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Man's death fuels transplant debate
Medical marijuana users denied organs
By Stuart Glascock | Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:41 PM CDT, May 21, 2008
SEATTLE - Should using doctor-prescribed marijuana be a deal-breaker for someone
needing an organ transplant? It is not a theoretical question, but a pressing
and emotional one confronting hospitals and patients in states where medical use
of marijuana is legal.
Timothy Garon, 56, a Seattle musician, died May 1 after being turned down for a
liver transplant, in part because he used medical marijuana. Now, a second
critically ill patient in Washington state says he has been denied a spot in two
organ transplant programs because he uses doctor-prescribed marijuana.
Jonathon Simchen, 33, of Fife is a diabetic whose kidneys and pancreas have
failed. He said he was booted out of the transplant program at Seattle's
Virginia Mason hospital because he admitted using medical marijuana, and then
the University of Washington Medical Center transplant officials refused him as
well.
"I'm just so discouraged," said Simchen, a community college student and
would-be teacher. "I've lost all remnants of hope. I look at my life right now
as if it is a prison term. I just have to serve each day."
The same lawyer who represented Garon has taken on Simchen's case.
Douglas Hiatt argues that his clients are the victims of a loosely defined
transplant policy not based on science. "They are really killing people over
this," he said.
Hospital transplant programs, eager to ensure the best possible outcome for each
transplant and make optimum use of the limited number of available organs, have
strict standards about drug use, smoking and other matters in determining who is
eligible for the transplant list.
Hiatt and advocates of medical marijuana are urging hospitals to adjust their
policies following the death of Garon, who used marijuana with a doctor's
approval to ease symptoms of hepatitis C. He died without ever gaining admission
to the University of Washington Medical Center's transplant list.
Hiatt wants to negotiate on behalf of Simchen to get him on a transplant list,
but he may have to sue to get that accomplished. If nothing else, Hiatt intends
to compel judicial review of the policy.
'It ain't over'
"No, it ain't over," Hiatt said. "Jonathon needs help. He's going to get on that
list one way or another. You cannot treat people like this. There's no rational
basis for it."
While marijuana remains an illegal substance under federal law, about a dozen
states, including Washington, allow doctors to prescribe it for medical
purposes. It is used to help patients with a range of illnesses including
glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure and AIDS.
Citing privacy laws, the University of Washington declined to discuss specifics
of individual cases but issued a statement acknowledging that marijuana use is
taken into consideration in transplant decisions.
"Although medical marijuana may be an issue in rare cases, it is never the sole
determinant in arriving at medical decisions about candidates for organ
transplants," its statement said.
A Virginia Mason spokeswoman said one critical point is that the act of smoking
any product "can lead to patient-safety and transplant effectiveness issues."
Smokers of any kind are precluded, she said. The transplant committee would
weigh a patient's use of medical marijuana in pill form, too, she said.
At the University of Washington, the transplant committee reviews "behavioral
concerns such as a history of substance abuse or dependency. If such a history
exists, the committee looks at the period of abstinence the candidate has
demonstrated to date," as well as efforts to maintain abstinence, and potential
to abuse again.
Asked why the committee considers marijuana use under a doctor's supervision "a
history of substance abuse," a hospital spokesman cited the federal law
categorizing marijuana as an illegal drug.
Limited supply
The United Network for Organ Sharing, the nationwide group that oversees the
organ transplant system, leaves it up to individual hospitals to determine how
to allocate organs for transplant patients. The network's members include 254
transplant centers in the United States.
Currently, about 100,000 people are on the U.S. waiting lists for transplants,
according to the network. On average, only 6,000 donors a year are available.
The policy debate has done little to soften the grief for family and friends of
Garon, the late singer-songwriter. Tributes fill his MySpace music page on the
Internet.
One Seattle-area alternative weekly newspaper was so outraged it listed the
telephone numbers of the University of Washington's transplant center staff.
In an editorial, the Ventura County Star in California wrote: "So, be warned,
medical marijuana-legal for the last 12 years in California with a doctor's
authorization-could cost you your job. And if you need an organ transplant, it
could cost you your life."
Los Angeles Times
The same lawyer who represented Garon has taken on Simchen's case.
Douglas Hiatt argues that his clients are the victims of a loosely defined
transplant policy not based on science. "They are really killing people over
this," he said.
Hospital transplant programs, eager to ensure the best possible outcome for each
transplant and make optimum use of the limited number of available organs, have
strict standards about drug use, smoking and other matters in determining who is
eligible for the transplant list.
Hiatt and advocates of medical marijuana are urging hospitals to adjust their
policies following the death of Garon, who used marijuana with a doctor's
approval to ease symptoms of hepatitis C. He died without ever gaining admission
to the University of Washington Medical Center's transplant list.
Hiatt wants to negotiate on behalf of Simchen to get him on a transplant list,
but he may have to sue to get that accomplished. If nothing else, Hiatt intends
to compel judicial review of the policy.
'It ain't over'
"No, it ain't over," Hiatt said. "Jonathon needs help. He's going to get on that
list one way or another. You cannot treat people like this. There's no rational
basis for it."
While marijuana remains an illegal substance under federal law, about a dozen
states, including Washington, allow doctors to prescribe it for medical
purposes. It is used to help patients with a range of illnesses including
glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure and AIDS.
Citing privacy laws, the University of Washington declined to discuss specifics
of individual cases but issued a statement acknowledging that marijuana use is
taken into consideration in transplant decisions.
"Although medical marijuana may be an issue in rare cases, it is never the sole
determinant in arriving at medical decisions about candidates for organ
transplants," its statement said.
A Virginia Mason spokeswoman said one critical point is that the act of smoking
any product "can lead to patient-safety and transplant effectiveness issues."
Smokers of any kind are precluded, she said. The transplant committee would
weigh a patient's use of medical marijuana in pill form, too, she said.
At the University of Washington, the transplant committee reviews "behavioral
concerns such as a history of substance abuse or dependency. If such a history
exists, the committee looks at the period of abstinence the candidate has
demonstrated to date," as well as efforts to maintain abstinence, and potential
to abuse again.
Asked why the committee considers marijuana use under a doctor's supervision "a
history of substance abuse," a hospital spokesman cited the federal law
categorizing marijuana as an illegal drug.
Limited supply
The United Network for Organ Sharing, the nationwide group that oversees the
organ transplant system, leaves it up to individual hospitals to determine how
to allocate organs for transplant patients. The network's members include 254
transplant centers in the United States.
Currently, about 100,000 people are on the U.S. waiting lists for transplants,
according to the network. On average, only 6,000 donors a year are available.
The policy debate has done little to soften the grief for family and friends of
Garon, the late singer-songwriter. Tributes fill his MySpace music page on the
Internet.
One Seattle-area alternative weekly newspaper was so outraged it listed the
telephone numbers of the University of Washington's transplant center staff.
In an editorial, the Ventura County Star in California wrote: "So, be warned,
medical marijuana-legal for the last 12 years in California with a doctor's
authorization-could cost you your job. And if you need an organ transplant, it
could cost you your life."
Los Angeles Times

Hepatitis C Latino Patients Benefit From Pegasys Copegus
Roche announced results from the LATINO study, the largest prospective study to
evaluate the response of Latino whites infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C
virus (HCV) to combination therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. The
results showed PEGASYS (peginterferon alfa-2a) in combination with COPEGUS
(ribavirin) was beneficial in this hard-to-treat population. These data were
presented today at the 39th Annual Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in San Diego,
CA.
The results showed that 33.5 percent (90/269) of the Latino patients achieved
sustained virological response (SVR) when treated with PEGASYS plus COPEGUS. In
comparison, 49.3 percent (148/300) of patients in the non-Latino group achieved
SVR, a difference of 15.8 percent, highlighting that Latino patients with
hepatitis C are more difficult to treat (p < 0.0001). SVR was defined as
undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks after the end of treatment. Additionally, the data
provided important information about factors that may predict SVR for Latino
patients with hepatitis C.
The study was conducted to help gain a better understanding of hepatitis C
treatment in a patient population that has been under-represented in clinical
trials and has been known to have lower sustained SVR rates than non-Latino
whites.
"We know that Latino patients with hepatitis C face different challenges when
treating this disease. It has been reported that Latinos have more aggressive
inflammatory activity and fibrosis progression rates than in non-Latino whites,"
said Maribel Rodriguez-Torres, M.D., of the Fundacion de Investigacion de Diego
in Puerto Rico. "Data from studies like LATINO are important for gaining a
better understanding about how patients will respond to treatment and for
developing culturally-specific education programs and treatment regimens."
The LATINO study also provided information about factors associated with
achieving SVR among the Latino patients who participated in this study. This
information is important because it may lead to ways for healthcare
professionals to better treat Latino patients.
"Roche is committed to advancing the understanding of the treatment of hepatitis
C in all patient communities and we felt it was important to conduct a study
like LATINO, the first ever prospective trial evaluating hepatitis C treatment
response in the Latino population," said Steven C. Sembler, vice president of
Commercial Operations, Roche. "These data not only deepen our understanding of
PEGASYS in treating hepatitis C, they also provide insight into ways to evaluate
new treatment strategies that address the needs of the Latino hepatitis C
community."
Specific factors associated with achieving SVR among Latino patients in this
study included low baseline levels (less than or equal to 3X the upper limit of
normal [ULN], odds ratio [OR] 1.786, P=0.0797) of alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), a liver enzyme; low baseline HCV RNA (less than or equal to 400,000 IU/mL
[OR 2.617, p=0.0080]) and non-cirrhosis classification (OR 2.130, p=0.0959).
Factors associated with achieving SVR in non-Latino whites included male sex (OR
1.95, p=0.0664), high ALT (
levels (OR 3.108, p=0.0016).
About LATINO
The LATINO study, a prospective, multicenter, open-label, non-randomized trial,
was designed to compare the efficacy of PEGASYS plus COPEGUS in 269 Latino
whites versus 300 non-Latino whites between the ages of 18 and 65 infected with
HCV genotype 1. All patients were treatment naive and were treated with PEGASYS
180 mcg/wk plus COPEGUS 1,000 or 1,200 mg/wk for 48 weeks.
In the LATINO study, combination therapy with PEGASYS plus COPEGUS was generally
safe in both populations with the expected number of adverse events reported.
There were no differences in the percent of withdrawals between the groups for
safety reasons.
About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease of the liver and a leading cause
of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver transplants. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 4.1 million
Americans (1.6 percent) have been infected with hepatitis C; 3.2 million are
chronically infected. The number of new infections per year has declined from an
average of 240,000 in the 1980s to about 26,000 in 2004. CDC estimates the
number of hepatitis C-related deaths could increase to 38,000 annually by the
year 2010, surpassing annual HIV/AIDS deaths.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/39/22445.html

U.S. seeks new hepatitis blood donation rules
By Susan Heavey
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials are seeking to relax blood donation
rules for some people who initially tested positive for hepatitis B, which could
clear hundred of thousands of new donors, according to documents released on
Tuesday.
People whose blood showed signs of the liver-swelling virus after repeated tests
are currently banned from ever donating blood, even if medical tests later
showed they were not infected.
But in a draft proposal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that a
new, more specific test could help determine whether donors who initially fail a
first test are truly infected and suggested they be allowed to give blood after
an 8-week waiting period.
While the FDA said chances of someone repeatedly testing falsely positive for
hepatitis might seem rare, older less specific tests that checked for antibodies
to hepatitis B core antigen, or anti-HBc, kept many possible donors from giving
blood.
"It is estimated that as many as 21,500 potentially eligible donors were
deferred annually in the late 1980s and 1990s because of false positive anti-HBc
results," the FDA said, adding that more than "200,000 donors could be eligible
for reentry."
Health organizations praised the looser rules.
"We hope this will bring back donors who meet the criteria," said Mack Benton,
spokesman for America's Blood Centers.
American Red Cross spokeswoman Stephanie Millian said the group supported the
change, which could help bring in between 100,000 and 300,000 previously
rejected donors if they can be located.
Potential blood donors are closely screened for hepatitis and other infections
such as the AIDS virus as well as drug use and other risky behaviors to prevent
the spread of disease.
The proposal would not change a current ban on donations from people who have
had hepatitis.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and other body fluids and can cause
jaundice, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue and, in rare cases, liver failure.
Initial symptoms can clear up after a few weeks, but it can take up to six
months for patients to fully recover from a serious bout. Some patients can also
develop a chronic case of hepatitis.
The FDA is seeking public comments on its proposal before making it final. The
draft is posted on its Web site here
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Cynthia Osterman)
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN2031039220080520

Varenicline (Chantix) Off the Table for Pilots and Controllers
By Marianne Mattera, Managing Editor, MedPage Today
Published: May 21, 2008
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine,
University of California, San Francisco
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Citing "a wide range of issues," the Federal Aviation
Administration has barred pilots and air traffic controllers from using the
smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix).
A spokesperson said the agency would be sending a letter detailing the decision
to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Air Line Pilots Association,
and those it knows to be taking the drug, including 150 pilots and 30
controllers.
The letter will advise recipients to stop taking the drug immediately, and it
prohibits them from work for 72 hours after the last dose.
The FAA action was taken following a report from the Institute for Safe
Medication Practices, a drug watchdog group. The group reported that in the
fourth quarter of 2007, varenicline was implicated in 988 events reported to the
FDA. These included serious accidents and falls, potentially lethal cardiac
rhythm disturbances, severe skin reactions, acute myocardial infarction,
seizures, diabetes, psychosis, aggression, and suicide.
In February, the FDA confirmed 39 suicides among persons using varenicline.
Overall the FDA said it had 420 confirmed reports of mood changes, including
anxiety, nervousness, depressed mood, tension, and suicidal behavior or suicidal
thoughts.
At the same time, the FDA reiterated its stance that the drug was an effective
smoking-cessation agent, but indicated that the agency is continuing its review
of the drug.
The FDA said that Pfizer, which makes varenicline, estimated that about five
million people have used the drug since it was approved in May 2006, suggesting
that the event rate was low (See: FDA Approves Smoking-Cessation Drug).
In January, Pfizer changed the drug's label to reflect the FDA alert.
The FDA said physicians should carefully monitor patients for behavioral and
mood changes and warned that persons using the drug should immediately report
such symptoms to their physicians.
Varenicline works by partially blocking the alpha4-beta2 nicotinic receptor in
the brain, which is the brain's main nicotine receptor. Within 10 to 19 seconds
of a single puff from a cigarette, nicotine attaches to this receptor. The
receptor, in turn, triggers large increases in dopamine, which rewards the
smoker with a pleasurable sensation.
Pfizer could not be reached for comment on the FAA action.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/Prescriptions/tb/9580

All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite enough time to
consider how their online name might appear!
These are not made up. Check them out yourself!
1. 'Who Represents' is where you can find the name of the agent that represents
any celebrity. Their Web site is: www.whorepresents.com
2. 'Experts Exchange' is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice
and views at: www.expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a great pen? Look no further than 'Pen Island' It can be found
at: www.penisland.net
4. Need a therapist? Try 'Therapist Finder' at: www.therapistfinder.com
5. Then there's the 'Italian Power Generator'company. Check it out at:
www.powergenitalia.com
6.'IP computer' software, there's always: www.ip_anywhere.com
7. 'The First Cumming Methodist Church' Web site is: www.cummingfirst.com
8. And the designers at 'Speed of Art' await you at their wacky Web site:
www.speedofart.com
Have a fun day! Just be careful what you name YOUR new web site

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News
National Institute on Aging (NIA) <http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Embargoed for Release: Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 5:00 p.m. EDT
CONTACT: Peggy Vaughn, 301-496-1752, <e-mail:nianews3@...
SMOKERS FLOCK TOGETHER AND QUIT TOGETHER
Social Networks Exert Key Influences on Decision To Quit Smoking
When smokers kick the habit, odds are they are not alone in making the move.
Instead, the decision to quit smoking often cascades through social networks,
with entire clusters of spouses, friends, siblings and co-workers giving up the
habit roughly in tandem, according to a new study supported in part by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Researchers analyzing changes in smoking behavior over the past three decades
within a large social network found smokers quit in groups and not as isolated
individuals. Those who continued to smoke also formed clusters that, over time,
shifted from the center of the social network, where social connections are more
numerous, to the periphery of the group. The report, appearing in the May 22,
2008, "New England Journal of Medicine" and funded primarily by the National
Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the NIH, could play a role in developing
clinical and public health interventions to reduce and prevent smoking. The
smoking analysis was also supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Researchers Nicholas A. Christakis, M.D., Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, and
James Fowler, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego, based their
analysis on a social network of 12,067 people participating in the Framingham
Heart Study (FHS). The FHS, a community-based study sponsored for 60 years by
the NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), collects
comprehensive measures of cardiovascular health and risk factors among three
generations of participants who are connected as family, friends and co-workers.
Christakis and Fowler analyzed data collected on the network's smoking behaviors
between 1971 and 2003. The group ranged in age from 21 to 70; individuals
smoking one or more cigarettes a day were deemed smokers.
The researchers found that smoking rates among the FHS participants mirrored the
national downward trend of the past three decades. In 1971, there were many more
smokers and they tended to mix equally with nonsmokers. But by 2000, along with
a drop in smoking rates, there was also a change in their social lives. Smokers
and nonsmokers tended to form separate clusters, and gradually, the smokers were
marginalized on the fringes of the social network.
"While smoking has declined significantly over the past 30 years in America, it
remains a leading cause of preventable death," said NIA Director Richard J.
Hodes, M.D. "This study tells us that social relationships have a critical
impact on health behaviors and decisions, and that people are strongly
influenced by those in their social sphere."
The researchers found the closer the relationship between contacts, the greater
the influence when one person quit smoking. For example:
-- When a husband or wife quit, it decreased the chance of their spouse smoking
by 67 percent.
-- When a sibling quit, it reduced the chance of smoking by 25 percent among
their brothers and sisters.
-- A friend quitting decreased the chance of smoking by 36 percent among their
friends.
-- In small firms, a co-worker quitting could decrease smoking among peers by
34 percent. In larger firms,the influence was insignificant.
-- Neighbors did not seem to be influenced by each other's smoking habits.
"Interestingly, geography did not appear to play a role because smoking
behaviors spread between contacts living miles apart and in separate
households," said Christakis. "Rather, the closeness of the relationship in the
network was key to the spread of smoking behaviors."
Fowler and Christakis also found specific patterns in the spread of behaviors.
For example, the higher the educational levels among the contacts, the greater
the influence on smoking behavior. Among friends who both had at least one year
of college, a decision by one friend to quit smoking decreased the chance of the
other smoking by 61 percent. However, no such influence was found in pairs of
friends with a high school education or less. The more highly educated smokers
also appeared to pay a greater social price for smoking, as reflected in the
fact that they became less central to the network than did the less educated.
"This study has an essential public health message -- that no one is an island
-- our health is partially determined by our social networks and those around
us," said Richard Suzman, Ph.D., director of the NIA's Division of Behavioral
and Social Research. "The decision to quit smoking cascaded throughout the web,
indicating that some form of collective decision-making was taking place. The
results suggest new and probably more powerful approaches to changing health
behaviors, such as smoking, by careful targeting of small peer groups as well as
single individuals."
Christakis and Fowler have previously studied the effect of social networks on
the spread of obesity. To learn more about this research, visit
<http://www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20070725obesity.htm
The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and
the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people. For more information
on research and aging, go to <www.nia.nih.gov
The NHLBI conducts and supports research related to heart, blood vessel, lung
and blood diseases, and sleep disorders. To learn more about this research and
related national health education campaigns, including a Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) awareness campaign, go to <www.nhlbi.nih.gov
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency -
is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for
conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research,
and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare
diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit <www.nih.gov
##
This NIH News Release is available online at:
<http://www.nih.gov/news/health/may2008/nia-21.htm

Ride to Mayo ready if he gets that call
Van Tanner, a marshal at The Players, is on the transplant list for a liver.
By Michael DiRocco, The Times-Union
Every time Van Tanner's cell phone rings, he knows there's a chance that his
life could change dramatically.
If it's the call he's been waiting on for more than seven years, Tanner will
have to drop whatever he's doing - which this week is working as a marshal on
the ninth hole at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course - and rush to the Mayo
Clinic. Within an hour he'll be on a surgeon's table, beginning the process of
receiving a new liver.
"I know what'll happen," Tanner said Thursday morning. "About the time I'm not
expecting it will be the time [the call comes]."
Tanner, 52, - who suffers from hepatitis C, which he said he contracted from a
tattoo he received as a 17-year-old - is such a golf fan that he wanted to
volunteer at The Players Championship despite his situation.
He was hesitant, though, because his liver is damaged to the point where he is
high enough on the transplant list that he has to remain within an hour or two
of the Mayo Clinic in case one becomes available.
After speaking with tournament officials, he was assured there would be
arrangements in place in case the call came this week.
Physician Jeff Smowton, the First Aid Committee chairman and director of the
emergency department at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, has transportation ready
to shuttle Tanner from the course to the clinic -even by use of a helicopter, if
needed.
"We transport people all the time with all kind of emergency things. This is a
special type of emergency, of course, that we want to help with," said Smowton,
whose grandmother died of liver disease. "We can arrange for transport for
anybody no matter what's wrong with him. That's what we did.
"You really kind of want to go the extra mile, so to speak. We'd do it anyway,
but it's a special thing for me. I really want him to get that liver."
Tanner, who moved to Amelia Island from North Carolina with his wife, Gina, last
July after doctors told him he might be able to have a transplant within a year,
said he was touched by the committee's willingness to help.
"All of this is a surprise to me," he said. "I thought that I would be kind of a
nuisance or a problem for them. I was very thankful to even have them let me
[work as a marshal]. They took it upon themselves to really do these things for
me. I didn't ask them. Next thing I know they called and made all the
arrangements and called me and said, 'It's taken care of.' It was great."
Tanner spent five years on the transplant list at Duke University Hospital
before being added to the list at Mayo two years ago. He is still able to be
somewhat active, although he's careful to stay hydrated and protect himself from
sun exposure. He does battle fatigue but still attempts to get in a round of
golf now and then.
Tanner's wife is the only family member in the area. He has three daughters and
four grandchildren in North Carolina, one of whom is a 4-year-old who is
connecting the state with something other than Mickey Mouse.
"My grandson thinks of Florida as the place to go to get a big liver," Tanner
joked.
michael.dirocco@... (904) 359-4500
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050908/met_277254764.shtml

Vertex drops as rival's hepatitis drug advances
Wednesday May 21, 4:41 pm ET
Vertex falls and Schering-Plough rises as Schering moves hepatitis C drug into
late testing
NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. fell Wednesday after
Schering-Plough Corp. said it is starting late-stage clinical testing of
boceprevir, a hepatitis C drug candidate and a rival to Vertex's drug
telaprevir.
Schering-Plough said it is starting two late-stage studies of boceprevir. One
will test the drug's effectiveness in previously untreated patients, and the
other will test the drug on patients who have not responded to other treatments
or relapsed.
The first study will include more than 1,000 patients, while the second will
include about 375 non-responsive or relapsed patients. Both studies will combine
boceprevir after four weeks of treatment with two of Schering-Plough's older
drugs, Peg-Intron and Rebetol.
In the larger trial, patients will be treated for either 28 weeks or 48 weeks to
measure their rapid or sustained response to the drugs. In the second trial,
patients will be treated for 36 or 48 weeks. In both trials, the combination of
boceprevir, Peg-Intron and Rebetol will be compared to Peg-Intron and Rebetol
alone.
Telaprevir is already in late-stage testing, but analysts said the boceprevir
trials are starting sooner than they expected. Vertex stock lost $1.41, or 5.1
percent, to $26.07. Schering-Plough shares rose 5 cents to $19.31.
Oppenheimer analyst Brian Abrahams said the "race" between telaprevir and
boceprevir is closer than he thought, but he believes telaprevir is likely to be
more effective in both relapsed and untreated patients, and telaprevir's dosing
also may be more favorable.

Romark Laboratories Completes Enrollment In U.S. Phase II Study Of Nitazoxanide
For Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Non-Responders
Romark Laboratories, L.C., a privately-owned biopharmaceutical company,
announced the completion of enrollment into its Phase II clinical trial to
evaluate the safety and efficacy of nitazoxanide in combination with standard of
care therapy in U.S. patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 who have
previously failed to respond to the standard of care therapy (peginterferon and
ribavirin). The company expects to announce interim data results at a medical
meeting this fall. Romark recently announced the initiation of a Phase II trial
of nitazoxanide in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C infected
with genotype 1 (STEALTH C-3).
"Completing enrollment in this Phase II trial is a significant achievement for
Romark and an important step in the clinical development of nitazoxanide,"
stated Marc Ayers, Chief Executive Officer of Romark. "We believe nitazoxanide
represents a promising approach to the treatment of hepatitis C for the millions
of people who are infected with this serious liver disease."
The study, called STEALTH C-2 (Studies to Evaluate Alinia for Treatment of
Hepatitis C), is the second in a series of clinical trials designed to evaluate
the safety and efficacy of nitazoxanide tablets in combination with Pegasys(R)
(peginterferon alfa-2a) or peginterferon and Copegus(R) (ribavirin) in patients
with chronic hepatitis C. STEALTH C-2 is a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial conducted in the United States in 60 patients with
chronic hepatitis C genotype 1, who are non-responders to prior peginterferon
and ribavirin therapy. The study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and
safety of nitazoxanide administered 500 mg twice daily for four weeks followed
by nitazoxanide plus Pegasys plus Copegus combination therapy for 48 weeks,
compared to placebo for four weeks followed by placebo plus Pegasys plus Copegus
combination therapy for 48 weeks. Pegasys and Copegus are being provided under a
collaborative agreement between Romark and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
Romark recently announced enrollment for its STEALTH C-3 clinical trial, a Phase
II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the
safety and efficacy of nitazoxanide in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a
and ribavirin in treatment naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with
genotype 1. Enrollment for the STEALTH C-3 study began in April 2008 and the
trial will enroll 60 patients at 15 centers in the U.S.
The primary objective of STEALTH C-3 is to evaluate sustained virologic response
(SVR) with a treatment regimen of 4 weeks of nitazoxanide lead-in therapy
followed by 48 weeks of standard of care plus nitazoxanide versus 4 weeks of
placebo lead-in followed by 48 weeks of standard of care and placebo.
About Nitazoxanide
Nitazoxanide belongs to a new class of small molecule kinase activators called
the thiazolides. Like interferons, thiazolides modulate cell signaling pathways
involved in the host cell's innate defense against viruses. Thiazolides can be
administered orally and are not associated with side effects commonly associated
with use of interferon. Nitazoxanide was discovered by Jean-Francois Rossignol,
M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Science Officer of Romark, and was initially
developed by Romark and approved for marketing in the United States as a
treatment for cryptosporidiosis. Recent laboratory studies have shown that
nitazoxanide does not induce resistance mediated by mutations in the viral
genome.
About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease that is caused by the hepatitis
C virus (HCV). It is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis in the U.S. and
may eventually lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. The disease is
transmitted by contact with HCV-infected blood. A large majority of those
infected do not show symptoms, but fatigue, abdominal pain and nausea may occur.
The current standard treatment of care, peginterferon and ribavirin, is
effective in about half of all patients treated. According to the Centers for
Disease Control, HCV affects an estimated 4.1 million Americans.
About Romark Laboratories
Romark Laboratories (http://www.romark.com), a privately held biopharmaceutical
company, has discovered and developed a new class of small molecule antivirals
known as thiazolides. The Company is developing nitazoxanide, the first of the
thiazolide class, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and is developing
other new thiazolides for treating viral diseases including chronic hepatitis B.
Alinia(R) (nitazoxanide) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
and marketed by Romark for the treatment of infections caused by Cryptosporidium
or Giardia.
Romark Laboratories, L.C.
http://www.romark.com
View drug information on Alinia; Pegasys.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com:80/articles/108359.php

14 patients infected with hepatitis by used needles
The Yomiuri Shimbun
MATSUE--Fourteen patients have been confirmed infected with hepatitis B or C
after a clinic in Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, took blood samples from 37
patients with instruments equipped with used needles since the end of March, the
Shimane prefectural government said.
Nurses at the Ochi Heart Clinic believed the needles would be replaced
automatically, the prefectural government said.
Based on a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry guideline prohibiting the reuse of
similar instruments, the prefectural government instructed the clinic not to use
the instruments with used needles.
The instrument, Multiclix, is sold by Roche Diagnostics, the Tokyo office of the
German manufacturer of the product.
The penlike instrument is used by diabetics to check glucose levels. Users
rotate a drum containing six needles for each injection.
The instrument comes with a sticker warning users not to share the instrument
with other patients.
The clinic had used a different blood collection instrument until March.
However, the clinic began using Multiclix on March 28 because the other
instrument had malfunctioned. Employees at the clinic's departments of internal
medicine, cardiovascular disease and psychosomatic medicine reportedly
misunderstood how to use the instrument and collected blood from the patients
with used needles for about a month.
(May. 22, 2008)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080522TDY02311.htm

Hepatitis C is not well known but affects hundreds in Kern County
They call it a silent killer. It's a virus more prevalent than HIV, yet talked
about much less.
Hepatitis C affects more than 600,000 Californians and hundreds here in Kern
County.
Pamela Anderson, Evel Knievel, Steven Tyler, Naomi Judd, well known names living
with a less-than-well-known disease.
Donna Morrison of Tehachapi knows what it's like to have the Hepatitus C virus
plagued with nausea and extreme fatigue.
Morrison believes it all started with a blood transfusion she got in the 80's
after she was injured in a car accident.
"It was before the time they tested," said, Morrison. "They tested for HIV, but
not HCV."
HCV is transmitted through blood to blood contact.
The virus settles in your liver and starts destroying tissue. It can lead to
cirohsis and even liver cancer.
Anna Meadows, a Hepatitis C case manager, said, "Sixty percent of those living
with Hepatitis C don't even know it."
Meadows also said many believe there's no cure.
"Actually that is the biggest misconception out there," said Meadows. "There is,
with a treatment, a cure for Hepatitus C."
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=22c13a50-6dc1-4ec3-9466-b7a\
b8a2153d4

World Hepatitis Day
David spent several days during the past week working on the British NHS FaCe It
Campaign to raise awareness for World Hepatitis Day (May 19th).
On Sunday May 18th, David appeared with photographer Michele Martinoli in Camden
Market where the FaCe It photographic exhibit was on display. David and Michelle
last appeared at the display's unveiling in Leicester Square in 2005. Since th
then, the 9ft high portraits have traveled to 35 locations across the UK,
raising awareness about the importances of getting tested and treated for
hepatitis C.
David appeared on Britain's most-watched 24 hour TV news channel, BBC News on
Sunday afternoon, again where he talked about the campaign. Additionally, David
on Sky Radio and the Big L.
On Monday, David and Dr. Mark Porter (BBC, Evening Standard, etc) were
interviewed on Juice 107.2 (Brighton), Smooth Radio 97.5 (Northeast), Radio Aire
(Leeds), Signal 2 (Manchester), Durham FM, Pulse of West Yorkshire, and BBC
Radio from Merseyside, West Midlands, Humberside, Kent and Leeds.
The Independent ran an article in Monday's Edition - David shares the page with
an great article about Neil Diamond's recent chart success. The "5 minute
Interview" can be found here
A very cool website called ILikeMusic.com which features the latest music news
and artist profiles did an in depth interview with David covering his battle
with hepatitis C, The Beach Boys past and present and his views on today's music
industry.
http://davidleemarks.com/2008/05/20/world-hepatitis-day/

BIG virus coming
I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus! I
also checked snopes.com, this morning, and it is for real!! Get this E-mail
message sent around to your contacts ASAP. PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG
FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!
You should be alert during the next several weeks.. Do not open any message with
an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD,' regardless of who sent it to you. It is a
virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns' the whole hard disc (C drive)
of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail
address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this
e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than
to receive the virus and open it.
If you receive a mail called' POSTCARD,' even though sent to you by a friend,
do not open it.! This includes all cards, too. Shut down your computer
immediately. This is the worst virus announced by CNN. It has been classified by
Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered by
McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus
simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where your vital information
is kept.
COPY THIS E-MAIL, AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS. REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM,
YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US.
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp

Dear Friends,
For further clarification, let me know about situations that occurred where
there were challenges faced because you were un-insured or under-insured, had a
affordability issue or were denied coverage or dropped when you made a claim by
your insurance plan because of a pre-existing condition. We are focusing also on
questions revolving around quality of care and discrimination of those with
chronic illness where the continuing care has been a struggle and if the
healthcare was provided by the employer, where after a claim was made pressure
was made to terminate your employment.
We would like to know about violations that may be covered under the Americans
with Disabilities Act but not in order to litigate but to demonstrate the need
for healthcare reform and get legislated healthcare for all Americans. I will
also accept stories from people with other major diseases.Thank you for your
help. My contact information is below. Please help spread the word and if your
write me your story please give me permission to publish, broadcast it and use
your name and place where you are from.
Sincerely,
Bill Remak
wmremak@...
Please be sure to send your stories DIRECTLY to Bill! Thanks!
Don't forget to provide your permission for him to publish and use your name.

World Hepatitis Day: Millions Infected Worldwide
Reporter: Caroline Blair
Email Address: caroline.blair@...
To help raise awareness, Monday has been designated World Hepatitis Day.
1 in 12 people on this planet have some form of hepatitis. And since there is no
vaccine for Hepatitis C as there are no symptoms, health professionals say it is
extremely improtant to get tested. Officials also say it is vital to get
vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B since they are vaccine preventable.
Hepatitis B can be spread within households, having sex with an infected
partner, and also through blood to blood.
Hepatitis C is only transmitted blood to blood. So experts say everyone is at
risk for getting Hepatitis C, even if it is at a beauty parlor, barber shop,
blood transfusion before 1992, doctors office or clinic that reused vials or
syringes.
Officials say tattoos or body piercings, sharing personal items that might cause
a blood to blood contact like toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, etc. and/or
rare mother to child transmission can also pass the disease along.
Hepatitis C does not discriminate based on ethnicity, age, social status.
Officials call it everyone's disease!
5 million are infected in the U.S. and 4 million don't know it yet.
Officials with the Hepatitis Education Awareness and Liver Support say that
300,000 are infected in Florida and most of them don't know it yet.
Officials with HEAL also say that Hepatitis C patients outnumber HIV patients
about 5 to 1, yet very few facts are known by the general public about Hepatitis
C.
"It's very important to raise awareness. Number one there is a vaccine and
no-one should die from Hepatitis B. If there's a vaccine available there should
be no deaths," said RN Tiann Taylor of the Thomas County Health Department.
Hepatitis A and B can be managed with readily available vaccines but there is
not a vaccine for Hepatitis C.
"Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants in this country but 2/3
of patients will die waiting for organs that aren't available because most
people were diagnosed too late to even try the treatment for Hepatitis C. There
simply are no symptoms until one has reached the latter stages of the disease so
the message to Get Tested becomes even more important," said Pam Langford of
HEAL.
Public Health officials urge both adults and children to get the three part
series of shots for Hepatitis A and B, available at the local health department
or through private clinics.
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/19080029.html

Am I Number 12?
http://www.aminumber12.org/AmInumber12.aspx is pretty cool!
http://www.aminumber12.org

Surgeons deny 'playing God' as 600 still wait for life-saving transplants
By Nicola Tallant
Sunday May 18 2008
A LEADING surgeon has insisted doctors are not playing God by deciding who gets
to go under the knife -- despite the fact around 600 people are waiting for life
saving organ transplant surgery in Irish hospitals.
Professor Oscar Traynor of St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, says that medics have
to assess how sick a patient is and their likelihood of benefiting from an
operation before they are chosen for surgery.
The top doctor, who has performed 500 liver transplants since 1993, says that
donors are not an infinite resource and organs have to be given to the neediest.
In a new fly-on-the-wall documentary series, Prof Traynor describes how his team
at the National Liver Transplant unit meet once a week to decide who goes on the
waiting list. "We wouldn't like to think that we are acting as God, but donors
are not an infinite resource.
"Our role is to ensure that the patients that are given donations are the ones
who are most likely to benefit from it. We have ways of calculating roughly how
sick someone is and we undertake transplantation when they have about a year to
live without it."
Life-saving liver and lung transplants performed in Irish hospitals are to be
screened on TV in the new series . Fly-on-the-wall camera crews were given
access to operating theatres in the Mater Hospital and St Vincent's where the
surgeries occurred.
In the first of a three-part series, viewers will witness patients go under the
knife and watch as freshly donated livers and lungs arrive to be transplanted
into them.
Professor Freddie Wood of the Mater Hospital says he performed his first lung
transplant three years ago and has since carried out 17 such operations. But he
warns that only 15 per cent of the lungs offered for donation can actually be
used as they are prone to damage or infection.
Prof Traynor explains that patients can only become organ donors if they are
brain dead but still have a beating heart. "That can only happen in two
situations if someone has a massive brain haemorrhage or if they have been in a
traffic accident and there is no hope for the patient recovering because the
brain is so badly damaged."
But he says that one donor can save the lives of five patients waiting for
transplants as the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys can all be used or
"harvested"
Last year 64 liver transplants were carried out in Ireland. Some 60 of them were
successful.
'Surgeons' is on RTE One, Thursdays, 10.15pm
- Nicola Tallant
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/surgeons-deny-playing-god-as-600-still-w\
ait-for-lifesaving-transplants-1378997.html

Plan to boost number of hepatitis C sufferers receiving treatment
Published Date: 20 May 2008
By Lyndsay Moss
THE number of people receiving specialist treatment for hepatitis C will
increase dramatically under plans outlined by the Scottish Government yesterday.
Currently, only about 450 people a year receive antiviral treatment for the
blood-borne disease - out of an estimated 50,000 people with the infection in
Scotland, although only about 14,500 people are currently diagnosed with
hepatitis C.
But if 2,000 people a year received treatment over the next 20 years, it is
estimated 5,200 cases of cirrhosis and 2,700 of liver failure could be
prevented.
The current low uptake of treatment has been blamed on a lack of awareness among
patients, people remaining undiagnosed and a lack of resources to treat more
sufferers. Yesterday, the Scottish Government said more than £43 million would
be invested over the next three years to improve hepatitis C care and
prevention.
Shona Robison, the public health minister, said diagnosis and treatment would be
improved as part of an action plan. "There is still a lot of ignorance about
hepatitis C and part of our plan will be to work to raise awareness among
professionals, the public and those at risk of infection," she said.
The plan is intended to increase the number of patients on antiviral treatment
to 1,500 by 2010-11 and at least 2,000 a year after that.
Jamie Stone, the public health spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats,
said: "Given that at present there is no vaccine or cure, it's really important
to raise public awareness of hepatitis C."
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Plan-to-boost-number-of.4099198.jp

May 19, 2008
Federal Report Says Problems Persist at Transplant Programs
A forthcoming report by the Government Accountability Office finds continuing
issues with organ transplant centers nationwide, despite efforts by CMS to
increase regulation after serious lapses at three California organ transplant
programs in 2005 and 2006, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The report found that of the 72 programs identified in 2005 as having low
survival rates, about 40% still were not meeting basic survival standards by
August 2007.
CMS also has yet to develop policies to ensure that the subpar programs will
meet minimum standards or to share information on poorly performing programs,
the report said.
The GAO report also found that CMS went a decade without inspecting some
programs and that others had not been reviewed in more than 20 years.
California Background
In 2005, St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles stopped performing liver
transplants after conceding that its physicians had improperly given a kidney to
a Saudi national ahead of other people on the transplant waiting list.
UCI Medical Center in Orange also closed its liver transplant program in 2005
after the Times reported that it did not have a full-time transplant surgeon and
that the center had been turning down an inordinately high number of organs.
In addition, in May 2006, Kaiser Permanente closed its kidney transplant center
in San Francisco after the Times found that it delayed some surgeries, lost
track of patients and endangered hundreds of others.
Reaction
Medicare officials said they were adopting new rules at an "unprecedented"
speed, training new inspectors and beginning reviews of the programs.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) -- ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee,
who requested the GAO investigation -- said he was pleased with the reforms but
added that ongoing scrutiny would be needed to ensure the quality of transplant
programs does not lapse (Ornstein/Weber, Los Angeles Times, 5/19).
http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2008/5/19/Federal-Report-Says-Probl\
ems-Persist-at-Transplant-Programs.aspx?topicID=46

The Following Information is Brought to You by Roche
NUTLEY, N.J. - (Business Wire) On May 19th, actor and author Christopher Kennedy
Lawford will join advocates, clinicians and patients to observe the first
International World Hepatitis Day in an effort to bring global attention to
viral hepatitis, a disease that infects a staggering 500 million, that's 1 in 12
people worldwide.1[1] In the United States alone, 4 million people are infected
with hepatitis C2[2] - far more than people infected with HIV/AIDS.3[3]
Christopher Kennedy Lawford says.
"In 2001, I was diagnosed with hepatitis C. I had no idea I might have it and
was lucky my physician tested me. After successfully completing treatment for
hepatitis C, I have been virus free for over six years." "Hepatitis C is a
silent epidemic in this country. If I can do some good, with Roche, and other
advocates to raise awareness about this disease; I'm all for that!"
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HEPATITIS C VISIT HEP-C-STAT-DOT-COM.
(http://www.hepcstat.com)
1 [1] Hepatitis C Council of South Africa, "Information About Hepatitis
Awareness Week 2008," available online at http://www.hepccouncilsa.asn.au/. Last
accessed on April 23, 2008.
2 [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Viral Hepatitis C Fact
Sheet," available online at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm. Last accessed on April
23, 2008.
3 [3] The Kaiser Family Foundation, "HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet" available at
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/3029-08.pdf. Last accessed on May 5, 2008.
For Roche
Karen Kapnick, 917-771-5555
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/the-following-information-is-brought-to-\
you-by-roche,400180.shtml

Surfers ride wave in friend's memory
'Paddle Out' event stresses importance of organ donation
As the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, 19 surfers braved the choppy waters
Sunday and paddled through the waves beside the Gulf pier to join hands and
recite the Lord's Prayer in memory of William McMahon.
William, 16, died May 19, 2005, while awaiting a liver transplant.
Before entering the water, participants and surfers involved in the fourth
annual "Don't Break the Circle of Life" Memorial Paddle Out Event joined hands
and recited different names of those who have died waiting for an organ
transplant.
Julian Eubanks, 33, was among those attending the memorial. Eubanks experienced
kidney failure at 25 and has been on a organ waiting list for eight years, he
said.
"There needs to be more days like today, more public education," Eubanks said.
"There are 10,000 people waiting for organ and/or tissue donations."
The first "Paddle Out" was arranged in 2005 shortly after William's death by his
former Pensacola High School English teacher, John Murray. Murray surfed with
him at 5 a.m. every day before school, William's mother, Kim McMahon, said.
People gathered to hear the stories of those who have had experiences with organ
transplants. Bands performing at the Gulfside Pavilion at the "Paddle Out"
provided musical interludes, often bringing members of the audience to their
feet to dance to familiar tunes.
Terri Haerrington, one of the speakers, promoted organ donation by sharing the
story of her late husband who donated his heart, pancreas, liver and one of his
kidneys. She has met three individuals who received her husband's organs, all of
whom are "doing great."
"One person helped four individuals," she said. "Organ donation is a powerful
gift."
The William Rollings McMahon Foundation was formed in 2006 by Kim McMahon after
William was diagnosed with unexplained liver failure and died waiting for a
liver. Money raised at the event goes to increasing awareness of the importance
of organ and tissue donation.
Pensacola resident Revonda Stewart, who received a donated liver four years ago
from a 27-year-old man, was diagnosed with autoimmune disease in February 2004.
She received her transplant in July 2004.
"I'm very grateful to the person," Stewart said. "(The donated liver) allowed me
to see one of my sons graduate and get married."
While McMahon did not get to see her son graduate from high school, she was
encouraged by the turnout and said she plans to keep her son's memory alive
through the annual event.
Blake Jones, a friend of McMahon's son who had played with him in a band, sang a
song he wrote titled "Unread Letters to Will," which left McMahon in tears.
"I thought that people would forget and go on with their lives," McMahon said.
"(The event) actually started getting bigger."
In the two years that followed William's death, McMahon said surfers and
non-surfers alike would come to the "Paddle Out." McMahon since has traveled to
different colleges, churches and schools to tell her son's story.
"Putting a face and a name on something makes it real," McMahon said. "I've
heard that 90 percent of people who donate do so because of a story they heard."
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080519/NEWS01/805190317/1006/NEW\
S01

DEADLY DISEASE NEARLY KILLED ME
TRISTAN NICHOLS HERALD REPORTER
Former city dock worker Barry Pearn put his increasing tiredness and confusion
down to his advancing years. He had no idea he was slowly dying, having
contracted hepatitis C.
Thanks to a liver transplant, however, he has gained a new lease of life - and
now, on World Hepatitis Awareness Day, is speaking out to raise awareness of
what he calls 'this silent killer'.
A heavy drug user during his younger years, Barry contracted hepatitis C through
using and sharing needles.
At the time he checked himself into a city rehabilitation centre and underwent a
pre-treatment medical examination.
That was the moment he discovered he had the virus.
"I was told I had hepatitis C and I didn't know what to think," he told The
Herald.
"Back then people didn't know much about it. I was told that it was 'nothing to
worry about' and it would lie dormant for the rest of my life."
He went on: "Little did I know that 20 years later it would start to flare up
and consume my body."
In 2003 Barry began to notice certain physical changes.
"I was getting very tired very easily," he explained. "I cycled everywhere, and
suddenly I found other cyclists flying past me.
"I assumed it was down to me getting older, but it was the virus beginning to
take hold of me.
"A few months later I was forced to give up work. I couldn't find the energy to
stand up most mornings. I was in a mess.
"My stomach began to ache constantly, I couldn't think straight and I was
becoming increasingly agitated over nothing.
"My life wasn't worth living."
Revisiting the doctors, Barry discovered that the virus he had contracted two
decades ago had begun to get a grip on his body and destroy his liver.
He was placed on a list to await a liver transplant and eventually, on February
7, 2007, he had the operation in London.
Since then his life has turned around. Now 58, he lives in Cattedown, is fit and
healthy and enjoying life.
He's also made it his mission to educate people on the dangers of not getting
yourself checked out.
Speaking out on World Hepatitis Awareness Day, he said: "It's a deadly virus.
"It's so slow in its build-up and it's easy to convince yourself that
everything's OK.
"All I'd say is, for the sake of your family and friends get yourself checked
out before it's too late.
"I'm fortunate that I'm here today warning people of the dangers. I very nearly
didn't make it.
"I don't want anyone else to make the same mistake.
"There's no shame in getting yourself checked out. It's not just your life; it's
the lives of those around you too."
Derriford Hospital cares for hepatitis patients from first diagnosis and
throughout their treatment.
It is home to a hepatitis research centre and has a significant clinical trials
programme which ensures patients have access to the most effective new
treatments.
Hepatology nurse specialist Amanda Clements said: "The earlier we can get people
tested, make the right diagnosis and start treatment, the better.
"The impact viral hepatitis can have differs from person to person, for example
depending on whether they have any other health conditions, how long they've had
the virus and what strain they have, but the one thing all patients have in
common is that the sooner they're treated, the more effective their treatment is
likely to be.
"In some cases we can give successful treatment, which means patients are
cleared of the virus; in others we offer ongoing treatment."
tnichols@...
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=181429&command=displayCon\
tent&sourceNode=229968&home=yes&more_nodeId1=133174&contentPK=20657187

Contact: Sally Garneski
pressinquiry@...
312-202-5409
Weber Shandwick Worldwide
Study concludes no racial disparities in long-term outcomes in recipients of
liver transplants
1st study to demonstrate equivalent success rates for African-Americans and
other races
CHICAGO (May 19, 2008) - New research published in the Journal of the American
College of Surgeons shows long-term survival and liver rejection rates are
equivalent for African-American liver transplant patients as compared with
patients of other races. The study also suggests that although other factors
such as liver cancer or hepatitis may negatively influence long-term survival,
race does not.
Racial disparities in incidence, severity, methods of treatment and access to
care have previously been shown in a variety of diseases, including liver
disease. African-American patients appear to be underrepresented among liver
transplantation recipients. In 2005, for instance, only 6.8 percent of all
patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing database and 9.4 percent of
liver transplant recipients were African American, compared with the general
population of the United States, in which African Americans represented 12.9
percent of the total.
"Survival rates after liver transplantation have been shown to be influenced by
race, but earlier data on this subject has been conflicting and may not reflect
current management of liver transplant recipients," says Dr. Johnny C. Hong,
assistant professor of surgery, Department of Surgery and Liver and Pancreas
Transplantation at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center in
Los Angeles, California. "Although our study is the first to find equivalent
long-term outcomes among racial groups after liver transplantation, access to
care for all patients with end-stage liver disease clearly remains a major goal
for all transplant centers. Like many diseases, our patients are best served
with early involvement of a multidisciplinary team."
Liver transplantation is required for patients with severe (end-stage) liver
disease. People who have liver transplants require close monitoring after their
operation and must take drugs that prevent rejection of the transplanted organ
(immunosuppressants) for the rest of their lives.
Using information from the UCLA transplant database, researchers reviewed 2,728
patients who underwent primary liver transplantation at the Dumont-UCLA
Transplant Center from 1984 to 2007. Among these patients, 57 percent were
Caucasian, 28 percent were Hispanic, 11 percent were Asian and 4 percent were
African American.
Results were analyzed during two time periods correlating to the primary
immunosuppressant drug used during that era (cyclosporine from 1984-1993 and
tacrolimus from 1994-2007). The use of the modern immunosuppressant drug
tacrolimus substantially reduced the risk of acute rejection, graft loss and
patient death compared with cyclosporine and resulted in a marked improvement of
patient and graft survival outcomes in African-American patients after liver
transplantation. Statistically significant independent predictors of diminished
survival in liver transplant patients were older age (
cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer and hepatitis C cirrhosis. Race
was not found to be a predictor of survival.
###
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of
surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice
and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the
ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly
influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it
as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than
72,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For
more information, visit www.facs.org.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/wsw-scn051908.php

Hundreds ignoring hepatitis
MICHELLE PAINE
May 20, 2008 12:00am
HUNDREDS of Tasmanians are ignoring treatment for hepatitis C and many have no
idea they have the potentially dangerous infection.
The Tasmanian Council on AIDS Hepatitis and Related Diseases yesterday held the
state's launch of the first global hepatitis awareness campaign.
Since 2002 Tasmania has had 1765 notifications of hep C.
But just 2 per cent who are eligible access treatment, with 30 last year being
treated.
"We have been astonished there are still people living in Tasmania with
diagnosed hepatitis C who don't know treatment is available," TasCAHRD chief
executive officer Kevin Marriott said.
"While we've seen a slight decline in notifications there are still warning
signs it could be the tip of the iceberg," Mr Marriott said.
"We've recently heard there's a high percentage of prison inmates with hep C and
in 2006 almost 60 per cent of participants in a survey through our needle and
syringe program had tested positive."
Hep B and C are viruses that attack the liver, causing inflammation.
Untreated, hep C can cause liver failure and liver cancer in some people.
Hep C is spread blood to blood and, rarely, through sexual transmission in a
blood-to-blood context.
Groups at risk of Hep C include people with a history of injecting drug use, men
who have sex with men, sex workers, prisoners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people, those born in countries with high hep C prevalence, people who
received blood or blood products before 1990, and people who have had unsterile
tattoos or piercings.
Hep B has a vaccine.
One in 12 people in the world has hepatitis B or C.
Both can be treated.
TasCAHRD will hold public forums at Devonport Entertainment and Function Centre
on Monday, May 26, at Launceston Function Centre on Tuesday, May 27, and in
Hobart at the Old Woolstore on Thursday, May 29. Light refreshments are on
offer.
Forums are from 5.30-7.30pm.
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23728049-3462,00.html

Kiwi musician speaks about his battle with Hep C
Tue, 20 May 2008 06:20a.m.
It is hepatitis awareness week and one well-known victim is urging people to get
tested if they suspect they may be at risk.
Kiwi band The Chills' front man Martin Phillipps contracted Hepatitis C 10 years
ago and refuses to buy into the "junkie" stigma attached to the disease.
But as he explained to Sunrise this morning, his life definitely took a turn for
the worse a decade ago.
Click for video:
http://www.tv3.co.nz:80/News/HealthNews/KiwimusicianspeaksabouthisbattlewithHepC\
/tabid/420/articleID/56362/cat/59/Default.aspx

Teacher's Hep C shock
Amanda Crook
19/ 5/2008
A TEACHER who discovered by accident that she had hepatitis C is appealing to
others to get tested for the condition.
Grandmother Susan Wright, from Bolton, tested positive for the virus during a
routine medical for health insurance - before she suffered any symptoms.
After six months of treatment she is now free of the condition, which can cause
serious liver damage including cancer.
Susan, 50, who had never heard of hepatitis C until being diagnosed, is now
heading a campaign to encourage other people to get tested.
She believes she contracted the condition when she took drugs as a teenager. The
virus is carried in the blood and is often spread on shared needles or unclean
tattooing equipment.
Finding out about the disease made Susan from Hulton Lane, reassess her life and
quit her job as head of drama at Smithills School to retrain as a hairdresser.
The mother of three said: "Hepatitis C is a disease that affects people from all
walks of life. I lived with the virus for years without realising it, so I'm
passionate about helping raise awareness in Greater Manchester so that others
are diagnosed and treated.
"Treatment can clear the virus, so if you've ever been at risk of hepatitis C,
for example, by having a blood transfusion before September 1991, injecting
drugs using shared equipment, even on only one occasion, or by having an unsafe
tattoo or piercing, you should call the Hepatitis C Information Line or seek
advice from your doctor or nurse."
She is heading Greater Manchester's FaCe It campaign to raise awareness of the
condition, which is believed to affect 22,000 people in the region and 200,000
across England.
Latest research suggests hepatitis C affects more people in the north west than
anywhere else in the country.
Unlike other strains of hepatitis there is no vaccine to protect against
hepatitis C, although good treatments are available.
For further information visit www.nhs.uk/hepc or call the hepatitis C
information line on 0800 451451.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1050208_teachers_hep_c_shock?rss=y\
es?rss=yes

Kodak is free to join if you haven't already!
Here are a few pics of Tallahassee's first World Hepatitis Day!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=k8kfcz3.2c16wl8b&x=1&y=-6g0cxt&localeid=en_U\
S

Hepatitis C Advocates UNITED!
World Hepatitis Day Action Alert
Flood Congress With Calls on May 19th and Demand Leadership!
The statistics are staggering:
a.. Hepatitis C is the most common, chronic blood-borne viral infection in the
United States
b.. An estimated 5 million Americans (at least 1 in 50) have been infected
with the hepatitis C virus.
c.. Hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S.
- and chronic liver disease is in the top ten killers for Americans 25 years of
age and older
The federal government's response:
a.. A mere $17 million per year for all viral hepatitis programs
b.. President Bush has proposed a cut in hepatitis funding in next year's
budget
c.. Legislation to mount a comprehensive fight against the disease has stalled
Angry? Want to make a difference?
Make three phone calls on May 19th and demand that Congress take action!
How you can help:
On Monday, May 19th (World Hepatitis Day), call your U.S. House Representative
and two U.S. Senators in their Washington, DC office. Ask to speak to the
staffperson who handles health care issues. You might speak to this person live
or you might get voicemail. Deliver the following message:
"My name is

Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infections Attributed to Unsafe Injection Practices
By CDC
May 18, 2008 - 6:54:35 AM
On January 2, 2008, the Nevada State Health Division (NSHD) contacted CDC
concerning surveillance reports received by the Southern Nevada Health District
(SNHD) regarding two persons recently diagnosed with acute hepatitis C. A third
person with acute hepatitis C was reported the following day. This raised
concerns about an outbreak because SNHD typically confirms four or fewer cases
of acute hepatitis C per year. Initial inquiries found that all three persons
with acute hepatitis C underwent procedures at the same endoscopy clinic (clinic
A) within 35--90 days of illness onset. A joint investigation by SNHD, NSHD, and
CDC was initiated on January 9, 2008. The epidemiologic and laboratory
investigation revealed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission likely resulted
from reuse of syringes on individual patients and use of single-use medication
vials on multiple patients at the clinic. Health officials advised clinic A to
stop unsafe injection practices immediately, and approximately 40,000 patients
of the clinic were notified about their potential risk for exposure to HCV and
other bloodborne pathogens. This report focuses on the six cases of acute
hepatitis C identified during the initial investigation, which is ongoing;
additional cases of acute hepatitis C associated with exposures at clinic A
might be identified. Comprehensive measures involving viral hepatitis
surveillance, health-care provider education, public awareness, professional
oversight, licensing, and improvements in medical devices can help detect and
prevent transmission of HCV and other bloodborne pathogens in health-care
settings.
The objectives of the investigation were to conduct case-finding and review
health histories of infected persons, to determine the source of transmission
and implement control measures, to identify other patients at risk for exposure,
and to assist in development of recommendations to prevent HCV transmission in
health-care settings. Persons with acute hepatitis C were interviewed, and blood
samples were obtained after these persons gave oral consent. Blood samples were
sent to CDC for testing for HCV genotype at the NS5b region and phylogenetic
relatedness at the hypervariable 1 region (HVR1) to help determine whether a
common source of transmission existed ( 1). Specimens also were tested for other
bloodborne infections (hepatitis B virus [HBV]) and human immunodeficiency virus
[HIV]). Case-finding activities included SNHD's review of acute hepatitis C
surveillance records, cross-matching of local HCV laboratory records with clinic
A procedure logs, review of medical records for patients who underwent
procedures at clinic A on the same day as HCV-infected persons, and serologic
HCV, HBV, and HIV testing of staff. An extensive review of the clinic practices
and procedures also was conducted, including observation of several endoscopic
procedures and endoscopic reprocessing, observation of anesthesia practices, and
interviews with staff members regarding their infection-control practices.
For this investigation, a person was defined as having health-care--associated
acute hepatitis C if he or she 1) had symptoms of acute hepatitis within 6
months of having a procedure performed at clinic A during July--December 2007;
2) had laboratory-confirmed HCV infection (antibodies to HCV [anti-HCV]) by
enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) or EIA with an
appropriate signal-to-cutoff ratio for a given assay, or presence of HCV RNA by
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the absence of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV);
and 3) did not have other risks for HCV infection.
In addition to the three persons identified initially, three other persons were
determined to have health-care--associated acute hepatitis C, for a total of six
cases diagnosed during July--December 2007. One of the three cases was
identified by review of surveillance records, another by cross-matching local
laboratory records with procedure records at clinic A, and the third by
physician report after the start of the investigation. The six persons ranged in
age from 37 to 72 years; four were female. All had signs and symptoms of acute
hepatitis, including jaundice, abdominal discomfort, and laboratory evidence of
liver inflammation with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of 552--1,165
units/L.* Four of the six persons required hospitalization as a result of their
HCV infection.
The six persons with acute hepatitis C had onset of symptoms in late October
2007 and November 2007, 35--90 days after undergoing procedures at clinic A
(Figure 1) and within the typical incubation period of 15--160 days. None had
significant risk factors for HCV infection and none had other common exposures.
One of the procedures was performed in July 2007; the other five were performed
on the same day in September 2007. Five persons (four with procedures on the
same day) for whom blood specimens were available at the time of this report had
HCV genotype 1a. The four who had procedures on the same day had viral sequences
with 99%--100% genetic similarity at HVR1, pointing to a common source of
infection. The viral sequence from the HCV-infected person who had the procedure
in July 2007 was not genetically related to the other cluster, suggesting a
separate transmission incident.
During the 2 days in which persons with health-care--associated hepatitis C had
procedures at clinic A, 120 additional persons had procedures at the clinic. HCV
test results for those persons are pending. Thirty-eight staff members at the
clinic involved in direct patient care were available for testing during the
investigation, and none had evidence of previous or current HCV infection. None
of the persons with health-care--associated acute hepatitis C and none of the
staff tested positive for HBV or HIV infections.
Inappropriate reuse of syringes on individual persons and use of medication
vials intended for single-person use on multiple persons was identified through
direct observation of infection-control practices at clinic A (Figure 2).
Specifically, a clean needle and syringe were used to draw medication from a
single-use vial of propofol, a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent. The
medication was injected directly through an intravenous catheter into the
patient's arm. If a patient required more sedation, the needle was removed from
the syringe and replaced with a new needle; the new needle with the old syringe
was used to draw more medication. Backflow from the patient's intravenous
catheter or from needle removal might have contaminated the syringe with HCV and
subsequently contaminated the vial. Medication remaining in the vial was used to
sedate the next patient.
As soon as improper injection practices were observed, health officials advised
clinic A to stop these practices and educated staff about the risks. Clinic A is
a free-standing private endoscopy clinic in southern Nevada that primarily
performed upper endoscopies and colonoscopies (approximately 50--60 procedures a
day, 5 days a week). For at least the 4 years that clinic A occupied its
existing location, the unsafe injection practices had been commonly used among
some staff members who administered anesthesia, according to those who were
interviewed. On February 27, 2008, SNHD began notifying approximately 40,000
persons who underwent procedures requiring anesthesia at the clinic from March
1, 2004, through January 11, 2008, via mail and through the media, to undergo
screening for HCV, HBV, and HIV infections. Results of this screening are
pending.
Reported by: B Labus, MPH, L Sands, DO, P Rowley, Southern Nevada Health
District, Las Vegas; IA Azzam, MD, Nevada State Dept of Health and Human Svcs.
SD Holmberg, MD, Div of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral
Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention; JF Perz, DrPH, PR Patel, MD, Div of
Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and
Control of Infectious Diseases; GE Fischer, MD, M Schaefer, MD, EIS officers,
CDC.
Editorial Note:
Although case-control studies have not indicated an increased risk for acquiring
HCV from medical, surgical, or dental procedures in the United States ( 2),
outbreaks of HCV in health-care settings have long been recognized ( 3). These
outbreaks have been identified primarily through clusters of temporally related
cases detected by routine viral hepatitis surveillance, a method that likely
underestimates the magnitude of transmission. Surveillance for viral hepatitis
typically is passive, with little or no capacity to investigate cases suggestive
of transmission during health care and determine their cause ( 4). Among persons
with acute HCV infections, 60%--70% are asymptomatic ( 2). Additionally,
currently available laboratory tests cannot distinguish acute from chronic HCV
infection, which makes identifying newly acquired cases difficult.
The investigation described in this report identified six cases of acute
hepatitis C in persons who underwent procedures at clinic A 35--90 days before
the onset of their illness. None of the persons had significant risk factors for
HCV infection within the typical incubation period (15--160 days before onset of
symptoms), and five of the cases had procedures on the same day (September 21,
2007). The genetic relatedness of the viruses from case patients who had
procedures on September 21, 2007, supports the epidemiologic findings and points
to a common source of infection. The lack of genetic relatedness to the patient
seen in July 2007 suggests a separate transmission incident. The two distinct
clusters suggest patient-to-patient transmission rather than staff-to-patient
transmission.
Most outbreaks of health-care--associated HCV have involved patient-to-patient
transmission attributed to unsafe injection practices ( 3,5). The reuse of
syringes and needles or mishandling of medication vials usually have been
implicated ( 6--8). In some situations, syringes or needles used on HCV-infected
persons were directly reused on other persons. In other instances, syringes or
needles used on HCV-infected persons were reused to draw medication from a vial
from which medicine was then drawn and administered to multiple persons, as was
found in this investigation.
When gross errors or high-risk infection-control breaches that could lead to
bloodborne pathogen transmission are recognized, including unsafe injection
practices, potentially exposed persons should be notified and tested, even if
transmission has not been confirmed ( 9). Those persons who are found to be
infected can then obtain proper medical care. In addition to approximately
40,000 notifications that occurred as a result of this outbreak, in unrelated
incidents, unsafe injection practices at three other outpatient clinics in two
states have resulted in approximately 28,000 patient notifications during the
preceding year (CDC, unpublished data, 2008). These situations could have been
avoided if standard infection-control precautions, which include basic safe
injection practices, had been followed (Box) ( 10).
This outbreak highlights the importance of surveillance and investigation in
detecting viral hepatitis transmission in health-care settings. Prevention of
transmission in these settings requires understanding and adherence to
recommended infection-control practices. Medical and nursing school curricula
and other health-care professional training, licensing, and continuing education
requirements should include infection-control content, including the safe
handling and administration of parenteral medications, as areas of competency.
Although hospitals employ infection-control professionals and regularly evaluate
infection-control practices, such oversight might be limited in outpatient
settings that are not associated with hospitals. As use of these settings grows,
appropriate methods will be needed to provide similar oversight for outpatient
clinics. Better surveillance, education, and oversight are needed to detect and
prevent bloodborne pathogen transmission in ambulatory and other health-care
settings.
References
1.. Patel PR, Larson AK, Castel AD, et al. Hepatitis C virus infections from a
contaminated radiopharmaceutical used in myocardial perfusion studies. JAMA
2006;296:2005--11.
2.. CDC. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
infection and HCV-related chronic disease. MMWR 1998;47(No. RR-19).
3.. Williams IT, Perz JF, Bell BP. Viral hepatitis transmission in ambulatory
health care settings. Clin Infect Dis 2004;38:1592--8.
4.. CDC. Surveillance for acute viral hepatitis---United States, 2006. MMWR
2008;57(No. SS-2).
5.. Alter MJ. Healthcare should not be a vehicle for transmission of hepatitis
C virus. J Hepatol 2008;48:2--4.
6.. CDC. Transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses in outpatient
settings---New York, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, 2000--2002. MMWR 2003;52:901--6.
7.. Comstock RD, Mallonee S, Fox JL, et al. A large nosocomial outbreak of
hepatitis C and hepatitis B among patients receiving pain remediation
treatments. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:576--83.
8.. Krause G, Trepka MJ, Whisenhunt RS, et al. Noscomial transmission of
hepatitis C virus associated with the use of multidose saline vials. Infect
Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:122--7.
9.. CDC. Steps for evaluating an infection control breach. Atlanta, GA: US
Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2007. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/bp_steps_for_eval_ic_breach1.html.
10.. CDC. Guideline for isolation precautions: preventing transmission of
infectious agents in healthcare settings 2007. Atlanta, GA: US Department of
Health and Human Services, CDC; 2007. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation.html.
All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from typeset
documents. This conversion might result in character translation or format
errors in the HTML version. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version
(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr) and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable
versions of official text, figures, and tables. An original paper copy of this
issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800.
Contact GPO for current prices.
**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to
mmwrq@....
Date last reviewed: 5/15/2008
http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/Other_N_ews_51/051806542008_Acute_Hepatitis_C_\
Virus_Infections_Attributed_to_Unsafe_Injection_Practices.shtml

Campaign to create awareness about hepatitis
18 May 2008
DUBAI - Am I number 12? This is the question that the World Hepatitis Alliance
(WHA) is hoping everyone will be asking on May 19, the World Hepatitis Day.
Based on the research findings that approximately one out of every 12 people
around the globe are infected with chronic Hepatitis C or B, the WHA is using
the question as a headline for their campaign, running in 64 countries, which
aims to raise awareness about the virus and change the public stigma associated
with it.
Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver and has many types. Hepatitis C
type is caused by the widespread Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which affects 180
million people worldwide. It is estimated that 3-4 million people are infected
with HCV each year.
However, patients suffering from the disease can live for years without
experiencing any symptoms and, as a result, a large number of them remain
undiagnosed and consequently untreated.
"It is essential that people learn more about Hepatitis C and understand the
dangers of carrying it, if undetected," says Dr Wagdy Emile, gastroenterologist
at Al Moosa Medical Centre in Dubai.
"The disease may progress for many years without symptoms and can eventually
lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure, if not treated. On the other
hand, if the disease is detected early, there is a very high chance of it being
cured," he added.
"A lot of people think that Hepatitis C can be spread through daily social
interaction, so they tend to discriminate against people who suffer from the
disease and avoid them," says Dr Ahed Yosry.
"In fact, the virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with infected
blood, meaning that the people most at risk are those who share needles or have
received blood transfusions with infected blood before 1992. Otherwise,
Hepatitis C sufferers can enjoy normal lives with regular social interaction
without posing a danger to anyone around them," Dr Yosry pointed out.
According to Dr Wagdy, "Although there is still no vaccine against the virus,
scientific advancements have been very positive in the last decade and
treatments have shown cure rates of up to 84 per cent in some populations.
People who are at risk should take a simple blood test and learn whether they
have HCV because there is treatment available and there is hope for them."
According to World Health Organisation, the percentage of people infected with
the HCV in the region is 1-2 per cent.
Statistics from the organisation also show that 0.83 per cent of the UAE
population has the virus while in Kuwait the percentage is as high as 3.3 per
cent.
In Oman it is 0.9 per cent, Qatar 2.8 per cent and Yemen 2.6 per cent.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/May/the\
uae_May624.xml&section=theuae&col=

First World Hepatitis Day Aims to Raise Awareness and Promote Understanding
18 May 2008
World Hepatitis Alliance gets people asking: Am I number 12?
Am I number 12? That is the question that the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) is
hoping everyone will be asking themselves on May 19th, the inaugural World
Hepatitis Day.
Based on the research findings that approximately one out of every twelve people
around the globe are infected with chronic hepatitis C or B, the WHA is using
the question as a headline for their campaign, running in 64 countries, which
aims to raise awareness about the virus and change the public stigma associated
with it(1).
Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver and has many types. Hepatitis C
type is caused by the widespread hepatitis C virus (HCV), which affects 180
million people worldwide. It is estimated that 3-4 million people are
newly-infected with HCV each year. However, patients suffering from the disease
can live for years without experiencing any symptoms and, as a result, a large
number of them remain undiagnosed and consequently untreated.
"It is essential that people learn more about hepatitis C, and understand the
dangers of carrying it if undetected," says Dr Wagdy Emile, specialist
Gastroenterologist at Al Moosa Medical Centre in Dubai. "The disease may
progress for many years without symptoms and can eventually lead to cirrhosis,
liver cancer and liver failure if not treated." "On the pother hand, if the
disease is detected early, there is a very high chance for it to be cured" he
added.
While the focus of World Hepatitis Day is to raise awareness among people about
the disease and the importance of early detection, it is also aims to promote
understanding of hepatitis C virus carriers. "A lot of people think that
hepatitis C can be spread through daily social interaction, so they tend to
discriminate against people who suffer from the disease and avoid them," says Dr
Ahed Yosry, medical doctor at Roche, "In fact, the virus is mainly transmitted
through direct contact with infected blood, meaning that the people most at risk
are those who share needles or have received blood transfusions with infected
blood before 1992. Otherwise, hepatitis C sufferers can enjoy normal lives with
regular social interaction without posing a danger to anyone around them."
"Hepatitis C patients do not necessarily need to have a compromised life - on
the contrary, they can even be treated and cured," says Dr Wagdy, "Although
there is still no vaccine against the virus, scientific advancements have been
very positive in the last decade and treatments such as Pegasys® (pegylated
interferon alfa-2a) have shown cure rates of up to 84% in some populations (2).
My message to people who are at risk is to take a simple blood test and learn
whether they have HCV because there is treatment available and there is hope for
them."
The most commonly used initial blood test for hepatitis C virus is the
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA tests for the presence of
antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. If the ELISA is positive, this generally
means that there are antibodies against HCV in the person's blood; however, it
does not necessarily mean that they have active hepatitis C disease. It may
simply be that the person was infected in the past and has already cleared the
infection. When the ELISA test is positive, doctors will perform the polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) test which determines whether there is still virus in the
blood or not.
According to the World health Organization, the percentage of people infected
with the HCV virus in the MEA region is 1-2%. Statistics from the organization
also show that 0.83% of the UAE population has the virus while in Kuwait the
percentage is as high as 3.3%. In Oman it is 0.9%, Qatar 2.8% and Yemen 2.6%.
-Ends-
Editor's Notes
Are you at risk?
Anyone who has been exposed to any of the following risk factors for viral
hepatitis C, should request a hepatitis C blood test from a physician:
a.. Had a blood transfusion before screening was introduced (in most
countries, before 1992)
b.. Had hemodialysis before 1992
c.. Had medical or dental interventions in countries where equipment is not
adequately sterilized
d.. Shared equipment for injecting drugs or cocaine straws/bank notes
e.. Had needle stick injuries (especially emergency services and healthcare
workers)
f.. Shared a toothbrush or a razor (very low to medium risk)
g.. Has tattoos or body piercings
World Hepatitis Alliance
World Hepatitis Day is being coordinated by the World Hepatitis Alliance, a
newly established Non-Governmental Organisation which represents more than 200
hepatitis B and hepatitis C patient groups from around the world. The World
Hepatitis Alliance is governed by a representative board of patient groups from
seven world regions: Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, North America,
South America, Australasia & Western Pacific.
About World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day is being observed on Monday 19 May and marks a brand new,
entirely patient-led initiative. The day has been launched in response to the
concern that chronic viral hepatitis has nowhere near the level of awareness nor
the political will to tackle it that is seen in other diseases.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading
research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and
diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of products
and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's
health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics
and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a market leader in virology and active
in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation,
metabolic disorders and diseases of the central nervous system.
References:
1. Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN). Comparative analysis of HCV
prevalence across selected countries of Europe and the Mediterranean area.;1
October 2007.
2. Hadziyannis SJ, Sette H, Jr., Morgan TR, et al. Peginterferon-alpha2a
and ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C: a randomized study of
treatment duration and ribavirin dose. Ann Intern Med 2004;140(5):346-55.
For more information, please contact:
Website: www.roche.com
www.roche-arabia.com
www.aminumber12.org
www.worldhepatitisday.com
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20080518122744

Nurses offer help with treatment for hepatitis
By Alicia Kelly
CLINICAL nurse specialists in Worcestershire are marking Hepatitis Awareness Day
today with a plea for anyone concerned about the disease to get themselves
screened.
Karen Taylor and Hilary Orr, based at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in
Worcester, said the condition - in which the liver becomes inflamed - is
potentially serious but, in many cases, can be treated.
Ms Taylor said: "Treatment is quite a commitment and there may be side effects
but we believe if people go in with a positive attitude they find it much
easier," said Ms Taylor. "We treat between 30 and 40 people a year for hep C in
Worcester-shire and we have a really good success rate."
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus common among intravenous drug users, due to
sharing drug-related paraphernalia, but it also affects haemophiliacs and some
people who had transfusions before 1991, when blood screening was introduced.
Although many sufferers can lead normal lives, up to 20 per cent may go on to
develop liver disease or even require a transplant. Of those who contract the
virus, 20 per cent will fight it off themselves while the rest may need
treatment.
It can be anything between 24 and 48 weeks of treatment, including weekly
injections and taking tablets daily, with no guarantee of success.
However, Ms Taylor said some sufferers have no symptoms while others do not seek
help for fear of being stigmatised. She said: "There are a lot of people dying
of it because they won't come forward. It's a slow progressive disease and can
take up to 30 years to damage your liver."
She added: "There is treatment available and people musn't be scared to come
forward and be screened. The service is confidential."
She also warned drug users not to share any equipment associated with injecting,
including water, filters, syringes, needles and spoons.
The nurses are funded by the Substance Misuse Action Team, Worcestershire Acute
Hospitals NHS Trust and Worcestershire Primary Care Trust. Anyone concerned
about hepatitis C should contact their GP while drug users can also visit
Turning Point Worcester Druglink at 6a Shaw Street, Worcester.
Other forms of hepatitis are hepatitis A, contracted through contact with
contaminated food or water, and hepatitis B, most commonly transmitted through
blood or bodily fluids including via sexual transmission or intravenous drug
use. Both can be immunised against.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/wnnewslatest/display.var.2278058.0.nurses_of\
fer_help_with_treatment_for_hepatitis.php

People at risk of hepatitis urged to get tested
Monday, 19 May 2008, 9:47 am
Press Release: Ministry of Health
19 May 2008
People at risk of hepatitis urged to get tested
People who may be at risk of hepatitis C are being urged to get themselves
tested. The Ministry of Health is joining other groups to raise public awareness
of hepatitis C for World Hepatitis Day on May 19.
Associate Professor Edward Gane of the NZ Liver Transplant Unit says people who
have ever injected drugs using unclean or shared equipment, or who have had
tattoos or piercings in unsterile conditions are among those at risk.
Hepatitis C is a very infectious virus that is transmitted through direct
blood-to-blood contact. It is an inflammation of the liver which stops it
working properly but many people infected will have no symptoms at all.?
One of those who will tell their story is the founder of the New Zealand band,
the Chills. Martin Phillipps contracted the virus ten years ago when he pricked
himself by accident. He has not been able to work since and urges others who may
be at risk to get tested.
Associate Professor Gane, who chairs the Hepatitis C Treatment Advisory Group
says most people who contract the virus will go on to become carriers for life.
Funded antiviral therapy is currently available which will cure 60 percent of
people with hepatitis C. However, for those who are not cured and for those who
decline or are unsuitable for antiviral therapy, there are other management
options which may reduce the effects of this condition. It is important to avoid
heavy alcohol and cannabis use and to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Just because you have no symptoms of the disease does not mean you are in the
clear. Some people are diagnosed only following the development of liver failure
or liver cancer, when treatment is not possible and survival is often only
weeks. The sooner you get tested, the better.?
At least ten percent of people diagnosed with hepatitis C have no idea how they
got it. But Associate Professor Gane says anything that can puncture the skin
can carry infected blood, including razors and toothbrushes.
It is estimated that between 45,000 and 50,000 people in New Zealand have been
infected with hepatitis C, with around 25 new infections every week. Unusual
tiredness is the most commonly reported symptom in those with the virus.
Those who may be at risk of hepatitis C include:
· people who inject drugs regularly using unclean or shared equipment or who
have ever injected drugs using unclean or shared equipment · people who have
spent time in prisons
· people who have tattoos or piercings in unsterile conditions
· some migrant groups from countries with high prevalence of hepatitis C
· people receiving unscreened blood, blood products, or organ transplants prior
to the introduction of universal screening for hepatitis C, of blood and blood
products. Universal screening was introduced in New Zealand in July 1992 but New
Zealanders who received either blood transfusions blood products or organ
transplants overseas after this date may still be at risk.
A helpline has been set up for those needing support and advice. The number is
0800 224372.
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