Caring Ambassadors Hepatitis C Program Newsletter
www.HepCChallenge.org
November
2008
In The News
StemCells
gets grant to fight hepatitis C
“StemCells Inc. said Thursday it was awarded a $305,000 grant from the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to research and develop
a potential cell-based therapy for liver disease arising from infection by the
hepatitis C virus. Palo Alto-based StemCells said hepatitis C is a global
health challenge, with approximately 170 million people affected worldwide and
an estimated three million new infections each year. The virus targets liver
cells and is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease. The grant will fund
work over the next year to investigate whether the company’s human liver engrafting
cells can be made resistant to infection by the virus.” Read
more…
Biolex to
take over full rights to investigational hep C. drug from Octoplus for $11M
“Biolex Therapeutics is paying OctoPlus $11 million for its 50% share of
commercial rights to Locteron for hepatitis C. Biolex also agreed to pay up to
$138 million in development and sales milestones. Additionally, OctoPlus will
receive an equity stake in Biolex of up to 3.0%.” Read more…
Hepatitis C treatment is cost-effective
for the US prison population
“Treating all U.S. prisoners who have
hepatitis C with the standard therapy of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin
would be cost-effective, says a new study in the November issue of Hepatology,
a journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). The article is also
available online at Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). U.S.
prisons incarcerate more than 2 million inmates each year, and between 12 and
31 percent of them are infected with chronic hepatitis C (HCV), mostly related
to high rates of intravenous drug use. The current standard treatment for HCV
has been shown to be cost-effective in the general population and the Federal
Bureau of Prisons recommends HCV treatment for those who meet the AASLD's
criteria for treatment, as long as therapy is likely to be completed. However,
each state adopts its own set of treatment guidelines, and many prisoners do
not ultimately get treated.” Read more…
Official: 114 hepatitis cases may trace to
clinics
“Investigators
think they've identified almost all the people who may have contracted the
potentially deadly hepatitis C virus at two Las Vegas outpatient medical
clinics, a top public health official said Thursday. ‘In putting everything
together, we've identified 114 cases in total linked to the two clinics,’ said
Brian Labus, the Southern Nevada Health District's senior epidemiologist.” Read more…
Natalie Cole: Dialysis in the day,
concerts at night
“Natalie Cole is sitting comfortably on the
couch in her spacious 10th floor condo overlooking Westwood. She's relaxed, and
at one point, before making a comment about one of the songs on her new album,
she takes a deep breath. That's something she couldn't have done a month ago,
when she wound up hospitalized in New York, struck down with fluid-filled lungs
and rapidly deteriorating kidneys.
‘I didn't
realize how close I was to checking out,’ Cole, 58, said Thursday. It was a
dramatic downturn that Cole, her doctors and those around her didn't expected.
She had been on the tail end of treatment for hepatitis C, which she learned
she was suffering from last February. It was a consequence of her
much-publicized drug use in the 1970s and '80s -- for years she was addicted to
heroin before she successfully completed rehab in 1983.” Read more…
OraSure's Hepatitis C test awaits FDA
approval
“The nation's first rapid Hepatitis C test could be on the way through the work
of a Bethlehem-based company, pending approval by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. OraSure Technologies Inc. has submitted a pre-market approval
application with the FDA for a rapid test for antibodies to the Hepatitis C
virus through OraSure's OraQuick technology. With the OraQuick Rapid Hepatitis
C test, the company hopes to mirror the success of its OraQuick Advance rapid
oral fluid HIV test, which produces results in 20 minutes. The Hepatitis C test
boasts an identical turnaround time for results.” Read more…
Clinical
Trials, Cohort Studies, Pilot Studies
Prevalence of cryoglobulinemia and autoimmune markers in liver transplant patients. Garrouste C, Kamar N, Boulestin A, et al. Exp Clin Transplant. 2008 Sep;6(3):184-9.
Unchanged plasma levels of
dimethylarginines and nitric oxide in chronic hepatitis C. Lluch P, Cortina
B, Vila JM, et al. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2008 Oct 25:1-5. [Epub ahead of
print]
Hepatitis C virus enhances incidence of
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Arase Y, Suzuki F, Suzuki Y, et al. World J
Gastroenterol. 2008 Oct 14;14(38):5880-6.
Pegylated interferon-alpha-2a plus
ribavirin for treatment-naive Asian patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1
infection: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Liu CH, Liu CJ, Lin
CL, et al Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Nov 15;47(10):1260-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18834319?ordinalpos=116&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Therapeutic effect of ARBs on insulin
resistance and liver injury in patients with NAFLD and chronic hepatitis C: a
pilot study. Enjoji M, Kotoh K, Kato M, et al. Int J Mol Med. 2008
Oct;22(4):521-7.
Peg-interferon alpha-2a versus
Peg-interferon alpha-2b in nonresponders with HCV active chronic hepatitis: a
pilot study. Scotto G, Fazio V, Fornabaio C, et al. J Interferon Cytokine
Res. 2008 Oct;28(10):623-9.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Specific T Cell
Responses in Injection Drug Users with Apparent Resistance to HCV Infection.
Thurairajah PH, Hegazy D, Chokshi S, et al. J Infect Dis. 2008 Oct 29. [Epub
ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18959498?ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Basic and Applied Science,
Pre-Clinical Studies
Genetic profile of Egyptian hepatocellular-carcinoma associated with hepatitis
C virus Genotype 4 by 15 K cDNA microarray: Preliminary study. Zekri AR,
Hafez MM, Bahnassy AA, et al. BMC Res Notes. 2008 Oct 29;1(1):106. [Epub ahead
of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18959789?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Impact of the Novel Hepatotropic
Viruslike Agent NV-F during Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Yeh CT,
Hsu CW, Chang ML, et al. J Infect Dis. 2008 Oct 27. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18954259?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Distinct expression patterns in
hepatitis B virus- and hepatitis C virus-infected hepatocellular carcinoma.
Lee CF, Ling ZQ, Zhao T, et al. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Oct
21;14(39):6072-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18932288?ordinalpos=44&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
High-resolution functional profiling of
hepatitis C virus genome. Arumugaswami V, Remenyi R, Kanagavel V, Sue EY, et
al. Sun R. PLoS Pathog. 2008 Oct;4(10):e1000182. Epub 2008 Oct 17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18927624?ordinalpos=63&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Frequent Compartmentalization of
Hepatitis C Virus with Leukocyte-Related Amino Acids in the Setting of Liver
Transplantation. Schramm F, Soulier E, Royer C, et al. J Infect Dis. 2008
Oct 16. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18925843?ordinalpos=67&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS2 protein up-regulates
HCV IRES-dependent translation and down-regulates NS5B RdRp activity. She
Y, Liao Q, Chen X, et al. Arch Virol. 2008 Oct 14. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18853100?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Hepatitis C virus envelope components
alter localization of hepatocyte tight junction-associated proteins and promote
occludin retention in the endoplasmic reticulum. Benedicto I,
Molina-Jiménez F, Barreiro O, Maldonado-Rodríguez A, et al. Hepatology. 2008
Oct;48(4):1044-53. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18802961?ordinalpos=163&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Characterization of hepatitis C
RNA-containing particles from human liver by density and size. Nielsen SU,
Bassendine MF, Martin C, Lowther et al. J Gen Virol. 2008 Oct;89(Pt
10):2507-17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18796720?ordinalpos=171&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Regulatory polymorphisms in the
interleukin-18 promoter are associated with hepatitis C virus clearance. An
P, Thio CL, Kirk GD, et al.. J Infect Dis. 2008 Oct 15;198(8):1159-65. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781864?ordinalpos=185&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Evidence for protection against chronic
hepatitis C virus infection in chimpanzees by immunization with replicating
recombinant vaccinia virus. Youn JW, Hu YW, Tricoche N, et al. J Virol.
2008 Nov;82(21):10896-905. Epub 2008 Aug 27. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18753204?ordinalpos=204&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Kinetic analysis by real-time PCR of
hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells in peripheral blood and liver after
challenge with HCV. Ramalingam RK, Meyer-Olson D, Shoukry NH, et al. J
Virol. 2008 Nov;82(21):10487-92. Epub 2008 Aug 20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18715926?ordinalpos=209&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Effect of interferon-alpha, ribavirin,
pentoxifylline, and interleukin-18 antibody on hepatitis C sera-stimulated
hepatic stellate cell proliferation.Khan F, Peltekian KM, Peterson TC. J
Interferon Cytokine Res. 2008 Nov;28(11):643-51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18844579?ordinalpos=93&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Hepatitis C virus association with
peripheral blood B lymphocytes potentiates viral infection of liver derived
hepatoma cells. Stamataki Z, Shannon-Lowe C, Shaw J, et al. Blood. 2008 Oct
6. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18838615?ordinalpos=105&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
HIV/HCV
Coinfection
Hepatic safety of tipranavir plus ritonavir (TPV/r)-based antiretroviral combinations: effect of hepatitis virus co-infection and pre-existing fibrosis. Macías J, Orihuela F, Rivero A, et al. Antimicrob Chemother. 2008 Oct 24. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18952618?ordinalpos=12&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Application of transient elastometry to differentiate mild from moderate to severe liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Macías J, Recio E, Vispo E, et al. J Hepatol. 2008 Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18929426?ordinalpos=57&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Efficacy of pegylated interferon plus
ribavirin treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients receiving
abacavir plus lamivudine or tenofovir plus either lamivudine or emtricitabine
as nucleoside analogue backbone. Mira JA, López-Cortés LF, Barreiro P, et
al. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008 Oct 13. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18854330?ordinalpos=80&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Oral lichenoid lesions in HIV-HCV-coinfected subjects during antiviral therapy: 2 cases and review of the literature. Giuliani M, Lajolo C, Sartorio A, et al. Am J Dermatopathol. 2008 Oct;30(5):466-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18806491?ordinalpos=160&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Complementary
& Alternative Therapy
Glycyrrhizin and its metabolite inhibit
Smad3-mediated type I collagen gene transcription and suppress experimental
murine liver fibrosis. Moro T, Shimoyama Y, Kushida M, et al. Life Sci.
2008 Oct 10;83(15-16):531-539. Epub 2008 Aug 16. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18771671?ordinalpos=192&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Epidemiology, Diagnostics, and Miscellaneous
Works
Prevalence of HCV and HIV infections in
2005-Earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan. Khan S, Rai MA, Khan A, et al. BMC
Infect Dis. 2008 Oct 27;8(1):147. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18954443?ordinalpos=10&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Type and etiology of liver cirrhosis are
not related to the presence of hepatic encephalopathy or health-related quality
of life: a cross-sectional study. Kalaitzakis E, Josefsson A, Björnsson E. BMC
Gastroenterol. 2008 Oct 15;8:46.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18922174?ordinalpos=72&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Hepatitis B and
hepatitis C in Pakistan: prevalence and risk factors. Ali SA, Donahue RM,
Qureshi H, et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2008 Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18835208?ordinalpos=114&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum