Articles tagged with Hepatitis C
A $15 million NIH grant will support a five-year research consortium at Massachusetts General Hospital to study how the hepatitis C virus evades the immune system. The project aims to improve understanding of liver cell involvement in HCV infection and develop new treatments for chronic viral infections.
A landmark study finds that treatment with either of two standard antiviral drug therapies is safe and offers the best way for people infected with hepatitis C to prevent liver scarring, organ failure and death. The study showed that treating patients in early or less advanced stages of the disease leads to higher success rates.
A new combination therapy of daily consensus interferon and ribavirin has been found to be effective in some hepatitis C patients who have not responded to previous treatment. The study, led by a Saint Louis University researcher, showed a success rate of above 30 percent for patients with less severe liver damage.
Researchers used FibroTest attributes to create decision trees for patients with chronic hepatitis C, providing explicit rules to relate biomarker values to fibrosis scores. The study enhances understanding of fibrosis progression and improves classification of preclinical subgroups.
A Phase IIb clinical trial shows that adding a hepatitis C protease inhibitor called telaprevir to standard therapy can significantly improve the chances of being cured, with a 67% cure rate in patients treated for 24 weeks. The treatment also reduces side effects and treatment duration compared to standard therapy alone.
A new combination therapy of daily consensus interferon and ribavirin is effective for some people with chronic hepatitis C, particularly those with lower fibrosis scores. Nearly half of all HCV patients do not respond to standard therapy, and this treatment shows promise as an alternative.
A study investigated the link between high ferritin levels and steatosis in a non-obese cohort of non-alcoholic patients, finding hyperferritinemia as a surrogate marker of advanced liver disease. The research suggests that high ferritin levels are associated with low platelet count, steatosis and clinical relevance.
Researchers found that patients with chronic hepatitis C who have achieved a sustained viral response often still carry miniscule amounts of the virus in their bodies. These trace remainders are thought to be infectious, posing a risk to others.
A study coordinated by Duke University Medical Center found that adding the anti-viral drug telaprevir to standard therapy can shorten treatment duration by 50% and improve cure rates by 50%. The new combination therapy showed a sustained viral response rate of 67% in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C.
Locteron showed a significant reduction in flu-like symptoms compared to PEG-Intron, with patients experiencing an 80% lower severity score. The trial demonstrated comparable anti-viral effects and tolerability with the controlled-release interferon alpha.
A new study examines the role of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genotypes in hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation and finds that mismatched KIR-HLA-C ligands increase the risk of fibrosis progression.
Research found that IgA antibodies against HCV structural antigens are associated with necro-inflammatory activity, suggesting a potential marker for histological activity in chronic HCV infection. The study also revealed a broad and vigorous humoral response in chronic HCV infection, contrasting with weak cellular immune responses.
A novel blood test for hepatitis C virus has been developed by researchers at Bonn University and the Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. The test is significantly cheaper than existing commercial tests, while maintaining equal sensitivity, and can be used to monitor blood banks in poorer countries.
Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that hepatitis C virus causes direct damage to liver cells and leads to inflammation. This finding sheds new light on the virus and provides potential targets for therapy.
Dr Catherine Jopling has received a prestigious David Phillips fellowship to investigate the molecular biology of hepatitis C virus. The £1m funding will support her work on miR-122, a specialized liver microRNA that interacts with HCV in an unusual way.
Researchers at Rockefeller University identified a human protein, occludin, that makes mouse cells susceptible to the hepatitis C virus. This discovery provides a clear foundation for developing an animal model and tailored treatments for the disease.
Researchers found that hepatic granulomas are commonly associated with chronic hepatitis C, occurring in almost 1% of stable patients. The association suggests granuloma formation is part of the immune response to chronic hepatitis C, rather than a separate disease.
Researchers at Saint Louis University discovered genetic patterns that can predict which patients are likely to respond to hepatitis C treatment. The study identified 'covariance networks' in the genes of patients who responded and resisted therapy, revealing a complex web of amino acid interactions.
Researchers developed an approach that predicted treatment response by analyzing genome-wide amino-acid sequence variation in HCV-infected patients. The data has implications for developing a predictive test to identify individual responses to treatment, which could help target new antiviral drugs and reduce treatment failures.
Researchers found no benefit from low-dose peginterferon treatment for patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C, who experienced a surprising health decline over four years. The study showed a significant progression of liver disease in these patients, ruling out maintenance therapy as an effective treatment option.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of Insite, Canada's supervised safe injection site, concludes that it saves $14 million over 10 years while preventing 920 life-years lost to HIV and Hepatitis C. The study suggests that Insite is almost certainly cost-saving to Canadian society.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a vulnerable step in the hepatitis C virus' reproduction process that can be effectively targeted with an obsolete antihistamine. The novel technique used microfluidic chips to screen over 1,200 drug candidates and identified clemizole as a promising lead.
Researchers have found that warfarin reduces scarring on the liver caused by Hepatitis C, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. The study is now embarking on a clinical trial to test warfarin as a treatment for people with Hepatitis C.
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have disproven the long-held belief that hepatitis C virus slows immune system recovery after HIV treatment. The study found no difference in CD4 cell restoration between co-infected and mono-infected patients, suggesting other factors are at play.
A study of 489 adult liver transplants found that older donors (age 60+) were not associated with negative outcomes in hepatitis C recipients. In fact, patients with and without hepatitis C had similar survival rates, suggesting the practice is safe. The expanded donor pool may help increase available organs for transplantation.
Researchers discovered that hepatitis C infection causes fatty liver by elevating an enzyme called fatty acid synthase (FAS) in human liver cells. Elevated FAS levels may help determine which patients are at risk of developing life-threatening diseases like cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that Fluvastatin significantly lowered viral load for up to six weeks in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The study aims to improve the cure rate by combining Fluvastatin with standard treatment.
The COPILOT study found that low-dose peginterferon alfa-2b improved disease-free survival in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, especially those who stayed on treatment. In contrast, the medication was not superior to colchicine in overall patient populations.
Researchers used mutations of NS5A phosphoprotein to disrupt virus particle production at an early stage of assembly, preventing infectious virus release. This finding offers a research tool and potential target for developing new anti-virals for treating hepatitis C.
Scientists at the University of Adelaide are developing new vaccines and treatments to combat hepatitis C, a virus affecting over 170 million people worldwide. The five-year project aims to identify antiviral proteins and improve treatment options, offering hope for those suffering from the disease.
A study of patients with chronic hepatitis C found that silymarin, a popular herbal supplement, had no effect on HCV virus activity or liver inflammation. However, users reported fewer symptoms and improved quality of life compared to non-users.
The WIN-R study found weight-based REBETOL plus PEG-INTRON improves sustained virologic response and lowers relapse rates, particularly in African-Americans with genotype 1 HCV. Weight-based dosing is also justified for very heavy patients.
Researchers found that treating patients with psychiatric disorders for hepatitis C yields a sustained viral response without increased risk of side effects. The study suggests using a multidisciplinary team and anti-depressant agents can lessen depressive reactions during treatment.
A national study found that long-term pegylated interferon does not prevent the progression of liver disease in patients who haven’t responded to previous treatments. Despite significant viral level decrease and inflammation reduction, 34.1% of treated patients experienced worsening outcomes.
The Phase 2b study demonstrated that Albuferon achieved at least comparable efficacy and safety to peginterferon alfa-2a with a dosing regimen requiring half as many injections. Additionally, Albuferon showed less impairment of health-related quality of life on treatment.
The Phase 2b trial shows that Albuferon significantly reduces missed work days and improves health-related quality of life compared to peginterferon alfa-2a. Patients in the Albuferon treatment groups reported fewer days of missed work and less impairment of physical and mental health.
A weight-based dosage of ribavirin improved treatment outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C, particularly those who are African-American. The study found that response rates increased as body weight increased, suggesting a potential need to tailor dosing to individual patients.
Researchers at Nottingham University have identified antibodies that can prevent infection with various strains of Hepatitis C virus in laboratory models. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a vaccine, which would significantly improve healthcare benefits for those suffering from hepatitis.
Research finds patients with lower levels of HCV antibody titer tend to have a brighter clinical outcome. Co-infection by hepatitis B and A viruses is associated with a higher possibility of self recovery, possibly due to interference with virus replication.
Researchers have shed new light on how the Hepatitis C helicase plays its role in duplicating genes by tracking the gradual separation of nucleotide pairs. The study found that the helicase unwinds DNA in discrete jumps, requiring three ATP molecules for each reaction.
Researchers at VCU Medical Center report nearly all patients with hepatitis C treated successfully have no detectable virus after seven years. The study validates the use of 'cure' to describe successful treatment, offering hope for those affected by the disease.
Researchers found that statin therapy improved ALT values in chronic hepatitis C patients with abnormal liver enzymes. The study also showed a higher sustained viral response rate when adding statins to standard peginterferon and ribavirin treatment, suggesting a possible new treatment option.
Researchers have made significant advancements in diagnosing and treating chronic hepatitis C, with potential new markers for detecting liver cancer. Studies have also explored the role of autotaxin in linking hepatitis C to hepatocellular carcinoma.
A recent Dutch study found that drug users are becoming more cautious when using needles, mainly due to the effective HAART therapy introduced in 1996. This increased caution has led to a significant decrease in HIV and hepatitis C infections among drug users.
A study of HCV patients post-liver transplantation reveals stagnant survival rates, contrasting with improving outcomes for non-HCV recipients. Researchers analyzed a large sample of US liver transplant data between 1991 and 2001, finding HCV patients had lower 3-year survival rates and no improvement in survival over time.
Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have discovered a cellular protein, PAK1, that interferes with hepatitis C virus replication. The finding may lead to new drug development to fight the virus, which affects approximately 170 million people worldwide.
Hepatitis A and C viruses attack the same protein, MAVS, to block immune defenses, allowing them to survive in the liver. This discovery provides a new perspective on the chronicity of hepatitis C, a highly relevant virus clinically.
Researchers developed a novel virus culture system that enables sustained replication and production of HCV particles in nontransformed hepatocytes. This breakthrough allows for better understanding of HCV differences between strains and may improve treatment strategies.
Researchers found that African-American patients had a lower risk of hepatic steatosis compared to Caucasian patients, despite similar prevalence rates. Insulin resistance was identified as an important factor in predicting treatment response.
UT Southwestern researchers found that a molecular 'on/off switch' controls human immune defenses against viruses, including hepatitis C. The study reveals how the proteins RIG-I and LGP2 regulate immunity and highlights potential targets for novel therapeutics.
A new study found that individuals who had tested positive for hepatitis C but later tested negative were significantly less likely to become infected again compared to those who had never been infected. This suggests that previous exposure to HCV may be protective against reinfection, possibly on an immunologic basis.
A new drug, eltrombopag, stimulates blood platelet production, enabling patients with low platelets to take standard antiviral medications. The trial found that 95% of patients responded with increased platelets and were able to start therapy.
A new study by Saint Louis University researchers shows a cocktail of ribavirin and Infergen is nearly twice as effective in controlling hepatitis C than standard treatments. Fourteen percent of patients taking the treatment were virus-negative after six months.
Adult heart transplant recipients who received HCV-positive donor hearts had higher mortality rates and lower survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years. The study suggests that transplanting hearts from donors with hepatitis C should be avoided if possible.
NDRI has received a starter grant from the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation to develop and implement a training program on hepatitis C for clinical and non-clinical staff in New York City outpatient drug treatment programs. The program aims to enhance services delivered in these programs and promote effective public health responses.
A study found that African Americans with hepatitis C infection experience a lower response rate to peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin combination treatment compared to Caucasian Americans. The racial difference in viral responses was seen as early as the fourth week of treatment, with African Americans having a significantly lower su...
Scientists replicated HCV in mouse cells using a gene called protein kinase R, blocking the virus's high rate of replication. This breakthrough may lead to better understanding of why some patients respond to treatment, potentially shedding light on new therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Maria Sjogren's study tracks 90 active-duty servicemembers with hepatitis C, exploring disease progression and treatment effects on quality of life. Participants reported improved well-being after treatment, attributing it to the therapeutic process itself.
The hepatitis C virus uses its protease activity to destroy a key antiviral signaling protein called MAVS, preventing infected cells from producing type 1 interferon. This allows the virus to evade the immune system and persist indefinitely, highlighting potential new treatment strategies.
A new study offers a simpler approach to diagnosing urinary incontinence in women by asking patients three simple questions. Meanwhile, an update to the US hepatitis C profile reveals that infected individuals are entering their 40s and 50s, increasing the risk of disease consequences such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.