Hepatitis Weekly articles from November 2004

Hepatitis Weekly archives from November 2004

Hepatitis B virus core promoter mutations prevail in liver cancer.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis B virus core promoter mutations prevail in liver cancer. "The role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, core promoter (CP) and precore mutants on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still...

Lamivudine does not improve the response of hepatitis B to peginterferon.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lamivudine does not improve the response of hepatitis B to peginterferon. Available treatments for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B are associated with poor sustained...

Total HCV core antigen assay detects early infection but not viral elimination.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Total HCV core antigen assay detects early infection but not viral elimination. "The present study assesses the clinical usefulness of the hepatitis C core antigen assay for monitoring of patients...

A new magnetic extraction method uncovers HCV status in hemodialysis patients.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new magnetic extraction method uncovers HCV status in hemodialysis patients. According to recent research from Japan, "hemodialysis patients are a high-risk group for hepatitis C virus (HCV)...

Patients with hepatic fibrosis and hepatitis C need broader cancer screenings.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients with hepatic fibrosis and hepatitis C need broader cancer screenings. "We investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics of and outcome after treatment for small intrahepatic...

Combination therapy for liver cancer is linked to interstitial pneumonia.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Combination therapy for liver cancer is linked to interstitial pneumonia. According to recent research published in the Journal of Gastroenterology, "previously we reported combined...

Microvascular dysfunction encourages the progression of steatohepatitis in mice.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Microvascular dysfunction encourages the progression of steatohepatitis in mice. According to recent research from the United States, "in alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic microvascular changes...

RANTES haplotypes influence the response to chronic hepatitis C therapy.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- RANTES haplotypes influence the response to chronic hepatitis C therapy. "The response to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is complex and is determined by both environmental and...

Antinuclear antibody absorption by hepatitis B vaccine warrants evaluation.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antinuclear antibody absorption by hepatitis B vaccine warrants evaluation. According to published research from France, "the aim of this work is to propose a method to search for a possible...

Swedish company presents mass screening tests at investment conference.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Swedish blood diagnostics company LifeAssays Inc. presented its mass screening and point-of-care tests on Oct. 21 at the Windhover Information and Medtech Insight's "Investment In Innovation" Event, at...

Chiron announces blood-screening licensing agreement.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chiron Corp. (CHIR) has granted a nonexclusive license to the blood transfusion centers of the German Red Cross (Blutspendediensten des Deutsche Rotes Kreuz, or DRK) for use of the company's HIV-1 and...

Agreement signed for distribution of bacterial detection system in Japan.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) announced that it has finalized an agreement for Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc., to become the exclusive provider of the Pall eBDS (enhanced Bacterial Detection System) in...

Companies announce filing of MAA in Europe to inject anticancer drug for MDS.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SuperGen, Inc. (SUPG) and MGI Pharma Inc. (MOGN), announced that a marketing authorization application (MAA) seeking approval of Dacogen (decitabine) for injection has been submitted to the European...

Scientists develop new drugs that improve survival after bone marrow transplant.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Parker Hughes scientists have developed a new technology capable of improving survival outcomes after bone marrow transplantation. The study was published in the prestigious medical journal, British...

Estrogen receptor alpha genotypes associate with susceptibility to hepatitis B.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Estrogen receptor alpha genotypes associate with susceptibility to hepatitis B. "Several studies have demonstrated that estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) participates in the pathogenesis of persistent...

Real-time PCR and melting curve analysis offer rapid assessments of hepatitis B.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Real-time PCR and melting curve analysis offer rapid assessments of hepatitis B. "Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and HBV DNA levels have been implicated in clinical evaluation and prognosis of...

Serum hepatitis B virus strains parallel hepatic strains in acute exacerbations.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Serum hepatitis B virus strains parallel hepatic strains in acute exacerbations. According to published research from Taiwan, "acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic hepatitis B is usually preceded by...

Site-specific keratin hyperphosphorylation marks liver disease progression.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Site-specific keratin hyperphosphorylation marks liver disease progression. According to published research from the United States, "keratin 8 and 18 (K8/18) phosphorylation plays a significant and...

Epivir-HBV delays liver complications from chronic hepatitis B.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The results of a large, controlled, multi centered study were published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicating that long-term treatment with Epivir-HBV (lamivudine) delayed disease...

Immune restoration disease arises in association with antiretroviral therapy.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Immune restoration disease arises in association with antiretroviral therapy. "Suppression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) often...

Biotechnology company files a request of re-examination of Benitec.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nucleonics, Inc., announced that it has filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) a request for re-examination of Benitec and the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research...

Pharmaceutical receives U.S. FDA approval of GI disease and hepatitis drugs.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted final approval for the company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Mesalamine Rectal...

Gene profiling can be used to distinguish toxicant classes.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Transcript profiling can be used to distinguish different classes of toxicants. In a study from Switzerland, "[m]ale rats were treated with various model compounds or the appropriate vehicle...

Food-borne illness strikes at least 2 billion people a year.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- At least 2 billion people a year get sick from contaminated food, and the number is growing, according to United Nations (U.N.) health agencies. Illness from food-borne disease, which can lead to...

Drug development company announces hepatitis C study presented at conference.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Debiopharm S.A. announced that, Jan Paeshuyse and Johan Neyts, associate professor, from the Belgian Rega Institute presented data on the potent and selective inhibition effect of DEBIO-025 on the...

Study reports results of PegIntron and Rebetol combination therapy for hepatitis.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 can be treated effectively and safely with individualized, weight-based PegIntron (peginterferon alfa-2b) and Rebetol (ribavirin)...

British Columbia wine festival may affect Hepatitis A exposure.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A restaurant and bar worker in this southern interior British Columbia town has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, and the implications may go well beyond the province. Health officials said the bar...

Abstract describing remofovir study results posted to AASLD web site.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc., (MBRX) announced that an abstract describing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic results of a recently completed clinical trial of remofovir in patients with hepatitis B,...

Persistence of hepatitis C virus associated with human leukocyte antigen class 1.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Persistence of hepatitis C virus is associated with human leukocyte antigen class 1. According to recent research published in the journal Human Immunology, "The aim of this study was to define...

FDA grants priority review to Pegasys with Copegus for HCV in HIV patients.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 6-month priority review status to the supplemental new biologics license application (sBLA) for Roche's combination therapy of Pegasys...

Gene expression patterns with prognostic value identified.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gene expression profiles with prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been identified. In a recent study, hepatologists in the United States, "analyzed global gene expression...

Novel peptide-based vaccines generate immunity to hepatotropic pathogens.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novel peptide-based vaccines generate immunity to hepatotropic pathogens. "Vaccines for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic immunization against hepatotropic pathogens (e.g., hepatitis B and...

PPARalpha regulates male-specific hepatic P450 in mice.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) regulates the expression of a male-specific hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme in mice. In a recent study from England, scientists sought to...

Patients with liver disease have lower levels of circulating dendritic cells.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients with liver disease have lower levels of circulating dendritic cells. "Chronic liver disease has been shown to be associated with diminished humoral and cellular immune function. Although...

Prognosis and treatment of hepatorenal syndrome reviewed.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The prognosis and treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) have been reviewed. "The Consensus Conference on Hepatorenal Syndrome organized by the International Ascites Club in 1994 redefined HRS,...

Dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C patients alter immunological response.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C patients alter immunological response. According to published research from Japan, "patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are unable to prime and maintain...

Judge says Nebraska liable for bulk of any successful hepatitis lawsuits.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A Nebraska judge ruled that the state's malpractice fund is liable for the bulk of any judgments against Tahir Javed the former Fremont physician accused of causing the largest hepatitis C outbreak of...

CD44v3 predicts the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma distant metastasis.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CD44v3 predicts the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma distant metastasis. According to published research from Japan, "numbers of patients with extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma...

Estrogen plays a critical role in female hepatocarcinogenesis.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Estrogen plays a critical role in female hepatocarcinogenesis. According to researchers in Japan, "Estrogen has been related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). "In this...

Plasma osteopontin levels rise in patients diagnosed with fulminant hepatitis.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Plasma osteopontin levels rise in patients diagnosed with fulminant hepatitis. According to a study from Japan, "fulminant hepatitis is characterized by massive or submassive liver necrosis. Massive...

PCR-RFLP is quick and reliable for detecting hepatitis B virus core mutants.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- PCR-RFLP is quick and reliable for detecting hepatitis B virus core mutants. "HBV chronic infection is an important health problem. The HBV core antigen carries several epitopes for T and B cell...

Ribavirin impairs osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in lab cultures.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ribavirin impairs osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in lab cultures. "Hepatitis C virus treatment with interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin has been related to decreased bone...

Update provided on revised Oxygent development plan.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. (ALLP) announced that it has received clarification from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medical Products (EMEA) regarding development recommendations for Oxygent...

Pre-allogeneic SCT is not associated with increased hypercoagulability.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pre-allogeneic stem cell transplantation is not associated with increased hypercoagulability. "Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is increasingly used in pre-allogeneic stem cell transplantation...

Iron levels in donor livers associate with fibrosis in female graft recipients.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Iron levels in donor livers associate with fibrosis in female graft recipients. According to recent research published in the Journal of Hepatology, "hepatic iron may act as an important co-morbid...

Portal venous, hepatic arterial reperfusion interval influence graft impairment.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Interval between portal venous and hepatic arterial reperfusion influences graft impairment. "Graft reperfusion in liver transplantation is usually performed by initial portal reperfusion (IPR) and...

Newer drugs target recurrent hepatitis B after liver transplantation.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Newer drugs target recurrent hepatitis B after liver transplantation. "Recurrent HBV is almost universal post-LT and is accompanied by significant graft and patient loss in the absence of effective...

Novel vaccine containing hepatitis C E1 protein shows promise in volunteers.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novel vaccine containing hepatitis C E1 protein shows promise in volunteers. "The tolerability and immunogenicity of the hepatitis C virus E1 protein as a candidate vaccine was examined in a Phase...

Study finds demand for vaccines in U.S. will increase 8.6% annually.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Demand for vaccines in the U.S. will advance 8.6% annually to $7.4 billion in 2008. Afterwards, new products for complex human diseases will lead to rapid acceleration in growth. Within the next few...

Hepatitis B superinfection cannot restore hepatitis C-specific CD8 reactivity.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis B superinfection cannot restore hepatitis C-specific CD8 reactivity. According to recent research published in the journal Hepatology, "hepatitis B virus (HBV) superinfection in chronic...

Estimates of hepatitis E virus mutagenesis produce alluring data.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Estimates of hepatitis E virus mutagenesis produce alluring data. "Since hepatitis E virus (HEV) does not persist in infected hosts or in cultured cell lines, it has been difficult to know its...

Host immunology and genomics govern hepatitis C virus progression.
November 1, 2004... 2004 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Host immunology and genomics govern hepatitis C virus progression. According to a study from Portugal, "host factors that may influence progression of hepatitis C infection to chronic hepatitis...

Invader assay quantifies covalently closed circular hepatitis B virus DNA.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Invader assay quantifies covalently closed circular hepatitis B virus DNA. According to published research from the Peoples Republic of China, "this study examined a signal amplification assay, the...

Oral telbivudine generates virological response in chronic hepatitis B patients.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oral telbivudine generates virological response in chronic hepatitis B patients. "Current therapy for chronic hepatitis B is suboptimal as a result of limited durable response rates, cumulative...

Oligonucleotide chips detect mutants in untreated patients with hepatitis B.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oligonucleotide chips detect mutants in untreated patients with hepatitis B. "Lamivudine, a nucleotide analogue, has been used widely as an effective antiviral agent for the treatment of patients...

HCV-related liver injury is more severe in living liver donor graft recipients.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HCV-related liver injury is more severe in living liver donor graft recipients. According to published research from Spain, "preliminary reports suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has...

Hepatitis C virus proteins are expressed in intestinal epithelial cells.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis C virus proteins are expressed in intestinal epithelial cells. According to recent research from France, "previous work on hepatitis C virus (HCV) led to the discovery of a new form of...

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone gene transfer averts murine liver failure.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone gene transfer averts murine liver failure. "Oxidative stress has been implicated in the propagation of acute liver injury. The aim of our study was to...

Marmosets with GB virus B infections model the pathogenesis of hepatitis C.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Marmosets with GB virus B infections model the pathogenesis of hepatitis C. According to a study from the United States, "GB virus B (GBV-B) is a flavivirus that is related closely to hepatitis C...

HAART changes hepatitis B and C viremia in patients coinfected with HIV.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HAART changes hepatitis B and C viremia in patients coinfected with HIV. "Chronic infection with either hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently present in patients seropositive...

Adefovir curtails lamivudine-resistant mutants in woodchucks with hepatitis.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adefovir curtails lamivudine-resistant mutants in woodchucks with hepatitis. "Adult woodchucks (Marmoto monax) chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) were treated orally with...

Prolonged entecavir spawns new substitutions in drug-resistant hepatitis B.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Prolonged entecavir spawns new substitutions in drug-resistant hepatitis B. According to recent research from the United States, "entecavir (ETV) exhibits potent antiviral activity in patients...

c-Src kinase helps regulate TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- c-Src kinase helps regulate TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis. According to recent research published in the journal Oncogene, "Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent inducer of...

Biotechnology company receives $2.7 million in financing.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nucleonics, Inc., announced that the company has secured a $2.7 million equipment financing facility through Oxford Finance Corporation, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. "The Oxford facility...

Gene-identification company provides 2004 update.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Enzo Biochem, Inc., (ENZ), a biotechnology company specializing in gene identification and genetic and immune regulation technologies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, reported operating...

Analysis examines blood growth factors market.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, U.S. Blood Growth Factors Market, reveals that revenue in this industry totaled $14.94 billion in 2004 and is projected to reach $30.75 billion in 2010. Blood...

Hepatitis C virus NS5A and nuclear factor-kappa B generate liver injury.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis C virus NS5A and nuclear factor-kappa B generate liver injury. "Most individuals exposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) become chronically infected and are predisposed to liver disease. The...

Licensing agreement signed with Ani Biotech.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Calypte Biomedical Corporation (HIV) announced that it has entered into a worldwide licensing technology transfer and equipment purchase agreement with Ani Biotech (Ani). The agreement grants...

Caribbean distributor orders second round of HIV diagnostic kits.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Diagnostics company MedMira (MMIRF) announced that it has received a second order from its Caribbean distributor, Caribbean Medical Inc. (CMI), for MedMira's MiraWell3 Rapid (HBV/HIV/HCV) Triple Test....

Pennsylvania won't release records of restaurant health violations.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Despite two high-profile outbreaks that sickened more than 1,000 Pennsylvania restaurant patrons, health inspections that turn up major problems are being kept secret by state officials. Bobby...

Heme oxygenase-1 levels fall in livers with hepatitis C virus infection.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Heme oxygenase-1 levels fall in livers with hepatitis C virus infection. "Antioxidant enzymes, including heme oxygenase (HO)-1, are an important line of defense against oxidant-mediated liver...

Beauty treatments facilitate the spread of viral hepatitis in Italy.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Beauty treatments facilitate the spread of viral hepatitis in Italy. According to recent research published in the Journal of Medical Virology, "the aims of the study were to evaluate the role of...

BCL-6+ HHV-8-associated lymphoma arose as multiple nodular lesions.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A BCL-6+ HHV-8-associated lymphoma arose from the liver and spleen as multiple nodular lesions. "We report a case of BCL-6-positive B cell lymphoma with human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infection....

COX II inhibitor spares platelets when pegylated interferon is used for HCV.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- COX II inhibitor spares platelets when pegylated interferon is used for HCV. "The role of a cyclooxygenase (COX) II inhibitor in reducing microvascular inflammation and the platelet count associated...

Application submitted in U.S., Europe to market entecavir.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) announced the submission of a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for entecavir. Entecavir is an investigational antiviral agent under...

Virus linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are six times as likely to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) as individuals who are virus-free, according to research presented at the Third Annual...

Combination therapy for HCV alters the profiles of maturing dendritic cells.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Combination therapy for HCV alters the profiles of maturing dendritic cells. According to a study from England, "alpha interferon and ribavirin are required in combination to achieve a sustained...

Role of gap junctions in liver elucidated.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The role of hepatic gap junctions has been elucidated. "Gap junctions are thought to be necessary for proper tissue function. However, no clear hepatic phenotype has been described in patients...

A new hepatocyte-specific autoantibody may be linked to autoimmune hepatitis.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new hepatocyte-specific autoantibody may be linked to autoimmune hepatitis. "It has been reported that autoantibodies to hepatocytes are frequently found in patients with autoimmune hepatitis...

Dendritic cells are functionally impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dendritic cells are functionally impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis B. "Dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in the induction of T-cell responses. We hypothesize that the hampered...

Hepatitis C virus alters the ability of dendritic cells to fight infection.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis C virus alters the ability of dendritic cells to fight infection. "Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often persistent, but its mechanism and pathogenesis remain unclear. One mechanism...

Primary T cell activation sites determine intrahepatic tolerance and immunity.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Primary T cell activation sites determine intrahepatic tolerance and immunity. According to recent research from Australia, "hepatic immunobiology is paradoxical: although the liver possesses...

Report underscores value of zinc in treating the common cold.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The benefits of using zinc products to fight the common cold are underscored by findings reported in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. The report, which reviews more than two...

New phase II study of hepatitis treatment underway.
November 8, 2004... 2004 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Drug developer MIGENIX (MGIFF) has initiated enrollment in its MX-3253 Phase II Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) clinical efficacy study in chronic HCV patients. Morris Sherman, M.D., of the Toronto General...