Milan Italy
March 2008
We are pleased to announce Donna Fanelli MSN NP has joined us in
answering your questions about HCV and treatment.
Click below to Ask Donna your HCV questions
You will need to Join our forum with a quick registration
Donna J. C. Fanelli, MSN, NP-C, Medical Director of Primary Health and Wellness Center, LLC, in Milburn, NJ and Senior Clinical Research Coordinator of Gastroenterology Research Associates, LLC, in Cedar Knolls, NJ. She is certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, an Adult Nurse Practitioner, and a certified Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner.
We are very pleased to provide information in this forum. The information provided is for general educational purposes only and is intended to help users learn about health and diagnosed diseases. As always be sure to discuss matters with your doctor prior to making any important decisions regarding therapy choices. Your doctor knows you best.
April 2007
42nd EASL
April 11 - 15, 2007
Barcelona, Spain
THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE LIVER
May 2006
May 20 - 25, 2006, Los Angeles, California
Guidelines for the Management of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Coverage of the
41st Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver
April 26 - 30, 2006,
Vienna, Austria
Guidelines for the Management of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
June 2005
Read our members first hand experiences on the following HCV therapies: Infergen, Pegasys, and PegIntron
Join our messages boards and take part in the discussions
Click here to Join our Message Boards
From HIV and Hepatitis :
40th Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (40th EASL)
April 13 - 17, 2005, Paris, France
I would like to receive a free copy of Hepatitis Magazine .
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1st European Consensus Conference on the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B and C in HIV Co-infected Patients
March 1-2, 2005, Paris, France
Researcher Cites “Potential Bias" Toward Peg Intron in New Trial
Jan 12 2005
AASLD 2004 Research Conferences
Oct 29- Nov 1 2004 Research Conferences
Our message boards have the latest reports coming out of the AASLD . Here you can also comment on the research.
From
Janis and Friends :AASLD 2004 & CONFERENCES DATA
HIVandHepatitis.com and HCVAdvocate.org are the best sites for the AASLD 2004 Research Conferences .
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From HIVandHepatitis.com :
55th Annual Meeting of the American
Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (55th AASLD)
October 29 - November 2, 2004, Boston, MA
From HCV Advocate :
Our Mission
We are committed to providing the best, up-to-date information regarding all aspects of Hepatitis C. Our goal is to help you and your loved ones become better equipped to handle this disease through knowledge and understanding.
There are approximately 400 million people infected with the Hepatitis C Virus worldwide. An estimated 75% to 85% are chronic and have symptoms. Hepatitis C is one of the most important causes of liver disease; and, sadly enough has become the most common reason for liver transplants in the United States. You may be one of the 5 million people in the United States who suffers from HCV.
An estimated 20% of those develop cirrhosis, liver cancer, or end-stage liver disease. Our Website has a collection of the latest medical news and clinical information on this disease including reports from recent conferences, news articles, Web searches, and links to other related sources on the Web
This information has been compiled from a variety of sources; mainly the CDC website
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
Disclaimer
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