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Some vaccines may protect children against cancer

2011-02-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Children who have had certain vaccines may be less likely to develop childhood cancer, especially one type of leukemia, according to a U.S. study.

The findings, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, showed that children born in areas where most children had been vaccinated for hepatitis B had about 20 percent lower odds of all types of childhood cancer than those born in areas where fewer were vaccinated.

In particular, those born in areas with high use both of polio vaccine and a vaccine series that included hepatitis B and polio, among other diseases, had 30 percent to 40 percent lower odds of getting acute lymphoblastic leukemia -- a type of leukemia that is most common in childhood.

Michael Scheurer, from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and one of the study authors, warned that despite the apparent relationship, which should become clearer with future research, it's not a situation of "get your kids vaccinated and they won't get cancer."

Previous studies have shown mixed results. One theory is that some common infections may increase a child's risk of leukemia because of the effect they have on the developing immune system.

Vaccinations, theoretically, should then cut down on that cancer risk -- unless the vaccine itself closely enough mimics a natural infection.

Vertex submits application for hepatitis C drug

2010-11-28T18:38:00.001-08:00

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. said today that it has completed the submission of a New Drug Application that seeks regulatory approval for telaprevir, a hepatitis C drug candidate with the potential to generate billions of dollars in annual revenue.

The submission includes a request to the US Food and Drug Administration to reduce the FDA’s review time from 10 months to six months, Cambridge-based Vertex said in a press release.

Advances made in developing hepatitis C vaccine

2010-11-21T16:53:00.001-08:00

Scientists are zeroing in on a promising vaccine to treat hepatitis C, an international symposium was told Friday in Montreal.

Three preliminary clinical trials in England are showing that a so-called therapeutic vaccine can boost the immune response in those infected with the hepatitis C virus.

State DPH investigates hepatitis B outbreak suspected of causing five to die

2010-11-14T17:46:00.001-08:00

The State Health Department (DHHS’ DPH) released findings on Friday on their investigation into GlenCare's assisted living facility in Wayne County. Health officials are attempting to locate the source of a hepatitis B outbreak in the North Carolina nursing home that is suspected of causing five deaths.

Learn how to protect yourself from hepatitis

2010-11-03T17:27:00.001-07:00

A workshop on Hepatitis C, “A Serious Public Health Concern” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Terrebonne General Medical Center’s OutReach Center inside Southland Mall, 5953 W. Park Ave., Houma.

The workshop will present facts on this highly infectious disease that affects people of all ages in the U.S. and around the world and what you can do to protect yourself.

The event’s guest speaker is Dr. Khalid Moussa, a gastroenterologist at TGMC.

Hepatitis C increased risks for cerebrovascular-related death

2010-10-27T18:22:00.001-07:00

Hepatitis C virus infection was an independent risk predictor of cerebrovascular deaths, indicating a biological gradient of cerebrovascular mortality with increasing serum hepatitis C virus RNA levels, researchers said.

The study included residents (n=23,665, aged 30 to 65 years) from a community-based prospective cohort who were enrolled from 1991 to 1992. Residents answered structured questionnaires and provided blood samples for various serological and biochemical tests at study entry. Researchers tested serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level and HCV genotype for participants seropositive for antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV).

Anti-TNF Therapy Appears Safe in Patients With Hepatitis C and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Presented at ACG

2010-10-21T17:47:00.001-07:00

No immediate signals of adverse problems were observed among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who were administered infliximab, researchers said here at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Hepatitis E research receives funding

2010-10-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Researchers from the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro have received a grant of £337,000 to carry out a two-year study with partners in Glasgow and Norwich into a rare form of Hepatitis - Hepatitis E. The grant has come from the Chief Scientist's Office for Scotland and will be divided between the three centres taking part in the study.

Dr Harry Dalton, a Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and affiliate member of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry's European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), will be leading a team in Cornwall. Dr Dalton and his team in Truro have been involved in developing tests to diagnose Hepatitis E, and they are regarded as one of the world leaders in this condition. In fact an unusual strain of the virus, which was found in a patient in the Cornish Centre, was sent to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, USA. They sequenced the viral genome and it has been named Kernow C1.

HC rejects BMS’ plea on sale of hepatitis B generic by Ranbaxy

2010-09-22T17:19:00.001-07:00

The Delhi High Court (HC) has turned down Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMS) request to temporarily stop Ranbaxy from selling its generic version of the American firm’s patented hepatitis B drug Baraclude in India.

The court rejected the plea for an interim injunction, which means Ranbaxy can continue to sell its drug in India. The court will now go to a trial stage, which is a long drawn process, to verify the validity of BMS’ patent for Entecavir (Baraclude) and whether Ranbaxy’s generic version infringes on it.

Hepatitis Pharmaceutical Drugs Development Halted Due to Side Effects

2010-09-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Shares of Idenix Pharmaceuticals took a tumble this week, after regulators decided to halt the further development of its two new medications, due to side effects discovered during clinical trials.

The FDA made the decision after three cases of liver side effects were reported, after patients had taken IDX 184 and IDX 120, two experimental prescription drugs. The reported liver effects were not serious, however, and volunteer patients regained normal liver function after ceasing the medication.

Hepatitis C drug break-through

2010-09-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

Scientists at the Welsh School of Pharmacy say the first human clinical trials on a new drug to treat infections caused by the Hepatitis C virus have been successful.

Researchers say the new medication could now become an approved treatment.

300,000 people suffer from Hepatitis C in the UK - across the world 300 million people are affected.

It is a virus that predominantly infects the cells of the liver.

Hepatitis E Vaccine Appears Safe, Effective

2010-08-25T19:56:00.001-07:00

A new vaccine designed to protect individuals from becoming infected with the hepatitis E virus appears to be virtually foolproof, ongoing Chinese research indicates.

After analyzing results from the third phase of their study, a team of scientists led by Dr Ning-Shao Xia, from the Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases at Xiamen University in Xiamen, found that three standard doses of the so-called "HEV239" vaccine, given over a six-month period, afforded patients full immunity from the disease up to a year after the final innoculation, without prompting any serious side effects.

Vertex Reports Success In Second Major Hepatitis Drug Study

2010-08-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) reported the success of the second of three key late-stage studies of hepatitis-C treatment, telaprevir, essentially curing 72% of patients using the drug.

The study, a supplement to the larger studies intended to support teleprevir's approval, showed there was no benefit to extending treatment to 48 weeks from 24 weeks in the majority of patients. The results are notable because they improve the sustained viral response, or SVR, which is essentially a cure for the liver disease, and shorten the length of therapy for most patients.

Vertex shares recently slid 2.3% to $36.14 ...

Infergen Gives Hepatitis C Patients An Extra Chance

2010-08-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

Approximately 50 percent of chronic hepatitis C patients do not respond to their initial course of therapy, according to Bruce R. Bacon M.D. of Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Dr. Bacon is the lead investigator of the registration trial for Infergen, a new treatment for Hepatitis C patients that recieved FDA approval last month.

Chronic HBV Raises Lymphoma Risk

2010-08-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection -- common throughout Asia and Africa and often present since early in life -- raises the risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a large South Korean study confirmed.

Among individuals who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the adjusted hazard ratio for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was 1.74 (95% CI 1.45 to 2.09, P<0.0001), compared with those who tested negative, according to Eric A. Engels, MD, of the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., and colleagues.

Hepatitis C retreatment offers hope if initial one fails

2010-07-29T04:45:00.001-07:00

For the 40 percent to 50 percent of patients who aren't cured of hepatitis C after their initial treatment, Dr. Bruce R. Bacon of St. Louis University and his team of researchers have increased the chances of a cure upon re-treatment.

About 11 percent of the 515 people retreated in Bacon's trials were cured using the Food and Drug Administration-approved medication combination, Infergen with an antiviral pill.

Of those with milder strains of hepatitis C, about 35 percent in the trials were cured.

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and precore and core mutants in UAE patients

2010-07-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

Knowledge of the HBV genotype with which a patient is infected is crucial information for a physician to have when planning clinical treatment for that patient. Previous studies have suggested that there are possible differences in the pathogenicity and therapeutic response of different HBV genotypes.

However, the prevalence of the various HBV genotypes and Precore and Core mutations is unknown in the UAE. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of the different HBV genotypes in the UAE population.Methodology/Principal Findings: A total of 88 HBsAg-positive patients were included in the study.A method for genotyping and subtyping HBV by partial HBsAg gene sequencing using primers that are complementary to all known genotypes was used.

Hepatitis A Vaccine Pays Off for Kids: Study

2010-07-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

The number of children ages 12 months to 23 months immunized against hepatitis A increased in the United States, and rates of hepatitis A reached a record low after new vaccination recommendations were issued a few years ago, a new federal report says.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease than can cause mild illness lasting for a few weeks or severe illness lasting several months.

HGSI's Hepatitis Drug Zalbin: When an FDA Rejection Is Good News

2010-06-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

The FDA is none too pleased withHuman Genome Sciences‘ (HGSI) new hepatitis C drugZalbin (albinterferon alfa-2b), but that may be a blessing in disguise given entrenched competition and changing treatment landscape marring the drug’s commercial potential.

Although the FDA isn’t set to rule officially on Zalbin’s approval until October, the agency sent HGSI a letter yesterday expressing concerns about the drug’s risk/benefit ratio and warning that approval at the current dose is unlikely.

Most Hepatitis C infections cured by experimental drug

2010-06-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

A new drug for Hepatitis C was found to essentially cure patients good news for the nearly four million Americans with the disease.

The experimental drug telaprevir was found to eliminate Hepatitis C in seventy-five percent of patients given the drug for six months compared to forty percent of those given standard therapy. Over one thousand patients participated in the study.

The drug has not been approved by the FDA, but experts are hopeful that if it is, it will permanently change the landscape of hepatitis C treatment.

Dealing with Hepatitis C

2010-05-26T17:41:00.001-07:00

A reader of the Times has asked this writer to submit an article on Hepatitis C. Thinking about this subject reminds the writer of another area which almost all of his education came following medical school and residing. 65 years ago what was known about hepatitis could be summarized in about two words “Yellow Jaundice.” The cause was not known nor was there any proven information about the mechanism of transmission. Some patients died, some progressed to develop cirrhosis of the liver, and most seemed to recover.

Hepatitis Infections Behind U.S. Rise in Liver Cancer‎

2010-05-07T07:28:00.001-07:00

A type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, is increasing in the United States, and health officials attribute much of the rise to untreated hepatitis infections.

Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C are responsible for 78 percent of hepatocellular carcinoma around the world. In the United States, as many as 5.3 million people have chronic viral hepatitis and don't know it, according to the May 6 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In Early Test, New Hepatitis C Drug Shows Promise

2010-04-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

Researchers are reporting that a drug is showing promise in early testing as a possible new treatment for hepatitis C, a stubborn and potentially deadly liver ailment.

It's too early to tell if the drug actually works, and it will be years before it's ready to seek federal approval to be prescribed to patients. Still, the drug -- or others like it in development -- could add to the power of new drugs in the pipeline that are poised to cure many more people with hepatitis C, said Dr. Eugene R. Schiff, director of the University of Miami's Center for Liver Diseases.

Anadys reports positive data on hepatitis C drug

2010-04-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Thursday that a potential hepatitis C drug met key goals in a midstage clinical trial.

The company said 72 percent of patients taking ANA-598 had undetectable viral levels by the eighth week, compared with 38 percent taking placebo.

The company is presenting the data at the 45th annual European Association for the Study of the Liver meeting Thursday.

The study analysis is preliminary, the company said. The results also confirm positive safety results from prior studies.

Living with hepatitis C? GHC launches online directory to help

2010-04-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hepatitis is a serious liver disease that can be caused by viral infections.

The group Health Centre (gHC) has launched an online directory to help provide consistent care for those with hepatitis C.

An online directory titled 'Hep C -- At A glance,'' provides a quick reference to essential information and also answers some basic questions.

Monthly Dose of Human Genome Hepatitis Drug Shown Effective

2010-03-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

A midstage study showed a monthly dose of a Human Genome Sciences Inc. drug has so far shown to be just as effective in treating hepatitis C as the current standard treatment of a weekly dose.

Clinical research executive Mani Subramanian said the three-quarter reduction in Zalbin injections "has the potential to offer an important option" to treat people with genotypes 2 and 3 hepatitis C. That is inflammation of the liver, and genotypes 2 and 3 of the virus are generally easier to treat than genotype 1, the most common one in the U.S.

All About Hepatitis C

2010-03-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

Although it wasn't discovered until 1989, approximately 170 million people are currently infected with hepatitis C. It is a DNA virus primarily transmitted through bodily fluids and can be diagnosed by taking a blood or serum sample.

The hepatitis C virus affects the liver by triggering the release of infection-fighting antibodies which cause swelling and inflammation. Over the course of time, gradual liver damage may lead to failure of the organ and the need for a transplant. The chance of liver failure mostly depends on whether an individual has acute (self-limiting) or chronic (long-standing) hepatitis C.

20 Percent of At-Risk Newborns Are Not Receiving Preventative Hepatitis B Vaccine and Treatments, Study Reveals

2010-03-12T15:41:00.000-08:00

Approximately 20 percent of infants born to mothers with hepatitis B are not receiving the proper preventative treatments, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in a recent study published in the April 2010 issue ofPediatrics.

Mouse With Human Liver May Lead to Cure for Hepatitis B and C

2010-03-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

Scientists have successfully grown a human liver inside a mouse host. The scientists have created this testing subject in order to study a human liver infected with Hepatitis B or C.

Humans and chimpanzees are the only mammals susceptible to a number of fatal liver diseases making it virtually impossible for scientists to study the liver during drug trials and experimental treatmentmethods. Most human organs can be grown in a petri dish, but human hepatocytes are very difficult to culture and often do not grow at all.

Hepatitis C virus can survive in syringes for up to 63 days

2010-02-20T17:39:00.000-08:00

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) might still be transmissible via syringes long after their first use, according to a U.S. study presented at the 17^th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) last week in San Francisco. Larger syringe size and colder ambient temperature were associated with longer survival, up to two months.

New Test, Treatments for Hepatitis C

2010-02-13T05:43:00.001-08:00

Scientists discovered a new way to detect hepatitis C (HCV), which could change the way doctors treat the difficult disease.

The only therapy currently available for HCV is a one-year course that cures half of patients. It was difficult to study because researchers were only able to study one aspect of the HCV cycle.

Hepatitis fight aided by liver cells advance

2010-01-30T12:40:00.001-08:00

Scientists looking for a treatment for a dangerous liver virus have found new ways to study it in the laboratory.

For the first time, a US team managed to watch the progress of a rare strain of hepatitis C among liver cells kept alive in a lab dish.

In the journal, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they say it could lead to easier drug testing.

Men are more Hepatitis B-prone | What is the word - Latest News

2009-11-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

"If we take a recently conducted study into consideration, men infected with HBV happen to be six times more probable than women to develop a chronic form of the disease.

Before we do proceed to any further, let’s have a discourse on Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is basically a disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and does infect the liver of hominoidae, including humans, and causes an inflammation called hepatitis. Formerly known as “serum hepatitis”, the disease has caused epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa, and it is endemic in China. Hepatitis B virus, on the other hand, is a species of the genus Orthohepadnavirus, which is likewise a part of the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. This virus is characterized by causing the disease Hepatitis B, but it can also give rise to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma."

UPDATE 1-Once-daily Schering hepatitis C drug shows promise | Reuters

2009-11-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

"An experimental newer treatment for hepatitis C being developed by Schering-Plough Corp showed impressive effectiveness and was well tolerated in an ongoing mid-stage study, researchers said on Monday, citing interim data."

Success Claimed In Hepatitis Trial | Voxy.co.nz

2009-11-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

"Researchers are claiming success in a New Zealand clinical trial of antiviral drugs used against the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

A combination of two experimental antivirals led to dramatic reductions in viral loads during the 13-day pilot trial, according to Edward Gane, of Auckland Clinical Studies."

Lots of coffee may be good for people with hepatitis C | Health & Fitness News - - OregonLive.com

2009-10-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

"A study of people infected with the liver-damaging virus hepatitis C found the risk of serious liver damage halved in people who drank at least three cups of coffee a day.

Hepatitis C is the main cause of liver transplants in the United States and kills about 10,000 U.S. residents each year."

Florida Hospital Patients May Have Been Exposed To HIV, Hepatitis

2009-10-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

"Another case of potential hospital-spread hepatitis has been discovered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. According to the Sun Sentinel, police in that city are looking into a long-time registered nurse who, according to her staff—violated infection-control protocols, with full knowledge. The ongoing situation—over 1,800 patients are believed to have been exposed to the shoddy infection practices—took place at Broward General Medical Center."

Could Hepatitis B Vaccine Be Harmful? - CBS News

2009-10-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

"In a newly-published study, vaccinated monkeys demonstrated “significant delays in the acquisition of critical survival reflexes' compared to an unvaccinated control group, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

It was the first time researchers had time compared vaccinated animals with unvaccinated controls. Researchers vaccinated 13 newborn rhesus macaque monkeys with Hepatitis B vaccine containing a standardized amount of thimerosal - a vaccine preservative thought by some to cause developmental issues. The thimerosal dose matched that given to human babies until the early 2000s. Four monkeys received a saline placebo and three more had no shots at all."

Study Finds High Rate of Hepatitis Among Truckers - Infectious Disease - FOXNews.com

2009-10-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

"A study by the New Mexico Department of Health shows there are high rates of hepatitis C infection among truck drivers, and many of them aren't aware they have the disease.

The medical director for the department's Infectious Diseases Bureau, Steve Jenison, says studies in other countries have linked the spread of sexually transmitted disease to long distance truck drivers, but little is known about the industry in the United States."

Discovery Could Improve Hepatitis C Treatment

2009-09-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

"Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers are part of an international team that has discovered a genetic variation that could identify those people infected with hepatitis C who are most likely to benefit from current treatments."

National Summit on Viral Hepatitis To Be Held September 10-11 in Washington, D.C. | Reuters

2009-09-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis that costs the nation's health system hundreds of millions of dollars each year, yet attracts little public attention. As many as 2 million people in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis B and an estimated 3.2 million are chronically infected with hepatitis C. However, most do not even know they are infected and miss out on getting early medical care, putting them at increased risk for developing serious liver disease."

Genetic Basis Found in Racial Disparity in Hepatitis C Treatment - NYTimes.com

2009-08-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

"The standard treatment for infection with the hepatitis C virus is a grueling 48-week course of the antiviral drugs interferon and ribavirin that gives some patients flulike symptoms and severe depression. The treatment varies in its effectiveness, being much more successful in Americans of European descent than in African-Americans."

Hepatitis C Virus Viremia Linked to Higher Mortality - In addition, HCV infection is found to be associated with higher risk of death - Modern Medicine

2009-08-01T05:05:00.000-07:00

"Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at higher risk of death if they have markers of viremia, according to a study in the August issue of Hepatology. A related study in the same issue found that HCV infection is associated with a higher risk of death, although this risk is reduced after long-term treatment."

Top Hepatitis C Treatments Equally Effective - US News and World Report

2009-07-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

"A landmark hepatitis C virus study shows that the top two treatment options are equally effective and safe.

The long-awaited study, thought to be the largest of its kind, is important for the 180 million people worldwide -- 4 million in the United States -- who are infected with hepatitis C virus and at risk for liver scarring, organ failure and death."

NY hospital warns of possible hepatitis exposures - Forbes.com

2009-07-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

"A hospital in New York state is notifying about 2,800 patients of possible exposure to hepatitis C after learning that a former employee is suspected of exposing nearly 6,000 patients in Colorado to the disease.

The New York State Health Department said Wednesday that it's working with Northern Westchester Hospital after learning that Kristen Diane Parker once worked there."

UPDATE 1-Vertex to sell rights to hepatitis C drug payments | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

2009-07-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

"Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX.O) said on Friday it planned to sell rights to future milestone payments tied to progress in Europe for its high-profile experimental hepatitis C drug."

KOAA.com - Hundreds at risk for Hepatitis C

2009-07-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

"Thousands of surgery patients in Colorado are at risk of possibly having been infected with Hepatitis C.

The warning includes as many as a thousand local patients. Kristen Diane Parker, an operating room technician at the Audubon Ambulatory Surgery Center, with Hepatitis C, admitted to being a heroin addict and was swapping her own dirty syringes with saline solution for syringes containing the very strong painkiller Fentanyl. She may be the source of the contamination. 'We are probably as angry, upset and disappointed in an employee as the patients involved. We share their anger.' says Dr J. Michael Hall, the medical director at Audubon. The state health department is working to confirm if Kristen Parker is the source."

Should you get tested for hepatitis C? - 14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-

2009-06-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

"Millions of Americans have the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and many of them don't know it. This infection can cause liver damage over time, but it usually doesn't cause symptoms right away. Many people are diagnosed only through routine blood work or when they try to donate blood."

FayObserver.com - -

2009-06-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

"Most honest mistakes can be dealt with using the conciliatory 'You have to be perfect just as soon as I am' approach. Then there are those other cases.

Someone has to explain lapses at more than half of the 42 Veterans Affairs medical centers caught in surprise inspections last month. Only 43 percent had standard operating procedures for colonoscopies and other invasive procedures, and staff properly trained to perform them."

Expert Opinion: Early detection key for treating hepatitis C - St. Petersburg Times

2009-06-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

"Until 20 years ago, the medical profession didn't have a name for what we now call hepatitis C. Now the disease is recognized as a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and the cause of an estimated 10,000 deaths a year in this country.

One reason it's so dangerous is that people with hepatitis C often don't show any symptoms in the early stages, and that's when treatment is most effective. So education and awareness are essential to treating the disease."

Vegas hepatitis C outbreak spurs new laws - San Jose Mercury News

2009-06-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

"State officials have praised new laws spurred by a hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas that led to the largest patient notification in U.S. history, saying it will lessen the chance for a similar problem in the future.

Five measures dealing with the issue were passed this session by Nevada lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Jim Gibbons.

The bills surfaced after more than 50,000 patients at two now-closed outpatient clinics were notified last year that they may have been exposed to blood-borne diseases by shoddy injection practices. Nine people contracted hepatitis C, and more than 100 other cases may be linked to the clinics."

Hepatitis C Warning || WXYZ.com | WXYZ-TV / Detroit | Detroit News, Weather, Sports and More

2009-05-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

"Hepatitis C is a serious illness. It often has no symptoms and unlike other forms of hepatitis, it has no vaccine.
But one thing it does have is an advocate who is working tirelessly to spread the word about diagnosis and treatment.

Christopher Kennedy Lawford is an actor, an author and an advocate. He has spent time in Hollywood and in Hyannisport. But now he’s traveling across the country to talk about a disease he fears will soon become a health care crisis."

Hepatitis C blood victims get compensation snub - mirror.co.uk

2009-05-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

"Thousands of haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C by the NHS were yesterday refused extra compensation.

Some 4,670 were given contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s. More than 1,240 of these also got HIV.

An independent inquiry earlier this year recommended payouts of £750,000 for hepatitis C victims and £88,668 for those with HIV."

WHKP 1450 AM Radio Henderson County - Research Says Hepatitis B Vaccine May Reduce Risk of Liver Cancer

2009-05-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

"There is strong data that shows that the Hepatitis B vaccine reduces the risk of liver cancer according to local Oncologist Dr. William Medina. He told WHKP News that anyone over the age of 18 can take this vaccine. He also talked about the beneifts for health care workers, and certain ethnic groups such as Asian Americans who are at high risk of contracting Hepatitis B."

Study: New antibody helps protect against hepatitis C infection - Related Stories - AABB SmartBrief

2009-05-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

"In a U.S. study, a human monoclonal antibody called MBL-HCV1 weakened the hepatitis C virus and prevented it from infecting an animal disease model. The finding may lead to a new treatment for hepatitis C, but further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of the antibody in humans, a researcher said."

New Delhi rejects American firm's plea to patent Hepatitis B drug- Pharmaceuticals-Healthcare / Biotech-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

2009-05-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

"The Delhi Patent Office has rejected American company Gilead Sciences’ plea to patent its Hepatitis B drug adefovir dipivoxil sold
under the brand name Hepsera. India’s largest drugmaker Ranbaxy had filed a pre-grant opposition against Gilead’s patent application saying that it is not a new drug and lacked inventions."

May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month | KXNet.com North Dakota News

2009-04-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

"World Hepatitis Day. It is important to raise awareness about the global impact of viral hepatitis and preventing hepatitis-related liver disease. More than three million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Injection drug use and blood transfusions received prior to 1992, when blood donor screening for HCV became available, are common risk factors for HCV infection. People should get tested for hepatitis C if they are at risk for infection. Hepatitis C is the most common blood borne infection, the major cause of chronic liver disease and the leading reason for liver transplantation in the United States."

More than 12,000 patients 'being offered HIV and Hepatitis C tests' - Telegraph

2009-04-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

"All patients treated by the worker, who had not been named, are to be contacted by NHS Lewisham and offered the blood tests.

The healthcare trust said that it understood how concerned patients would be but emphasised that there was a small chance that they would have contracted either disease."

Pharmasset cancels hepatitis drug development - Forbes.com

2009-04-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

"Pharmasset Inc. said Monday it is ending development of its most advanced drug candidate, clevudine, over concerns of severe muscle weakness in hepatitis B patients.

Pharmasset said it made the decision to end the late-stage Quash studies voluntarily, following discussions with an independent monitoring board and the Food and Drug Administration. The company is maintaining its focus on a separate hepatitis C program with its partner Roche ( RHHBY.PK - news - people )."

No Further Cases of Hepatitis Infection Found Since VA Investigation Started Last Week – But Many Veterans Still Awaiting Test Results | InjuryBoard Council Bluffs

2009-04-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

"Over a week after the Veterans Affairs Department released an email that it was investigating “the possibility of [a] relationship” between a patient’s positive HIV test and unsterilized equipment, many veterans remain ill at ease. The Miami Herald reports that since one of Miami’s VA hospital was named as one in which patients may have been accidentally infected with HIV or hepatitis, the hospital has received almost 3,000 worried calls and hundreds of visits from concerned veterans. The reaction was set off when the VA explained that improper sterilization of endoscopic equipment used in colonoscopies and other medical procedures may have resulted in a chance that veterans could contract hepatitis or HIV."

Vaccination fears over plan for Hepatitis B jabs for babies - Telegraph

2009-04-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

"Government health experts are considering whether to add the vaccine to a jab given to children at eight weeks.

The option, to be discussed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in June, would create a six-in-one vaccine that would also immunise against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib disease – a form of pneumonia."

The Associated Press: Ex-Army nurse pleads guilty in hepatitis C case

2009-04-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

"A former Fort Bliss nurse accused of infecting patients with hepatitis C while stealing their pain medications during surgery has pleaded guilty to charges of assault and theft.

Jon Dale Jones, a retired Army captain, entered his plea Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors say Jones infected at least 15 military patients in 2004 when he diverted fentanyl — a powerful painkiller routinely used for anesthesia — from the patients to himself.

He could face up to 20 years when he sentenced in August"

Anadys Pharmaceuticals to Present at the CanAccord Adams Hepatitis C Conference - FOXBusiness.com

2009-04-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

"SAN DIEGO, March 31, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDS) announced today that it will present at the CanAccord Adams Hepatitis C Conference on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. PDT). The conference is being held at the InterContinental The Barclay Hotel in New York City.

Steve Worland, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Anadys, will provide an overview of Anadys and its clinical programs in development for hepatitis C: ANA598 and ANA773."

China Reports Hepatitis Infections From Hospital - NYTimes.com

2009-04-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

"BEIJING — At least 64 people have been infected with hepatitis C after receiving transfusions of tainted blood at a county hospital in southern China, a hospital official said Wednesday.

The authorities at the Guizhou Province hospital traced the infections to contaminated blood from a single donor who had sold blood to the facility from 1998 to 2002. The police have detained the hospital’s former chief on suspicion of illegally collecting and using the blood, according to Xinhua, the state-run news agency."

New Action Plan To Reduce Hepatitis In Wales

2009-04-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

"A new action plan to identify people at risk of blood borne viral hepatitis and to improve care for people living with the infection has been issued for public consultation by the Welsh Assembly Government today.

Hepatitis B and C are viruses that spread from person to person by contact with infected blood and mainly affect the liver."

Aidsmap | Hepatitis C has no impact on CD4 cell recovery in patients taking HIV treatment

2009-03-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

"Hepatitis C has no impact on CD4 cell recovery in patients taking HIV treatment

Patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus whose HIV treatment is suppressing their viral load to undetectable levels have comparable CD4 cell count increases to those seen in patients who are only infected with HIV, investigators report in the April 15th edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes."

Vet Gets Legal Help For Hepatitis Contraction - Health News Story - WSMV Nashville

2009-03-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

"Vet Gets Legal Help For Hepatitis Contraction
Infectious Bodily Fluids Transmitted In Colonoscopies
Reported By Deanna Lambert

Only half of the 6,400 veterans at risk from 'problem colonoscopies' have been tested so far at the V.A. Hospital in Murfreesboro.

Already, at least 10 patients are positive for hepatitis B or C or HIV. A Murfreesboro man is among them, and he's now getting legal help.

Acute viral hepatitis morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis E virus infection: Uzbekistan surveillance data - 7thSpace Interactive

2009-03-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

"Acute viral hepatitis morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis E virus infection: Uzbekistan surveillance data

In Uzbekistan, routine serologic testing has not been available to differentiate etiologies of acute viral hepatitis (AVH). To determine the age groups most affected by hepatitis E virus (HEV) during documented AVH epidemics, trends in AVH-associated mortality rate (MR) per 100,000 over a 35-year period and reported incidence of AVH over a 15-year period were examined."

California AG Sues to Recover Millions in Medi-Cal Fraud

2009-03-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

California AG Sues to Recover Millions in Medi-Cal Fraud: "California AG Sues to Recover Millions in Medi-Cal Fraud

March 20, 2009

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Responding to a whistleblower's allegation of 'massive Medi-Cal fraud and kickbacks,' California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined legal action against seven private laboratories to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal overcharges to the state's medical program for the poor."

Syringe scandal could be a wake-up call

2009-03-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

"Syringe scandal could be a wake-up call

Health crisis might shine new light on infections in high-risk communities

Early last week, I set out to discover how many of the 1,378 patients from the High Prairie Regional Health Centre who'd been exposed to reused syringes had tested positive for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C."

News - Hepatitis B Testing Urged for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment: Presented at NCCN

2009-03-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

News - Hepatitis B Testing Urged for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment: Presented at NCCN: "Hepatitis B Testing Urged for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment: Presented at NCCN

By Ed Susman

HOLLYWOOD, Fla -- March 16, 2009 -- Before initiating treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, doctors need to determine if the patient has been infected with hepatitis B virus, especially if treatment will be with rituximab-based therapy, according to a presentation here at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 14th Annual Conference: Clinical Practice Guidelines & Quality Cancer Care."

SouthCoastToday.com: Hepatitis starts off similarly

2009-03-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

SouthCoastToday.com: Hepatitis starts off similarly: "Hepatitis is liver-cell inflammation with death of some of the cells. It can come from poisons like carbon tetrachloride, from alcohol, from fat invasion of the liver, from some bacteria and from viruses, among which are the hepatitis A, B and C viruses. In the acute stages of hepatitis, all these causes produce a similar illness — yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), great fatigue, loss of appetite, fever and profound mental fogginess. Sometimes the initial attack is so mild that the symptoms aren't appreciated. What happens after the initial illness is quite different for the different causes."

Progress Reported Against Gene Involved in Hepatitis C - US News and World Report

2009-03-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

"WEDNESDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 100 genes that support replication of the hepatitis C virus(HCV) in the human body have been identified by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers."

News: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Acceptance of Telaprevir and VCH-222 Abstracts for Presentation at EASL Annual Meeting. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - Biotechnology from Bench to Bu

2009-03-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

"Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Acceptance of Telaprevir and VCH-222 Abstracts for Presentation at EASL Annual Meeting"

SouthCoastToday.com: Hepatitis starts off similarly

2009-03-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

Death toll of hepatitis B outbreak in India reaches 60 _English_Xinhua

2009-03-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

Death toll of hepatitis B outbreak in India reaches 60 _English_Xinhua: "NEW DELHI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The toll of what is one of India's worst liver disease outbreaks has attained 60 in the mainly man-caused hapatitis-B outbreak in the western Indian state of Gujarat, said a senior health official Friday.

'With the death of one person on Wednesday, the total death toll in the hepatitis-hit Sabarkantha district of north Gujarat reached 60 while the total number of persons affected by the liver disease has reached 241,' said the health official in New Delhi."

The Associated Press: 16 patients have hepatitis in Army needle scare

2009-03-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

"Army officials say 16 patients exposed to a mismanaged insulin needle program at a military hospital in Texas have tested positive for hepatitis B or C.

The patients at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center were among more than 2,000 diabetics who may have been exposed to blood-borne illnesses because multiple patients were given injections from the same insulin pen.

Officials at the Army hospital at Fort Bliss have said it's unclear if the patients contracted hepatitis from the injections that were performed from August 2007 to January 2009.

Fort Bliss is located at El Paso, Texas."

Hepatitis C Infections Found in Clinic Patients - NYTimes.com

2009-03-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

"At least nine kidney patients were infected with hepatitis C while being treated at a Manhattan dialysis center that was closed by state health officials last year, according to the results of an investigation published Thursday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Interferon lambda has been cleared

2009-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

"ZymoGenetics Inc. (ZGEN: News ) announced that its collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY: News ) for hepatitis C compound PEG-Interferon lambda has been cleared by the United States Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice clearance under provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act."

CORRECTED - UPDATE 1-US panel widens recommendations on hepatitis A jab | Deals | Regulatory News | Reuters

2009-02-27T00:54:00.000-08:00

"CHICAGO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - U.S. citizens who expect to have close contact with an adopted child from countries with high rates of hepatitis A should be immunized if they have not been already, U.S. immunization advisers said on Wednesday."

Man with hepatitis sentenced for spitting at officer - Local & State - Macon

2009-02-24T13:35:00.000-08:00

"A Macon man was sentenced to serve five years on probation and between 180 and 300 days in a detention center after pleading guilty to spitting in a police officer’s face, knowing he had hepatitis C, according to the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office."

World Briefing - Europe - Britain - Report on Infected Blood Sidesteps Blame - NYTimes.com

2009-02-24T13:23:00.000-08:00

A long-awaited report on Monday described the use of contaminated blood products in Britain’s National Health Service in the 1970s and ’80s, infecting thousands of hemophiliacs with H.I.V., hepatitis and other conditions, as a “horrific human tragedy” and “the worst treatment disaster” in the 60-year history of the publicly financed health system."

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2009-02-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

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