Hepatitis Weekly articles from December 2002

Hepatitis Weekly archives from December 2002

Interleukin-12 restores antigen-specific response to hepatitis B virus.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Interleukin-12 may be beneficial for restoring antigen-specific response in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Researchers think weak...

Platelet levels reversible in hepatitis C patients on consensus interferon.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Consensus interferon can lower platelet counts and increase serum thrombopoietin in individuals with chronic hepatitis C, but those changes are typically...

Antiangiogenic protein is tumor marker in hepatocellular carcinoma.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - A Japanese study of protein markers in cancer patients suggests serum endostatin can predict tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary form...

High prevalence of hepatitis C virus detected among spinal cord injured.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among people with spinal cord injuries may be higher than suspected, according to a team of researchers in...

New evidence disfavors tamoxifen for primary liver cancer.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Members of a research team headed by doctors at the National Cancer Center in Singapore have concluded tamoxifen is not useful for treating hepatocellular...

Therapy okay for chronic hepatitis C patients with constitutional neutropenia.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - U.S. government researchers recently announced that constitutional neutropenia is no reason to deny interferon therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C....

FDA accepts Coviracil NDA for the treatment of HIV.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (VIRS) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the company that its new drug application (NDA) for marketing approval of Coviracil for the...

Physicians should order blood transfusions with a dose of extreme caution.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Lynn Yoffee, senior medical writer - An expert in blood safety said that the blood supply remains questionable and transfusions remain risky business, at the American College of Chest Physicians'...

Mutations associated with lamivudine therapy in Indian HBV patients studied.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in India conducted a study of the prevalence and profiles of gene mutation occurring in hepatitis B virus-infected patients taking lamivudine. "Lamivudine results in the selection of...

Two distinct types of HBV core promoter variants found in Yemeni blood donors.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Virologists in England investigated "the presence of basic core promoter variations in 28 asymptomatic Yemeni blood donors, correlating variations with HBeAg phenotype and viral load." T.A. Sallam...

Company's third quarter results exceed expectations.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (NABI) announced its financial results for the third quarter and 9 months ended September 28, 2002. Nabi Biopharmaceuticals reported net income of $0.8 million in the third...

Antibodies to some virus infections more common in Taiwanese patients.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study from Taiwan shows that, overall, prevalence and rate of recurrence of common virus infections are no different between patients on hemodialysis and control groups. "The study was designed...

Patients' dendritic cells induce fewer virus-specific T helper cells.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Weak antiviral immune responses observed in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection may partly be due to insufficient T-cell stimulating capacities of dendritic cells, say researchers in...

Human La protein-HBV RNA.B interaction in vitro is characterized.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Germany presented a molecular characterization of RNA binding mediated by the different RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) of the human La protein. "The La protein was recently identified...

Interim results of phase I Albuferon-alpha clinical trial promising.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc., (HGSI) announced that interim results from an ongoing phase I clinical trial of Albuferon-alpha demonstrate that Albuferon-alpha is well tolerated, has a prolonged...

Pharmaceutical group identifies new class of CpG oligonucleotides.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Inc., announced the identification of a novel class of its proprietary CpG oligo drug candidates, termed "C-Class" oligos. One member of this class, CpG 10101, strongly...

International distribution agreements inked for Nabi-HB, hepatitis B antibody product.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (NABI) announced the signing of two international distribution agreements for Nabi-HB [hepatitis B immune globulin (human)] with Biotech Medical Corp. of Malaysia and Innovative...

Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor assay (Ver2.0) compared with Version 1.0.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A recent study compared the Amplicor HCV Monitor version 1.0 assay with the newer version, Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor version 2.0 assay, and the HCV core protein assay for clinical usefulness in...

Hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in northeast Italy studied.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Italy have characterized the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtypes in the northeastern region of the country. Study subjects were 318 consecutive HCV RNA positive patients....

Case reported of androgenic/anabolic steroid-induced toxic hepatitis.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Athletes and bodybuilders often misuse androgenic/anabolic steroids. When used in therapeutic doses, these drugs produce clinical jaundice in just a small number of recipients. We present a...

Elan Corp. ends drug development agreement with Isis.
December 2, 2002... 2002 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Elan Corp., the struggling Irish drug company, has ended its collaboration with Isis Pharmaceuticals to develop a drug to treat hepatitis C. The termination of the partnership was the latest move by...

Enzyme not indicative of sustained response after interferon.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Delayed normalization of the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) does not necessarily mean chronic hepatitis C patients won't respond to therapy. ...

Postsurgical hepatitis linked to shortened survival.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Postoperative hepatitis increases the risk for poor outcomes in patients who undergo surgery for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cancer. Patients...

Gene rearrangements frequent in hepatitis C patients.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Researchers have identified genetic rearrangements in people with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-linked cryoglobulinemia that may explain cancer formation. "HCV...

Gene transfer sensitizes liver cancer cells to chemotherapy.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Anti-multidrug resistance ribozymes driven by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoters can steer chemosensitivity in hepatocellular carcinomas. It is not uncommon...

Virus thrives in sweat glands of chronic hepatitis C patients.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Physicians in Spain have found hepatitis C virus (HCV) is released in sweat. Not only is the virus released in sweat, but it can replicate in sweat glands,...

Copper chelator trientine mediates liver cancer killing.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Agents that capture copper could be effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Researchers believe the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma,...

Time an enemy to liver cancer patients awaiting organ donation.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Time is an enemy for liver cancer patients placed on waiting lists for liver transplantation. The reason is because with the passage of time, tumors can...

Profiles for sulphasalazine and mesalazine don't differ.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Reports of suspected serious adverse reactions to 5-aminosalicylates prompted researchers in England to compare the adverse effect profiles for sulphasalazine and mesalazine. "5-Aminosalicylates...

Hepatitis C pathogenesis is influenced by cytomegalovirus.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mayo Clinic researchers report that in liver allograft recipients infected with the hepatitis C virus, reactivation of cytomegalovirus is associated with allograft failure and mortality. R.R....

Chinese herbal medicine + interferon effectively treat chronic hepatitis B.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A meta-analysis conducted by University of California, Berkeley, researchers shows that Chinese herbal medicine alone or in combination with interferon alfa is effective treatment of chronic hepatitis B...

HCV infection with normal ALT levels results in less severe liver disease.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study from France confirms that patients with chronic hepatitis C and normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels have less severe liver disease than those with elevated ALT levels. C. Renou and...

Atorvastatin and diltiazem associated with rhabdomyolysis/acute hepatitis case.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- University of Maryland Hospital pharmacologists recently presented a case report of a man with rhabdomyolysis and acute hepatitis thought to be secondary to a drug interaction between atorvastatin and...

Common source but differing signs, symptoms found in acute HCV outbreak.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Although a common source for an outbreak of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was identified, researchers report, the subsequent signs, symptoms, and outcome of acute HCV infection in the patients...

Company reports loss from operations was $39.6M.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ISIS), announced financial results for the 3-month and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2002, which includes a strong cash position of $292 million, including short-term...

Cytokine imbalance may play role in inflammation leading to liver damage.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study in a recent issue of Hepatology suggests that an imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may be a factor in causing liver damage in fulminant hepatitis B. "In murine models,...

Six-month phase IIB data of Telbivudine released.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced interim 24-week data from an ongoing international phase IIb clinical trial of telbivudine (LdT), the company's lead drug candidate for the treatment of chronic...

Fatal viral reactivation reported after discontinuation of nucleoside analogues.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gastroenterologists in Singapore reported the cases of three patients who died after hepatitis B reactivation when nucleoside analogue therapy was stopped. "Nucleoside analogues such as lamivudine...

Six months of oral ganciclovir ineffective against lamivudine-resistant HBV.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Six months of treatment with oral ganciclovir was found ineffective in a small study of patients with lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus infection. "Although liver disease seems to be stable in...

Weak protein-protein interactions can drive assembly of HBV capsids.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA virus with a spherical capsid (or core). The capsid is constructed from 120 copies of the homodimeric capsid...

FDA approves HCV qualitative assay.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gen-Probe Incorporated (GPRO) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of its premarket application (PMA) for its Qualitative HCV Assay. Gen-Probe developed...

Priority Healthcare Corp. selected as the distributor for Pegasys Sampling Program.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Priority Healthcare Corp. (PHCC) announced their selection by Roche Labs as the distributor for the Pegasys Monotherapy Sampling Program. Pegasys is Roche's pegylated interferon alfa-2a for...

Best interferon therapy strategy depends on viral genotype, study finds.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients infected with genotype 1 or 4 hepatitis C virus who relapse after at least one course of interferon monotherapy benefit from sustained treatment rather than higher doses, whereas those infected...

Infergen combination therapy more effective than Rebetron.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- InterMune, Inc., (ITMN) announced that positive preliminary results of an investigator initiated, prospective randomized phase IV clinical trial comparing the use of Infergen (interferon alfacon-1) plus...

Prenylation inhibitor prevents infectious hepatitis D virus particle production.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Treatment for hepatitis D virus infection recently got a boost when Stanford University researchers reported on a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, FTI-277, that prevents "production of complete,...

Hypoxemia can be resolved after liver transplantation.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), consisting of elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities in the presence of...

Shire announces vaccines alliance.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, plc, announced that it has entered into a commercial agreement with Berna Biotech, AG, of Switzerland. Under the agreement, Shire will manufacture and supply its...

Cryoglobulinemia may predict cirrhosis risk in chronic hepatitis C patients.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Higher risk of liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection may be identified by cryoglobulin level, a new study suggests. According to Z. Kayali and colleagues at the University...

Predictive model could enable many chronic hepatitis C patients avoid biopsy.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a predictive model of liver fibrosis that could reduce the need for an invasive biopsy for many chronic hepatitis C patients. "Liver biopsy is required for...

Study questions predictive value of ALT levels in hepatitis C patients.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatologists in France suggest that the predictive value of alanine aminotransferase levels for liver biopsy histology in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection may need to be re-evaluated. ...

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 attenuates resolution in mouse model.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from Japan, "It has been suggested that the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) is involved in spontaneous resolution of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to...

Centrilobular fibrosis is not associated with hepatitis in children.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Viral hepatitis, chronic rejection, and azathioprine toxicity are the primary causes of centrilobular fibrosis after liver transplant in adults. Researchers in Canada explored possible causes of this...

Lamivudine therapy is effective against de novo hepatitis B infection.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biochemistry researchers in Spain report that among patients they studied, de novo hepatitis B virus infection after liver transplantation is related to grafting livers from anti-HBc+ donors. "De...

Slowly tapering off steroids protects graft against hepatitis C recurrence.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Long-term corticosteroid treatment after liver transplant, decreased slowly over time, appears to prevent aggressive, recurrent hepatitis C, say gastroenterologists in Italy. To determine what...

Study examines regulatory mechanisms for immune complex levels.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from Japan, "Complement receptor type 1 (CR1) is a transmembrane protein, and human erythrocyte CR1 (E-CR1) is involved in the transport of circulating immune complexes (IC) from...

Key compounds donated to University of Arizona Foundation.
December 9, 2002... 2002 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) donated to the University of Arizona (UA) Foundation 33 patents and accompanying intellectual property related to a portfolio of compounds that have been tested in...

Fractionated particles reveal complexity of hepatitis C virus infection.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Fractionated particles in the blood of people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) may yield pertinent information about viral persistence. HCV RNA...

Lamivudine too little, too late for chronic hepatitis B flare.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - People with severe exacerbations of chronic hepatitis B may not respond to lamivudine, according to a Hong Kong study. "Patients with chronic hepatitis B...

Synthetic ribozymes a potential treatment for hepatitis B virus.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Synthetic particles that can cleave viral RNA have demonstrated effectiveness in hepatitis B virus (HBV) experiments. Researchers at Ribozyme...

Hepatitis C-positive kidneys increase mortality risk.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - The coauthors of a national study have cautioned that donated kidneys from people who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) may increase the risk of death...

Several factors confound survival odds in liver cancer transplant recipients.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Sonia Bell-Nichols, senior medical writer - Several factors, including tumor-related factors and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, can pose a risk for decreased survival after liver transplantation...

Susan Scher, MD, named VP of small-molecule drug manufacturer.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (RIGL) has named Susan Scher, MD, to the newly created position of vice president, strategic relations. For the past 10 years, Scher ran Scher Communications...

Investigational new drug application submitted for Hepavir B.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ribapharm, Inc., (RNA) announced that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate phase I clinical studies for Hepavir B in...

New noninvasive liver fibrosis test launched.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it is introducing a new noninvasive approach to help detect liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. ...

Study evaluates performance of INNO-LiPA HBV DR assay.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Sensitive and early detection of emerging hepatitis B virus (HBV) drug resistance may not only help monitor the viral dynamics associated with lamivudine treatment but could also improve therapeutic...

Nanofiltration removes viruses from human immunoglobulin manufacturing process.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Orthoclin Diagnostic Inc. have demonstrated the effectiveness of tangential-flow nanofiltration in removing viruses from human immunoglobulin manufacturing processes. R.W. van...

Laboratory Corp. of America announces third quarter results.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Laboratory Corp. (LabCorp) of America Holdings (LH) announced results for the quarter and 9 months ended September 30, 2002. Revenues in the third quarter were $655.2 million, an increase of 16.8%...

Recombinant antibody Fab blocks HCV adsorption to susceptible cells in vitro.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Japan demonstrated in vitro that recombinant antibody Fabs they developed block adsorption of hepatitis C virus by susceptible cells. "Antibodies against hypervariable region 1...

Beta-L-Fd4C inhibits both wild-type, lamivudine-resistant HBV.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced favorable bioavailability, potency, and safety data for the company's lead product candidate, Beta-L-Fd4C (ACH-126,443), in development for the treatment of...

Lamivudine doesn't increase interferon efficacy in mutant type hepatitis B.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatologists in Taiwan evaluated lamivudine augmentation of interferon to see if the combination improved efficiency of interferon therapy of mutant type chronic hepatitis B virus infection. ...

Once-a-week dose of PegIntron may not be enough.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study conducted at the University of Vienna shows that the currently prescribed once-weekly dosing schedule of peginterferon alfa-2b (PegIntron - Schering-Plough) does not provide sustained...

Viramidine to advance to phase II clinical trials.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ribapharm, Inc., announced it will commence phase II clinical trials of viramidine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) by the end of 2002. Data from several preclinical and phase I...

Murine leptin deficiency alters Kupffer cell production of regulatory cytokines.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to Johns Hopkins University researchers, "ob/ob mice are used to study the mechanisms that regulate the progression from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The livers of ob/ob mice...

FDA Approves Versant HCV RNA qualitative assay.
December 16, 2002... 2002 DEC 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bayer Corporation (BAY), acting through its Business Group Diagnostics, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of Gen-Probe Incorporated's premarket application...

Lamivudine adds layer of protection to recipients of core-positive livers.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Lamivudine can prevent de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in the recipients of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive livers, doctors in Taiwan...

Infants of hepatitis B virus carriers benefit from vaccine alone.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Doctors in Thailand think hepatitis B virus vaccine alone is sufficient to protect against vertical transmission in most infants born to women who are...

Chromogranin A could be marker for primary liver cancers.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - A marker commonly associated with neuroendocrine tumors could also be a useful prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to N....

Interleukin-18 inhibits viral replication in livers of transgenic mice.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The cytokine interleukin-18 might be of therapeutic value for patients with hepatitis B virus infection, researchers say. "Interleukin-18 (IL-18) produced by activated antigen-presenting cells,...

Pediatric travelers benefit from accelerated vaccine schedule.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Children headed to areas where hepatitis B virus (HBV) rates are high can benefit from accelerated hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine schedules. Other youth,...

Steroids plus infliximab significantly lower Maddrey's scores.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Switzerland conducted a randomized, controlled pilot study to "evaluate the tolerance and effects of infliximab combined with steroids in severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH)." "Twenty...

Study finds psychiatric comorbidities common among veterans with chronic HCV.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. Veterans Affairs psychologists report that depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and other psychiatric conditions were common among a group of veterans with chronic hepatitis C. ...

PCR may be useful to assess inactivation of hepatitis A virus by chlorine.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) may be a useful tool to determine the efficacy of chlorine inactivation of hepatitis A virus in water, say researchers in the People's Republic...

FDA committee recommends approval of Pegasys with Copegus.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Anti-Viral Drugs Advisory Committee (AVDAC) unanimously voted to recommend marketing approval of Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) in...

Interferon treatment causes major depression in many patients.
December 23, 2002... 2002 DEC 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center researchers and their colleagues have found that many people develop major depression while taking interferon, the most effective drug against the...