http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report the discovery of microbial–dependent mechanisms through which some cancers mount an inflammatory response that fuels their development and growth. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-blocking-tumor-induced-inflammation-impacts-cancer.html Cancer Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:00:13 EST news268487506 Incarcerated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are just as likely to respond to treatment for the disease as patients in the community, according to findings published in the October issue of Hepatology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) in Madison found that HCV patients in prison were just as likely to achieve a sustained viral response (SVR) as non-incarcerated patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-hepatitis-infection-prison-good-policy.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:40:49 EST news267972037 The drug telaprevir (trade name: Incivo) has been available for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection of genotype 1 since autumn 2011. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether telaprevir offers an added benefit compared with the present standard therapy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-telaprevir-added-benefit-patients-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:38:37 EST news266067506 Researchers have discovered molecular and protein signatures that predict rapid onset of liver damage in hepatitis C patients following a liver transplant. The markers appeared soon after transplant and well before clinical evidence of liver damage. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-molecular-protein-markers-liver-transplant.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:06:02 EST news264348356 Today is World Hepatitis Day and it brings good news and bad news. The bad news is that hepatitis is still a serious condition which affects nearly 400,000 Australians putting them on a course to serious liver disease. “The good news is that treatment is now less invasive, of shorter duration, much more effective—and diagnosis doesn’t involve humongous needles,” says Dr Nick Shackel from the Centenary Institute. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-good-bad-chronic-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:17:59 EST news262937867 Adding vitamin B12 to standard hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment significantly boosts the body's ability to keep the virus at bay, indicates a pilot study published online in the journal Gut. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-vitamin-b12-supplements-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:30:02 EST news261758041 Use of the botanical product silymarin, an extract of milk thistle that is commonly used by some patients with chronic liver disease, did not provide greater benefit than placebo for patients with treatment-resistant chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a study in the July 18 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-chronic-hepatitis-thistle-beneficial.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:00:08 EST news261750406 The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the U.S. may be as high as 2.2 million cases according to a new study now available in Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Findings suggest the higher prevalence of chronic HBV can be attributed to foreign-born persons who were infected in their country of origin prior to arrival in the U.S. Emigrants from Asia and Africa, where infection with hepatitis B is highly endemic, represent close to 70% of the 1.32 million foreign-born persons living with chronic HBV in the U.S. in 2009. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-prevalence-chronic-hepatitis-million-higher.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 31 May 2012 10:39:43 EST news257679495 The number of baby boomers dying from a "silent epidemic" of hepatitis C infections is increasing so rapidly that federal officials are planning a new nationwide push for widespread testing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-hepatitis-baby-boomers.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 02 May 2012 09:00:01 EST news255163999 Italian researchers report that severe fibrosis increases the early atherosclerosis risk in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A second study found that fatty liver disease also increases risk of developing atherosclerosis at an earlier period. Both studies appear in the May issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-fibrosis-fatty-liver-disease-early.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:52:31 EST news254483544 EASL today announced the publication of a new clinical practice guideline (CPG) in the area of Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), bringing the number of CPGs published to date to eight. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-clinical-guidelines-alcoholic-liver-disease.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:01:38 EST news254037664 Tremelimumab treatment stabilized patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma due to chronic hepatitis C infection for more than 12 months, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held here March 31 – April 4. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-tremelimumab-treatment-liver-cancer.html Cancer Tue, 03 Apr 2012 06:22:06 EST news252652917 Broader screening to identify people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) would likely be cost effective, according to a new report published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and available online. Significantly reducing HCV-related mortality and morbidity, however, will require a coordinated effort that emphasizes not only increased testing but also linking those infected with the treatment they need. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-broader-screening-hepatitis-effective.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:41:08 EST news250951261 Scientists have shed light on how the liver repairs itself with research that could help develop drugs to treat liver disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-scientists-liver.html Medical research Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:00:06 EST news250085612 (AP) -- Deaths from liver-destroying hepatitis C are on the rise, and new data shows baby boomers especially should take heed - they are most at risk. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-hepatitis-deaths-baby-boomers.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:21:57 EST news248984507 A new classification for diagnosing fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has shown to be as accurate as currently used algorithms, but required no further liver biopsy. The study appearing in the January issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, details a method that synchronously combines two fibrosis tests, providing a non-invasive and more precise fibrosis diagnosis. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-fibrosis-classification-accuracy-diagnosis-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:41:24 EST news245428874 The active ingredient boceprevir has been available since the middle of 2011 as a treatment for chronic hepatitis C of genotype 1. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined to establish whether boceprevir offers added benefit in comparison with the previous standard therapy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-boceprevir-indication-added-benefit-specific.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:37:27 EST news242649434 US biotech firm Gilead Sciences announced plans Monday to acquire rival Pharmasset, a group specializing in treatments for AIDS and hepatitis, for $11 billion. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-gilead-pharma-rival-pharmasset.html Medications Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:49:48 EST news241094980 (Medical Xpress) -- Liver cell carcinoma is one of the most abundant malign cancer diseases worldwide. In the majority of cases its emergence is triggered by cirrhosis of the liver which is caused by chronic Hepatitis B or C virus infections. Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and the Hanover Medical School have now revealed how a healthy and potent immune system is able to detect and kill potentially premalignant liver cells at an early stage. Cells with a high risk of degenerating into tumor cells – e.g.  as a result of chemical stress or nuclear radiation – often abandon their normal life cycle and enter a state of arrest, designated as “senescence”. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-body-surveillance-cancer.html Medical research Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:50:47 EST news240079837 A human monoclonal antibody developed by MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) given to patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection undergoing liver transplantation significantly suppressed the virus for at least a week after transplant and delayed the time to viral rebound. Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study were presented this week at The Liver Meeting, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, in San Francisco. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-experimental-drug-suppresses-rebound-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:02:35 EST news239904145 Health care costs for hepatitis C patients with end-stage liver disease are nearly 2.5 times higher than those in the early stages, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-economic-advanced-liver-disease.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:25:32 EST news239894718 Studies reporting on the effectiveness of new therapies for chronic Hepatitis C virus are among the clinical science presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 76th Annual Scientific Meeting, where investigators also presented findings from an age-based risk assessment and screening intervention for Hepatitis C among Baby Boomers, patients aged 50-65, who saw a gastroenterologist for routine colon cancer screening. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-treatment-options-screening-strategies-hepatitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:52:17 EST news239277123 Among known risk factors for hepatocellular cancer, smoking, obesity, and heavy alcohol consumption, along with chronic hepatitis B and C infection, contribute to a large share of the disease burden in Europe, according to a cohort study published online October 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-european-hepatocellular-carcinoma.html Cancer Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:25:57 EST news238436749 Patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C become less likely to take their medications over time, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Since the study also showed better response to the drugs when they're taken correctly, the researchers say the findings should prompt clinicians to assess patients for barriers to medication adherence throughout their treatment, and develop strategies to help them stay on track. The study is published online this month in Annals of Internal Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-hepatitis-patients-falter-adherence-treatment.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:47:54 EST news236533666 Persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to chronic hepatitis C and then progress to fatal liver diseases including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Worldwide, more than 170 million people are infected with HCV, and the virus accounts for 30–70% of liver cancer cases. The recent identification of a genetic variant associated with increased susceptibility to hepatitis C virus-induced liver cancer could have major implications for global healthcare, as it may lead to tests that predict liver cancer susceptibility. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-tell-tale-liver-cancer.html Genetics Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:39:59 EST news229351177 A genome-wide study by researchers at the RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital and Sapporo-Kosei General Hospital has identified a genetic variant associated with the development of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis C virus carriers. The findings are based on a study of 3,312 Japanese individuals and appear in the journal Nature Genetics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-genetic-variant-linked-liver-cancer.html Genetics Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:00:01 EST news228916647 New research confirms that a variant on the patatin-like phospholipase-3 (PNPLA3) gene increases risk of steatosis and fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The PNPLA3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs 738409 may represent an important genetic predictor and potential therapeutic target in chronic HCV liver damage. Study details are published in the July issue of Hepatology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-gene-variant-fatty-liver-fibrosis.html Genetics Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:45:37 EST news228476717 The drug telaprevir (Incivek) provides a dramatic improvement in the treatment of the most common form of hepatitis C infection, says an international team of investigators led by Dr. Ira M. Jacobson of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-drug-breakthrough-treatment-hepatitis.html Medications Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:23:00 EST news227982164 Non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis, such as liver stiffness measurement or the FibroTest, can predict survival of patients with chronic hepatitis C, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-noninvasive-liver-hepatitis-patient-survival.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:47:58 EST news227267261 Although liver-related mortality among those infected with hepatitis C is well-documented, little is known about deaths in these patients that are not related to liver problems. A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and now available online sought to determine mortality from all causes, including liver- and non-liver related deaths among hepatitis C patients in the general U.S. population. The analysis found mortality from all causes to be higher in these patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-analysis-mortality-higher-hepatitis-c-infected.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:10:13 EST news226894121