Defeating the Dragon

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/m…

An interesting development with the new alpha-interferon they've been testing.

I have read about this drug a few times, but I can't remember if any of the studies are with HCV1's. I know one of them was a HCV2 group and they were like SVR'd for ever.

Just thought you might appreciate it. Read carefully cause it can get a little confusing.

When I was young, I was part of the group of Canadian blood product recipients who received HepC-tainted blood products.

I'm HepC antibody positive, active virus negative. My doctors have always stressed a 1 beer-per-day limit. I'm wondering just how strict this is. I've never had much of a desire to drink heavily, but getting buzzed would be nice every once in a while.

Any thoughts?

Also, I've always wondered what, exactly, it means to be antibody postive, virus negative. Clearly, I've come in contact with the virus, but does this mean I'm infected? Do the antibodies mean my body can effectively fight the virus and I, therefore, have little to worry about? Does it mean that the virus is just laying dormant?

Caffeine Linked to Reduced Histological Activity in People with Hepatitis C

By Liz Highleyman

Some recent studies have shown that caffeine consumption is associated with a reduced risk of liver disease progression and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Some researchers have suggested that these effects may be attributable to the antioxidant properties of caffeine.

To evaluate this hypothesis, researchers from Hôpital Henri Mondor in Creteil, France, evaluated the impact of caffeine consumption on histological activity grade and ALT levels in 238 treatment-naive patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C. They collected data on patient demographics, route of HCV transmission, HCV genotype, body mass index (BMI), ALT level at the time of liver biopsy, steatosis, histological activity grade, and METAVIR fibrosis stage.

Participants were asked about their daily consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine during the 6 months preceding liver biopsy. Daily caffeine consumption was estimated by adding the mean intake of coffee, tea, and caffeine-containing soda, and subjects were classified into 4 groups according to caffeine consumption.

Results

Participants included 154 men and 84 women, with a mean age of 45.4 years.

There was a significant inverse relationship between histological activity grade and daily caffeine consumption (P < 0.001).

No relationship was observed between daily caffeine consumption and ALT level.

In a multivariate analysis, caffeine intake greater than 407 mg/day (about 3 cups) predicted a lesser risk of moderate or marked histological activity grade (OR 0.46; P = 0.003).

Other factors independently associated with activity grade were moderate or severe steatosis (OR 3.30; P = 0.004), age greater than 40 years (OR 2.15; P = 0.018), and ALT level (OR 1.02; P < 0.001).

Daily caffeine consumption
(mg/day)
Number of subjects
Moderate-marked histological activity grade (A2-A3)
n (%)

< 224
59
45 (77.5)

225-407
57
35 (61.4)

408-679
62
32 (51.6)

>679
60
29 (48.3)


Conclusion

In conclusion, the authors wrote, "caffeine consumption appears to have a positive impact on histological activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C."

11/17/06

Reference
C Hezode, C Costentin, F Roudot-Thoraval, and others. Impact of Caffeine Consumption on Histological Activity in Patients with Chronic Active Hepatitis C. 57th AASLD. Boston, MA. October 27-31, 2006. Abstract 216.

http://www.hivandhe patitis.com/ 2006icr/aasld/ docs/111706_ a.html

Hepatitis C Virus Replication Seen in Patients With Apparent Viral Clearance

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 07 - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can persist and replicate in the livers of patients who have apparently cleared the virus from their blood after antiviral therapy, according to a report in the November 15th issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Previous studies have identified positive-strand HCV RNA in the hepatic tissue of patients with a sustained treatment response. However, it was unclear if viable HCV, capable of replication, was actually present since negative-strand HCV RNA, the viral replicative intermediate, was not detected.

In the present study, Dr. Vicente Carreno and colleagues, from the Foundation for the Study of Viral Hepatitis in Madrid, Spain, tested for positive- and negative-strand HCV RNA in hepatic tissue taken from 20 patients who had shown no serologic evidence of the virus for 35.4 months on average.

Nineteen of the 20 samples contained positive-strand HCV RNA, the report indicates. Moreover, of these 19 samples, 15 had negative-strand HCV RNA also.

Testing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed positive-strand HCV RNA in 13 of 20 samples. Twelve of the 13 samples also contained negative-strand HCV RNA.

The posttreatment liver biopsy specimens of 15 patients still displayed liver necroinflammation, the findings indicate, and fibrosis remained present in seven patients. However, hepatic damage improved in all but two of the patients.

The findings indicate that "these patients did not experience HCV infection clearance, despite apparent clinical disease resolution," the researchers conclude.

They say the possibility of reactivation should be borne in mind if patients undergo chemotherapy of become immunosuppressed, for example. The team cites a case in which HCV reemerged following prednisone therapy, after 8.5 years of negative test results.

Clin Infect Dis 2006;43:1277- 1283.

http://www.medscape .com/viewarticle /547334

I think that given the situation with healthcare in California, it’s more important than ever that we get out for Senator Kuehl’s bill. She supports universal healthcare for all Califonria residents. This includes phisical, mental health, addictions, and everything deemed "medically necesaary", including prescription medication. Regardless of employment or income status.

The rally is on Wednesday (08/30) at noon at the State Building 300 S Spring St. LA CA 90013.


________________________________________
From: Senator.Kuehl@outreach.senate.ca.gov
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 5:58 PM
Subject: Two Rallies to Support SB 840 next Wednesday


For more information contact: Sara Rogers (Sen. Kuehl’s Capitol Office) 916-651-4023 or Elizabeth Ecks (CNA Sacramento Office) 916-491-3217 or Emily Gold (Sen. Kuehl’s LA office) 310-441-9084

http://www.hcvinprison.org/

Man battles listeria infection
Near-fatal bout leaves father blind, unable to work
by Susan Reinhardt, SREINHARDT@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
published August 11, 2006 12:15 am
BLACK MOUNTAIN - They'd been married only a month.

And here stood the bride, Dana Goode, peering over her dying husband and facing the doctor's words: that should her husband make it, he'd likely remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.

On March 24, Kevin Goode married the woman of his dreams. On April 29, he lay in the neuro-trauma unit at Mission Hospitals, delirious with a high fever, an unknown illness, and doctors frantically ordering tests and panels, working against time and a failing body to get a diagnosis and begin treatment.

Mystery illness
Kevin Goode awakened his wife in the middle of the night on April 25, saying he didn't feel well. The machinist and father of four, including Dana Goode's two children by a previous marriage, burned with fever and fought off waves of intense nausea.

He took some over-the-counter medicines, thinking he'd feel well enough for work at Wright's Tools the next morning. When he awakened, he was no better but went to work anyway. Later that day he called his wife.

"I don't feel well," he said. "I'd better see a doctor."

Dana Goode said her husband reported severe head and back pain. Doctors diagnosed him that day with a migraine headache and prescribed medicine to treat the condition. Meanwhile, and unknown to anyone, a deadly bacteria coursed through his bloodstream, destroying parts of his brain.

A few days later, Dana Goode called an ambulance, and for the next couple of months, Kevin Goode fought for his life.

Of the month he was in the neurotrauma unit at Mission, he remembers nothing.

But his wife does. It was a nightmare, especially not knowing the cause of what threatened her husband's life. A couple of days and countless tests later, they found it.

Kevin Goode had somehow become infected with listeria meningitis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

State officials and doctors asked Dana Goode everything from what he'd eaten to where she grocery shopped and if they'd been to a petting zoo.

"They don't know how he got it," she said. "It's very uncommon for someone of his age and good health to come down with it."

At first they thought he might have hepatitis. His white blood cell count was high, and his liver enzymes had skyrocketed.

"He became delirious," Dana Goode said. "It was consuming his brain, and I noticed his right eye was going inward and he had double vision."

Throughout the next month, Kevin Goode underwent eight operations and procedures, including brain surgeries.

"He fought for his life for two months," Dana Goode said. "We had a couple of close calls including a massive seizure and intubation."

Looking for a cause
One of the toughest parts of this was trying to figure out how and why Kevin Goode, who never smoked or drank, contracted the illness healthy people ward off with no trouble. The disease is so rare, Mission Hospitals has had only one case this year and one the previous year, according to Merrell Gregory, hospital spokesperson.

The disease is caused by consuming meats that aren't thoroughly cooked or properly refrigerated, unwashed vegetables, raw meats touching vegetables and from ready-to-eat foods that have spoiled. It's important to wash hands, knives and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.

Dana Goode said they retraced every step and couldn't find the source of her husband's contact with the bacteria.

Recently, the disease has been identified as an important health problem in the United States, affecting primarily pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and adults with weakened or compromised immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 2,500 people become seriously ill each year with listeriosis. Of these, about 500 will die.

Kevin Goode considers himself lucky, even though the disease took his vision and ability to work.

"I feel pretty good," he said this week. "I don't have much pain, but sometimes my stomach acts up."

As for his blindness, he believes his eyesight will return.

"I pray every day for my vision to come back. Every now and then, I see light or a shadow." This, he believes, is a good sign.

And while his stamina is low, Dana Goode said she tries to help him build his strength, walking around Lake Tomahawk, where he's up to one lap.

"Family and prayers have brought him through this," she said. "We're just grateful he's alive."

Kevin Goode said the support of family and friends has brought him this far.

"My family, they just keep me going and have been real supportive," he said. "Just don't ever think something like this can't happen to you, because it can. Watch what you eat."

Contact Susan Reinhardt at 828-232-5844 or via e-mail at sreinhardt@CITIZEN-TIMES.com.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/…

Hepatitis prompts warning at Scarborough Hospital
COLIN FREEZE

Toronto Public Health authorities have warned 400 Scarborough Hospital dialysis patients that they may be at risk of hepatitis infection and urged them not to share their toothbrushes or razors with family members, and to use condoms during sex.

The rare warning, which is upsetting many immigrant families already dealing with severe health problems, follows the discovery of a strange, small cluster of hepatitis-positive dialysis patients identified this month.

"There are eight patients we are investigating with new infections," said Dr. Michael Finkelstein, an associate medical officer with Toronto Public Health. "Certainly I would classify that as a significant number, absolutely . . . in other hemodialysis units you can see, occasionally, a patient becoming positive, but even then they are not that common."

It's not clear how dialysis patients who use the facilities run by Scarborough Hospital would have become infected with the hepatitis B or C that's showed up in recent routine tests.

"We don't know how this happened," said Sherian Mondesir, a spokeswoman for Scarborough Hospital.

She added that "we can't say it's necessarily linked to our practices."

Like other dialysis centres, Scarborough Hospital uses clean, modern equipment. No source of possible contamination has been identified, but officials are now taking many precautions, such as testing staff members and testing and retesting all of the dialysis patients.

While hepatitis often lies dormant or is treatable, it can also lead to disabling liver failure, and even death. That's why the public health department has circulated letters in English, Chinese, Tamil and Tagalog (or Filipino) warning patients they should guard against any further spread of hepatitis, which may have been disseminated during dialysis treatments.

Experts say it's unlikely that the cluster will grow far beyond the eight cases. But the news has caused panic in some families.

"They have turned our lives upside down," one 69-year-old man told The Globe and Mail. Asking that he not be named, he said his 66-year-old wife, who undergoes regular dialysis treatment, hasn't stopped crying since hearing the news. "Nobody calls me," the man said. "I want to know if my wife is infected with hepatitis C."

Infection is a constant worry for all hemodialysis patients, who spend up to five hours a day, three times a week, having their blood pumped through plastic tubes and cleaning machines, in rooms full of other people with kidney disease getting the same treatment.

The hepatitis virus is carried in the blood, but can survive outside the body for days. It can pass between hosts through sex, intravenous needles -- and contaminated hospitals. That's why great care is taken to make sure all facilities and equipment are kept free of even small traces of blood.

Yet traces can always remain and it's difficult to pinpoint causes of infection. Ms. Mondesir said the hospital continues "to follow our infection control and safety measures" but staff are now being more vigilant.

She said she is confident that Scarborough Hospital's dialysis equipment is clean and this view is supported by Dr. Finkelstein "There is no evidence that the equipment itself is an issue," he said. But he added there could be any number of possible other sources of infection.

"There is blood in the environment," he said, adding that small amounts of blood can linger on machines, people's hands, medical instruments, tubing, and clamps. "Hepatitis is a hardy virus and can stay on surfaces for days."

Because it is uncommon to see this cluster of new infections, Dr. Finkelstein drafted the letter that was circulated to dialysis patients this week. He said the initial case came to the attention of public health authorities on "the very last working day of April," and that authorities worked as fast as possible to investigate further and warn affected patients.

After officials determined the first individual was a dialysis patient at Scarborough Hospital, they probed deeper. The hospital had just gathered its annual blood samples, so public health authorities were poised to take a closer look, and when they did, they discovered the cluster.

No one yet knows when or how the infections occurred, or when new infections might show up. "It can take up to six months for some of these infections to be detectable in a lab sample," Dr. Finkelstein said.

Dr. Alison McGeer, an infectious-disease consultant at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, said that "this is really early. It's hard to predict what's going to happen."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ser…

I'm Meg. I'm 20 years old. And I'm afraid that I may have contracted HCV.
I have never done intravenous drugs though I have snorted coke with the person I think I may have gotten it from. I spent two days over the course of two weeks snorting. I realized after two weekends of doing so, that it wasn't my thing. I felt dirty. And I didn't want to end up like my uncle. Basically. We also fooled around. no intercourse..and I think I may have gotten his fluids on me ...and I think accidentally I was cut and bled and the fluid could of gotten in there and I swallowed or got his cum on me. I don't remember. He didn't really cum since it was hard enough. He couldn't even really get hard. He said it was all the treatment he's had. But the fact is, I could really use talking to someone who's had the disease for awhile, knows the ways around it, got it through drugs or sex....or just got it.

my screenname is eternalnoir. IM me tonight or whenever you could get a chance.

I could use someone who's open minded, whos' had it awhile and knows their stuff...and who won't be extremely disgusted at me. The whole story...is pretty pitiful.I still can't believe I subjected myself to this. Thanks.

Employer pays $24,000 for Hepatitis C firing
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - A former convenience store employee who was fired for having Hepatitis C has been awarded $24,000 in a lawsuit settlement, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday.

The EEOC sued Hoffmann Oil Co. in September for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act with the dismissal. The gas station and convenience store in Montgomery City agreed to pay the cashier $24,000, according to the EEOC.

Barbara Seely, an EEOC attorney, said she could not release the employee's name. A message left by The Associated Press with an owner at Hoffmann Oil was not immediately returned Thursday.

The lawsuit said Hoffmann Oil fired the woman on March 5, 2003, one day after she started her job, when it learned she had Hepatitis C. The company in the small town between Columbia and St. Louis recruited the woman after a supervisor observed her doing a good job at another convenience store.

The company was afraid she would spread the virus to customers and other employees, the EEOC said, but the county health department said that wouldn't happen if she took normal precautions.

The Centers for Disease Control has stated in a similar case that the possibility of transmission is slight and that employees should not be dismissed on that basis, the commission said.

http://www.belleville.com/mld/bell…