Articles tagged with Hepatitis C
Researchers will investigate whether liver damage in HIV patients with hepatitis C is caused by the medication or the virus itself. The goal of the study is to improve treatment outcomes for patients with both conditions.
Researchers discovered a new therapeutic target for hepatitis C using microRNA-122. The study found that miR-122 binds to a specific region of the virus, suggesting a potential approach for inhibiting viral replication.
Stanford scientist Sarnow discusses new approach to treating hepatitis C virus using microRNA, a small fragment of RNA found in the liver that is necessary for viral growth and reproduction. The approach aims to lower microRNA levels in the liver without affecting liver function, potentially leading to improved treatment outcomes.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients develop fewer complications than hepatitis C patients, but those with normal liver functions still face mortality risk from sepsis and cardiac events. The study highlights the importance of future therapeutic interventions for NASH patients.
Researchers at NDRI examined the HCV-related services offered in a drug treatment program at a California correctional facility. They found that such programs present an opportunity to limit Hepatitis C spread, but are not widely available. The authors recommend low-cost and sustainable peer-to-peer educational programs as a solution.
A new study calls for equal access to Hepatitis C treatment for young injection drug users, citing low reinfection and completion rates among this group. The research suggests that denying treatment due to substance use can be counterproductive, as it often fails to address underlying health issues.
Researchers found that HCV RNA levels decrease rapidly during and after transplantation, then increase within days. The study suggests the liver is the primary site of viral replication, with a non-hepatic source contributing to some viral production.
U.S. researchers have developed a new vaccine candidate against hepatitis C using dendritic cells, which reduced the amount of carrier virus expressing HCV protein in mice by 100,000 times compared to controls. The study's findings offer a promising approach to prevent liver disease and eliminate the virus from the body.
Researchers found that 56% of older HCV patients experienced dose reductions or discontinuations due to adverse effects, negatively impacting sustained virological response rates. The study emphasizes the need for modified treatment schedules and patient education to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Research suggests Cyclosporine may be a beneficial primary immunosuppression for HCV patients, achieving better antiviral effects than Tacrolimus when combined with interferon. However, the use of Cyclosporine also increases the risk of infections and hepatitis complications.
Researchers found that a hepatitis C virus protein accelerates the breakdown of a critical tumor suppressor, leading to liver cell proliferation and increasing cancer risk. This discovery could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Research reveals that patients with Hepatitis C are using more healthcare resources, including increased hospitalizations, physician visits, and costs due to disease progression. The study highlights the urgent need for better HCV treatment decisions as the patient population ages.
A new study by Regino González-Peralta and colleagues found that interferon in combination with ribavirin is an effective treatment for childhood chronic hepatitis C, with sustained virologic response rates higher than those using interferon alone. Common side effects were mild, but severe adverse events occurred in some children.
Research by Chuan-Qing Wang and colleagues found that morphine withdrawal and precipitated withdrawal increase HCV replicon expression and inhibit IFN-alpha production in liver cells. This study suggests that opioid abuse may contribute to the chronicity of HCV infection and promote disease progression.
A new study finds that co-therapy with erythropoietin is more cost-effective than standard treatment for patients with Hepatitis C and treatment-induced anemia. The research suggests that this treatment approach can improve rates of complete cure from the disease, making it a viable option for this patient population.
A recent study published by the American Gastroenterological Association found that nearly 80% of Asian patients with chronic HCV developed cirrhosis after 60 years of infection. The study's results confirm that fibrosis progression is the same across ethnic groups, leading to cirrhosis and liver disease at a similar rate in everyone.
Researchers identify genetic changes in hepatitis C virus that evade immune system, leading to chronic infections. The findings suggest a 'consensus sequence' could serve as basis for effective vaccines against both acute and chronic infections.
A steroid-free regimen with CellCept was found to be comparable to standard therapy in liver transplantation, without increasing the risk of hepatitis C recurrence. The study involved 312 adult patients and showed that the CellCept-based regimen demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety profiles.
A new study found that peginterferon-alfa-2b with ribavirin was well-tolerated and yielded a sustained viral response in 59% of children with chronic hepatitis C. Patients infected via needle or with normal liver enzyme levels responded better to treatment.
The first UK cases of Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) have been reported in gay men, mostly from London. The disease is caused by a particularly invasive strain of Chlamydia trachomatis and can lead to chronic infection with fistulas and problems with the lymphatic system.
A systematic review found that Hepatitis C significantly impacts quality of life, affecting physical and social function, general health and vitality. Researchers established a minimally clinically important difference in vitality scale to monitor patient outcomes.
A study of liver transplant patients with hepatitis C found that donor age does not impact long-term survival rates. Instead, maintenance azathioprine was associated with improved overall and 3-month survival rates, suggesting a complex relationship between immunosuppression and disease progression.
Researchers discover how hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates unchecked despite the presence of immune defenses triggered by the RIG-I protein. HCV produces a viral protease that disrupts the signaling pathway, allowing it to continue replication. Protease inhibitors show promise in treating HCV and possibly other viral infections
A recent study by Emory University Health Sciences Center found that patients with depression are less likely to clear the hepatitis C virus from their blood after six months of treatment. Only 34% of those experiencing a significant increase in depression were able to clear the virus, compared to 59-69% of those with milder increases
Researchers demonstrate that long-term maintenance therapy with peginterferon alfa-2b can prevent or delay the progression of hepatitis C, reducing the risk of liver damage by half. A new antiviral agent, NM283, also shows promising activity against genotype 1 HCV, offering hope for future therapies.
A new study finds that combining Pegasys with ribavirin reduces hepatitis C viral levels more effectively than Peg-Intron, a promising development in treating the virus. The study's lead investigator hopes that the findings will inform the design of better drugs to combat the infection.
A study of nearly 400 African-American patients found that weight-based REBETOL dosing with PEG-INTRON improved viral clearance and reduced relapse rates compared to a flat dose. The treatment showed promise in improving outcomes for this patient population, which has historically had lower response rates to hepatitis C therapy.
Research in British Columbia found a seventeen-fold higher risk of diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma in HCV-infected patients. The study confirmed the viral-cancer link, previously suspected in studies from other regions with higher hepatitis C prevalence.
A study found that patients who received liver transplants from living donors are more likely to experience severe Hepatitis C recurrence. The research, led by Xavier Forns, investigated the effect of donor life status on HCV patient outcomes and discovered a significant association between living donor transplantation and severe disea...
Research on hepatitis C patients after liver transplantation found that 10-year outcomes are similar to those for other indications, but risk of recurrence and failure increases over time. Factors such as donor and recipient age, viral load, and CMV antibodies can predict transplant success.
A study found that genetic characteristics in patients who self-recovered from hepatitis C infection involve genes that suppress the action of killer immune cells. Researchers hope to develop a vaccine and improve therapies based on these findings.
A groundbreaking study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that the combination of Pegasysα and Copegus significantly improved treatment response rates for patients co-infected with HCV and HIV. The study showed a sustained virological response rate of 40% among all patients, with even higher efficacy rates for those with genotypes...
Researchers at Yale University have made significant breakthroughs in understanding the helicase function of the hepatitis C virus. By visualizing the behavior of the viral enzyme NS3, scientists discovered that it moves with a discontinuous stepping motion that alternates rapid translocation with pausing.
A study led by Duke University Medical Center researchers found African-Americans have a significantly lower response rate to treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Only 19% of African-American patients responded to the drug combination, while 52% of non-Hispanic white patients achieved a sustained virologic response.
A study of 299 smokers found that nicotine nasal spray and skin patch both led to similar abstinence rates after six months. However, certain groups achieved higher success rates with one form over the other based on their ethnic background, weight and nicotine dependence level.
A multinational trial found that the combination of Pegasys and Copegus significantly increased sustained virological response rates in patients co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C. The study reported 40% overall efficacy, including 62% efficacy for genotype 2 and 3 patients.
A new investigational vaccine to prevent hepatitis C has been tested in humans for the first time, offering a promising breakthrough against the deadly virus. The study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of three different strengths of the Chiron Corporation's vaccine.
A study of HIV-infected patients undergoing liver transplantation found improved survival rates compared to HIV-negative patients. Poorer survival was associated with postoperative intolerance, low CD4 counts, and hepatitis C coinfection.
A triple therapy study using ZADAXIN in combination with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin showed a 61% response rate for patients with hepatitis C who were non-responders to previous treatment. The study found that ZADAXIN improved response rates for these patients.
A new clinical trial led by Duke University aims to compare the efficacy of two pegylated interferon treatments for hepatitis C virus. The IDEAL trial will enroll 2,880 patients and determine which treatment results in a sustained viral response in the largest proportion of patients.
A new study found that alcohol consumption increases the activity of a protein that causes the hepatitis C virus to replicate, leading to liver disease. The study also discovered that alcohol interferes with antiviral treatment, such as interferon-alpha, which is currently the only licensed treatment for the infection.
Researchers identify viral protease NS3/4A as a key player in evading the immune system, leading to new avenues for clinical and basic research on hepatitis C. Inhibiting this protease restores the host's immune response, reducing viral levels to nearly undetectable levels.
Researchers discovered that a new class of protease inhibitors can prevent the hepatitis C virus from blocking the innate immune response, restoring it in human cells. This finding suggests that these drugs will have dual efficacy and could become an important addition to existing treatments for hepatitis C.
A new study has established genetic associations in hepatitis C, finding correlations between the CD4 and IL-1B genes and disease activity. The research suggests a possible role of intrahepatic CD4 T cells in hepatic injury and immune response to HCV infection.
The University of Washington has established a $9 million center to study the underlying causes of hepatitis-induced liver disease. The center brings together experts in viral hepatitis, liver disease, and transplantation to investigate gene and protein expression in liver cells.
A study of 39 hepatitis C patients found that 33% developed interferon-induced major depression, but 84% improved with antidepressant treatment. The research challenges the common practice of discontinuing interferon therapy for depressed patients.
A new study found that a combination of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin can offer superior efficacy without increasing common side effects, particularly in patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. The treatment approach showed a higher sustained response rate compared to standard therapy.
A recent study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that patients with alcoholic-liver disease are at a higher risk of developing confusion and delirium after liver transplant surgery. The study, which included 87 patients, revealed that the length of sobriety before surgery is directly correlated to the severity of these complications.
A Johns Hopkins Medicine study reveals that HIV treatment is equally effective for patients with both HIV and hepatitis C infections, contrary to previous assumptions. The research found no significant difference in the virologic or immunologic response to HAART among those with co-infection, suggesting hepatitis C infection should not...
Scientists followed nearly 2,000 HIV-infected patients with varying levels of hepatitis C exposure. They found that exposure to hepatitis C did not increase risk of death or AIDS progression but was associated with lower antiretroviral therapy prescriptions, which may lead to increased mortality rates in this group.
The consensus panel recommends expanding hepatitis C treatment to include patients who use injected drugs, suffer from co-morbid conditions, or are coinfected with HIV. Reliable HCV cultures and research networks are also prioritized to advance understanding of the disease and develop new treatments.
The VIRAHEP-C clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C, with a focus on racial disparities. Researchers hope to determine factors associated with sustained virological response rates in African-American patients, who are disproportionately affected by the disease.
Researchers found that humans can acquire immunity to hepatitis C virus, reducing the risk of persistent infection and its complications like liver cirrhosis and cancer. The study's findings add to growing evidence that vaccines could be used to protect against hepatitis C.
A combination treatment of Pegasys and ribavirin has shown an unprecedented 61% sustained virologic response rate, the highest ever recorded. The treatment regimen should be based on hepatitis C virus genotype rather than traditional weight-based methodology.
A UCSF study found high levels of HCV infection among young low-income women in San Francisco, with injection drug use and HSV-2 co-infection contributing to transmission. The study also highlights the need for public health efforts beyond needle exchange programs to address non-needle drug use and sexually transmitted diseases.
A study found that 81.6% of injection drug users in Vancouver had hepatitis C antibodies, with 62 new cases reported among those initially negative. Risk factors for infection included female sex, cocaine use, and frequent needle-exchange program attendance.
A new combination drug treatment has shown to be more effective in treating chronic hepatitis C than the current standard. The treatment, peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, achieved higher sustained viral response rates compared to interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, especially in patients with genotype 1 infection.
Researchers have developed a mouse model that can be infected with the hepatitis C virus, allowing them to test new therapies and study viral replication. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a cure for the disease, which affects an estimated 175 million people worldwide.
Researchers in Canada are developing a class of drugs for chronic pain with fewer side effects. Canadian scientists also presenting promising treatments for Hepatitis C and non-insulin dependent diabetes by targeting key enzymes involved in the diseases.
A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco has discovered a novel mechanism by which the drug ribavirin kills viruses by generating excess mutations that overwhelm the virus. This unexpected finding may lead to the development of more effective anti-viral treatments for hepatitis C patients.