Health Research: Type 2 diabetes reversed by losing fat from pancreas ♦ Enhanced treatment for hepatitis C could cut prevalence by 80 percent

Type 2 diabetes reversed by losing fat from pancreas Type 2 diabetes is caused by fat accumulating in the pancreas, researchers show. They add that losing less than one gram of that fat through weight loss reverses the diabetes.

Enhanced treatment for hepatitis C could cut prevalence by 80 percent Novel antiviral therapies for hepatitis C could reduce the prevalence of the blood-borne infection by more than 80 percent, according to a new analysis. The finding raises the possibility of greatly reducing, and even eliminating, hepatitis C in the United States if enhanced screening and treatment efforts target high-risk populations.

Metformin does not improve glycemic control for overweight teens with type 1 diabetes In a randomized trial that included overweight and obese adolescents with type 1 diabetes, the addition of metformin to insulin did not improve glycemic control after six months;

Researchers hope to harness human Researchers are learning more about how an ancient “error correction” system in the human genome helps protect the body against HIV, in hopes that their latest discovery may help in the fight against the infection.

Health News: Feds announce ‘Nationwide Sweep’ of supplement makers ♦ Simple drug regimen cures hepatitis C virus in patients ♦ New fat cell metabolism research

Feds announce ‘Nationwide Sweep’ of supplement makers Seven federal agencies, led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), have announced joint civil and criminal actions against more than 100 makers and marketers of potentially dangerous dietary supplements, which one official compared to modern-day versions of “snake oil salesman and medical quacks.”

Simple drug regimen cures hepatitis C virus in patients after 12 weeks Researchers have found that a simple drug regimen delivered over 12 weeks achieved sustained eradication of several genotypes of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 99 per cent of the trial's patients

Emergency response system for blood formation identified inside body Scientists have determined how the body responds during times of emergency when it needs more blood cells. When tissue damage occurs, in times of excessive bleeding, or during pregnancy, a secondary, emergency blood-formation system is activated in the spleem

New fat cell metabolism research could lead to new ways to treat diabetes, obesity New insights into what nutrients fat cells metabolize to make fatty acids have been released by scientists. The findings pave the way for understanding potential irregularities in fat cell metabolism that occur in patients with diabetes and obesity and could lead to new treatments for these conditions

Health News:Hepatitis C investigation expands to second hospital ♦ Protein-RNA structure hints at how viruses commandeer human proteins

Hepatitis C investigation expands to second hospital  Davis Hospital and Medical Center in Layton will notify 2,369 patients November 12 stating that they may have been exposed to hepatitis C after a patient at McKay-Dee Hospital contracted the blood-borne pathogen allegedly from a former nurse who stole morphine and Dilaudid. Davis Hospital issued alerts after investigators discovered that the nurse was previously employed

Social media offers neuroscientists a treasure trove of research material Because social media is used so pervasively in modern society to tap into people's behaviors and thoughts, neuroscientists are finding Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms to be very useful tools in a broad range of research areas. A review describes some of the approaches that neuroscientists can use to gain valuable insights from social media.

Protein-RNA structure hints at how viruses commandeer human proteins Researchers have produced the first image of an important human protein as it binds with ribonucleic acid (RNA), a discovery that could offer clues to how some viruses, including HIV, control expression of their genetic material. That information could lead to new strategies to block viruses from replicating, thereby limiting or halting infection.

Medical marijuana should be held to same standard as other drugs. Medical marijuana needs to be studied like any other drug. No one is opposed to the active ingredients in it, but we need to have some data. That is what we would expect from any other drug.

Health News How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration ♦ Urban ERs see high rates of hepatitis C infection ♦ Viruses thrive in big families

Viruses thrive in big families, in sickness and in health Every child puts a household at increased risk for viral infections. A new study showed that childless households had infections during 3-4 weeks of the year, while families with six children were infected for 45 weeks. But only half who tested positive reported feeling ill. These results can help families and health care providers know when illness should be cause for concern.

How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration Researchers have identified a protein produced by white blood cells that puts the brakes on muscle repair after injury in mice. The findings point to a target for potential treatments aimed at enhancing muscle regeneration.

Opioid use and sexual violence among drug-using young adults in NYC New research seeks to identify the potential role of drug use in increasing risk of sexual violence among young adult opioid users in New York City, and to identify the specific social and contextual factors surrounding this group's experiences of sexual violence.

Urban ERs see high rates of hepatitis C infection An urban emergency department that set up a hepatitis C testing protocol saw high rates of infection among intravenous drug users and Baby Boomers, with three-quarters of those testing positive unaware they were infected.

High blood sugar of diabetes can cause immune system malfunction, triggering infection Scientists may have uncovered a molecular mechanism that sets into motion dangerous infection in the feet and hands often occurring with uncontrolled diabetes. It appears that high blood sugar unleashes destructive molecules that interfere with the body's natural infection-control defenses

Health Research:New genetic form of obesity ♦ Hope for patients with chronic wounds Most wounds ♦ Brown fat transplant reversed type 1 diabetes

New genetic form of obesity, diabetes discovered Scientists have discovered a new inherited form of obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans. Researchers discovered the new defect by sequencing the DNA of an extremely obese young woman and members of her family. In addition to an increased appetite leading to severe weight problems from childhood, she had type 2 diabetes, learning difficulties, and reproductive problems.

License plate decals don't seem to curb learner driver crash rates The use of license plate decals for drivers with learner permits doesn't seem to have reduced their crash rate in New Jersey, the first US state to introduce the regulation.

Hepatitis C: Life-threatening barriers in access to breakthrough drugs in US Most states violate federal Medicaid law because they deny coverage for sofosbuvir, a new and highly effective treatment to cure hepatitis C. According to a team of researchers who examined Medicaid policies for hepatitis C virus treatment using sofosbuvir, more commonly known as Solvadi, most should change policy to improve access to the treatment.

Hope for patients with chronic wounds Most wounds clear up by themselves, but some fail to heal and become chronic. An international team of researchers has now unveiled the important role of so-called microRNAs in regulating skin wound healing, pointing to new therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds

Brown fat transplant reversed type 1 diabetes without insulin in non-obese diabetic mice Researchers have found embryonic brown fat transplants reversed type 1 diabetes and restored glucose tolerance to normal in non-obese diabetic mice.

Health News: Nation's strictest mandatory vaccine laws ♦ Food processing impact on chlorate residue ♦ Updated guidance on use of hepatitis C drugs

California approved one of nation's strictest mandatory vaccine laws  The California Assembly passed a bill - 5 - June 25 restricting exemptions for mandatory vaccination schedules, negating the State’s personal belief exemption allowing only children with serious health problems to opt out.

More Information of food processing impact on chlorate residue needed An EFSA panel has called for more data on the impact of processing on chlorate residues in food but said total daily intake at the highest estimated amount is unlikely to exceed safe levels. The panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain said the impact of the uncertainties on the risk assessment is large.

Updated guidance on use of hepatitis C drugs The online Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C has been updated to aid practitioners treating patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is a blood-borne virus that infects the liver and may lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). In the past 25 years HCV has gone from an undiagnosed disease to an epidemic level, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that up to 150 million people worldwide live with chronic disease.

Fatalistic beliefs may prevent Appalachian women from completing HPV vaccination series Could a fatalistic attitude toward cervical cancer serve as a barrier to prevention of the disease? A recent study suggests a link between fatalistic beliefs and completion of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine series among a sample of young Appalachian Kentucky women.

Scientists identify 'decoy' molecule that may sharply reduce risk of flu death The flu virus can be lethal. But what is often just as dangerous is the body's own reaction to the invader. The immune counterattack can end up harming the body's own tissues, causing deadly damage. Now, a researcher has, for the first time, uncovered new details about how this response plays out. And he has identified a 'decoy' molecule that can rein in this runaway inflammatory response.

Health Research: Simple score predicts risk of death for middle-aged adults ♦ Two new groups of viruses discovered ♦ Research points to future test for ALS

FDA addresses concerns on approval of drugs to treat chronic hepatitis C Treatment options for chronic hepatitis C, a serious and life-threatening infection, have improved substantially and several new regimens with shorter durations and improved efficacy and safety profiles are now available

CT angiography links arterial plaque with diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol Non-calcified arterial plaque is associated with diabetes, high systolic blood pressure and elevated 'bad' cholesterol levels in asymptomatic individuals. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in men and women worldwide, accounting for 17 million deaths annually

Two new groups of viruses discovered Two new groups of viruses have been discovered within the Bunyavirus family in the tropical forest of Ivory Coast. Previously only five groups responsible for serious illnesses in humans and animals were known. Most are spread through blood-feeding insects. Based on the discovered viruses researchers conclude that the ancestor to all bunyaviruses must have existed in arthropods such as insects.

Simple score predicts risk of death for middle-aged adults in the UK A simple score test can predict the risk of death for middle-aged adults, a British study suggests. Information for the test can be obtained by questionnaires without the need for physical examination

Research points to future test for ALS Researchers have uncovered new insights on the genetic causes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. These findings could uncover a new way to detect a genetic predisposition to ALS before the disease strikes

.

Immune Research: What causes immune cell migration to wounds ♦ Viral variants helps hepatitis C survive immune system attacks ♦ Some immune cells change to prolong inflammation

How the immune system controls the human biological clock in times of infection An important link between the human body clock and the immune system has relevance for better understanding inflammatory and infectious diseases. Researchers report how a critical white blood cell called the macrophage, when exposed to bacteria, makes the biological clock inside the macrophage stop, allowing it to become inflamed.

Dental researchers find some immune cells change to prolong inflammation One of the mysteries of how a small group of immune cells work has been unraveled by researchers: some inflammation-fighting immune cells may actually convert into cells that trigger disease.

Cooperation among viral variants helps hepatitis C survive immune system attacks Warring armies use a variety of tactics, including use of a decoy force that occupies the defenders while an unseen force launches a separate attack that the defenders fail to notice. A new study suggests that the Hepatitis C virus may employ similar tactics to distract the body's natural defenses.

Scientists discover key to what causes immune cell migration to wounds Immune cells play an important role in the upkeep and repair of our bodies, helping us to defend against infection and disease. Until now, how these cells detect a wounded or damaged site has largely remained a mystery. New research has identified the triggers which lead these cells to react and respond in cell repair.

Health News: Conagra agrees to pay $11.2 million for salmonella outbreak ♦ Bacteria may be lurking in your coffee machine ♦ Engineering digestive system tissues

Conagra agrees to pay $11.2 million for salmonella outbreak Omaha-based ConAgra Foods Inc. has reached a plea agreement with U.S. attorneys that will see its ConAgra Grocery Products Company plead guilty to a single misdemeanor violation of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Harmful bacteria may be lurking in your single serve coffee machine There’s some bad news for coffee lovers brewing their morning joe with a single serve coffee maker According to a swab test conducted by KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, over 4 million colonies of harmful bacteria and mold was founding lurking in the water tank, coffee pod compartment, spout and tray on more than half of the 28 machines tested.

Researchers make progress engineering digestive system tissues New proof-of-concept research suggests the potential for engineering replacement intestine tissue in the lab, a treatment that could be applied to infants born with a short bowel and adults having large pieces of gut removed due to cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.

Lives could be saved with hepatitis C treatment A research team is asking for hepatitis C virus patients to gain improved access to drugs to prevent liver related deaths. Hepatitis C virus infection is a major public health burden in Australia, with estimates of 230,000 people chronically infected. The research team is calling for the government to subsidise a new therapy which has high cure rates, known as direct acting antiviral therapy.

Nanomaterials in sunscreens and boats leave marine life vulnerable Nanomaterials commonly used in sunscreens and boat-bottom paints are making sea urchin embryos more vulnerable to toxins, according to a new study. The authors said this could pose a risk to coastal, marine and freshwater environments.

Health News: Jeni’s Ice Cream finds source of Listeria ♦ Search engine self-diagnosis and 'cyberchondria ♦ Treating gum disease reduces prostate symptoms

Jeni’s Ice Cream finds source of Listeria In an update posted Wednesday from John Lowe, CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, he said that swab testing had found Listeria on the spout of one machine in the company’s production kitchen in Columbus, OH.

Dr Google' doesn't know best: Search engine self-diagnosis and 'cyberchondria' Research is aiming to improve search engines after finding online self-diagnosis of health conditions provides misleading results that can do more harm than good.

Interferon-free therapy clears hepatitis C in 93 percent of patients in trial A 12-week dose of an investigational three-drug hepatitis C combination cured the virus in 93 percent of patients with liver cirrhosis who hadn't previously been treated. For most of the past 20 years, therapies for hepatitis C relied on interferon drugs, which require regular injections for as long as one year and trigger miserable, flu-like side effects that prompt many patients to quit the regimen.

How relaxation response may help treat two gastrointestinal disorders Participating in a nine-week training program including elicitation of the relaxation response had a significant impact on clinical symptoms of the gastrointestinal disorders irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease and on the expression of genes related to inflammation and the body's response to stress

Treating gum disease reduces prostate symptoms Treating gum disease reduced symptoms of prostate inflammation, called prostatitis, report researchers. Previous studies have found a link between gum disease and prostatitis, a disease that inflames the gland that produces semen. Inflammation can make urination difficult.

Health News: Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads ♦ Eels Covered in toxic dye ♦ Home canned potatoes probably caused botulism outbreak ♦ Alcohol use disorders

.Increase human protections offered as H5N2 Flu Outbreak Spreads  Federal public health officials reported that about 300 farm workers exposed to the H5N2 strain of bird flu were offered Tamiflu, an antiviral medication, as a precaution due to an ongoing outbreak that is affecting Midwestern poultry farms. Investigators have heightened biosecurity measures on infected farms and protective equipment has been issued for responders to the scene of an outbreak

.National Guard called up to deliver water in Minnesota bird flu fight  The Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center reported April 26 that 30 National Guard soldiers and 15 military water trucks will be deployed April 27 – 29 in an effort to contain the rapidly spreading H5N2 strain of bird flu.

Eels Covered in toxic dye Ming Chuan International bought 3,000 kg of live eels from the Yunlin fishery earlier in the year, then sold them to Hong Yi Ltd. , a frozen food manufacturer in Pingtung, which originally planned to export the processed eels to Japan. However, Hong Yi made some of the live eels into grilled eels before test results from SGS Taiwan became available

Home canned potatoes served at potluck probably caused botulism outbreak Ohio public health officials announced Monday that potato salad containing home-canned potatoes was the likely cause of a recent botulism outbreak following a potluck luncheon at the Crosspoint Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster, OH. They said that their conclusion was based on lab tests and interviews with those who attended the potluck on

Alcohol use disorders - stronger predictor of mortality than chronic hepatitis C virus infection Scientists show that alcohol use disorders have a serious, negative prognostic outcome with higher mortality risks in the general population and patients with hepatitis C virus

Health Research:How hospitals can improve outcomes of weekend surgeries ♦ Artificial virus fragment the key to a Chikungunya vaccine ♦ Hepatitis C virus infection

Alcohol use disorders - stronger predictor of mortality than chronic hepatitis C virus infection Scientists show that alcohol use disorders (AUD) have a serious, negative prognostic outcome with higher mortality risks in the general population and patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in particular.

How hospitals can improve outcomes of weekend surgeries Studies have shown that patients who undergo surgeries on weekends tend to experience longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates and readmissions. For the first time, a new study has identified five resources that can help hospitals overcome this 'weekend effect': increased nurse-to-bed ratio; full adoption of electronic medical records; inpatient physical rehabilitation; a home-health program; and a pain management program.

Is a small artificially composed virus fragment the key to a Chikungunya vaccine? The mosquito transmitted Chikungunya virus, which causes Chikungunya fever, is spreading continuously. No vaccine is so far available. Researchers have experimentally recombined segments of the virus surface protein E2, thus creating artificial proteins. The domain generated that way -- 'sAB+' -- was able to confer a protective effect against Chikungunya virus to the animal. An immunization by means of this small protein fragment could thus provide a suitable approach to developing a Chikungunya vaccine.

Whooping cough: A small drop in vaccine protection can lead to a case upsurge In 2012 the USA saw the highest number of pertussis -- whooping cough -- cases since 1955. New research finds that a likely explanation for this rise in disease is a drop in the degree of vaccine protection for each vaccinated individual.

Cancer Research: Cancer rates among patients with hepatitis C are increased ♦ New proton therapy technique brings hope ♦ Chance and circumstance tip immune control of cancer

Chance and circumstance tip immune control of cancer Researchers developed a new computational model that elucidates the dynamic interplay between cancer and the immune system.

Cancer rates among patients with hepatitis C are increased compared to those not infected New results show that cancer rates in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) were significantly increased compared to the non-HCV cohort. The researchers suggest an extrahepatic manifestation of HCV may be an increased risk of cancer.

Brachytherapy improves survival for inoperable early stage endometrial cancer Women who have early stage endometrial cancer and are inoperable tend to live longer if they have been treated with brachytherapy with or without external beam radiation, according to new research

New proton therapy technique brings hope of more effective treatment for tumors without causing collateral damage Researchers have succeeded in making a model of breathing movement that allows for the precise measurement of narrow beams to a dummy tumor in the lung by simulating the motion and physical properties of the chest anatomy in a model, thereby taking a large step towards maximizing the targeting of treatment in mobile organs

HIV Outbreak in Indiana Community

On January 23, 2015, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) began an ongoing investigation of an outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, after Indiana disease intervention specialists reported 11 confirmed HIV cases traced to a rural county in southeastern Indiana. Historically, fewer than five cases of HIV infection have been reported annually in this county. The majority of cases were in residents of the same community and were linked to syringe-sharing partners injecting the prescription opioid oxymorphone (a powerful oral semi-synthetic opioid analgesic). As of April 21, ISDH had diagnosed HIV infection in 135 persons (129 with confirmed HIV infection and six with preliminarily positive results from rapid HIV testing that were pending confirmatory testing) in a community of 4,200 persons.

The age range of the 135 patients is 18–57 years , 74 (54.8%) are male. A small number of pregnant women were diagnosed with HIV infection and started on antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy. As of April 21, no infants had tested positive for HIV. Of the 135 persons with diagnosed HIV infection, 108 (80.0%) have reported injection drug use (IDU), four (3.0%) have reported no IDU, and 23 (17.0%) have not been interviewed to determine IDU status. Among the 108 who have reported IDU, all reported dissolving and injecting tablets of oxymorphone as their drug of choice. Some reported injecting other drugs, including methamphetamine and heroin. Ten (7.4%) female patients have been identified as commercial sex workers. Coinfection with hepatitis C virus has been diagnosed in 114 (84.4%) patients.

The patients were interviewed about syringe-sharing and sex partners, as well as any social contacts who also might have engaged in high risk behaviors. Those interviewed reported an average of nine syringe-sharing partners, sex partners, or other social contacts who might be at risk for HIV infection. Of the 373 contacts named as of April 21, a total of 247 (66.2%) had been located, 230 (61.7%) were tested, and 17 (4.6%) either declined testing or were not able to be tested. Of the 230 contacts who were tested, test results for 109 (47.4%) were HIV positive, and 121 (52.6%) were HIV negative. Of the 128 contacts who have not yet been located, 74 (57.8%) have been identified as syringe-sharing or sex partners, and 54 (42.2%) are social contacts regarded as at high risk for HIV infection.

Injection drug use in this community is a multi-generational activity, with as many as three generations of a family and multiple community members injecting together. IDU practices include crushing and cooking extended-release oxymorphone, most frequently 40 mg tablets not designed to resist crushing or dissolving. Syringes and drug preparation equipment are frequently shared (e.g., the drug is dissolved in nonsterile water and drawn up into an insulin syringe that is usually shared with others). The reported daily numbers of injections ranged from four to 15, with the reported number of injection partners ranging from one to six per injection event.

Like many other rural counties in the United States, the county has substantial unemployment (8.9%), a high proportion of adults who have not completed high school (21.3%), a substantial proportion of the population living in poverty (19%), and limited access to health care (1). This county consistently ranks among the lowest in the state for health indicators and life expectancy (2).

ISDH worked with the only health care provider in the immediate community, local health officials, law enforcement, community partners, regional health care providers and CDC to launch a comprehensive response to this outbreak. A public health emergency was declared on March 26 by executive order (3). The response has included a public education campaign, establishment of an incident command center and a community outreach center, short-term authorization of syringe exchange, and support for comprehensive medical care including HIV and hepatitis C virus care and treatment as well as substance abuse counseling and treatment. State and local health departments and academic partners, with the assistance of CDC, are working to implement and improve the community outreach programs supported by the executive order and to interrupt IDU-related HIV and hepatitis C virus transmission. Contact tracing by state and CDC disease intervention specialists continues to identify those potentially exposed.

This HIV outbreak involves a rural population, historically at low risk for HIV, in which HIV infection spread rapidly within a large network of persons who injected prescription opioids. The Indiana public health response includes implementing programs to contain the spread of HIV and hepatitis C virus, curb injection drug use, and concurrently build social resilience in the community. The outbreak highlights the vulnerability of many rural, resource-poor populations to drug use, misuse, and addiction, in the context of a high prevalence of unaddressed comorbid conditions (4). The outbreak also demonstrates the importance of timely HIV and Hepatitis C surveillance activities and rapid response to interrupt disease transmission. Finally, the outbreak points to the need for expanded mental health and substance use treatment programs in medically underserved rural areas (5).

Over-The-Counter Allergy Drug Treats Hepatitis C in Mice

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. Approximately 75% to 85% of people who become infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop chronic infection, as their body is unable to get rid of the virus. Worldwide, about 185 million people are estimated to have chronic hepatitis C. Left untreated, it can cause severe liver disease or liver cancer. In some cases, a liver transplant may be needed.

More than 3 million people in the United States are estimated to have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Most people don’t know they are infected because they don’t look or feel sick. Image credit: xrender/Thinkstock.

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C infection. Several treatments are available that can cure the disease. However, the drugs have side effects and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

A team led by Dr. T. Jake Liang set out to find treatment options that are effective, safe, and affordable. Their strategy was to search for drugs already approved for other uses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that might have anti-HCV activity. Finding alternative uses for approved compounds significantly reduces the time, money, and effort needed to develop a new drug.

The group screened a comprehensive library of approved drugs developed by NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) for the ability to block the hepatitis C virus from infecting cells and replicating. The research was conducted at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The findings were published online on April 8, 2015, in Science Translational Medicine.

The researchers identified multiple allergy-relieving antihistamines that also have antiviral activity. Among them was an over-the-counter drug called CCZ, approved in the 1940s to treat allergy symptoms.

The researchers found that the drug inhibited HCV infection of human liver cells. The drug also inhibited HCV infection in mice implanted with human liver cells.  Mice treated for 4 to 6 weeks had reduced levels of the virus, with no evidence of drug resistance.

“Although hepatitis C is curable, there is an unmet need for effective and affordable medication. CCZ is a promising candidate for part of a treatment regimen for this potentially life-threatening disease,” Liang says. However, he cautions, “People should not take CCZ to treat their hepatitis C until it has been demonstrated that CCZ can be used safely and effectively for that purpose.”

The researchers will now study how CCZ affects humans. People with hepatitis C who are interested in participating in clinical research on CCZ may call 1-866-444-2214 (TTY 1-866-411-1010) or visitwww.clinicaltrials.gov (Clinical Trial # NCT02118012) for information.

Allergy drug inhibits hepatitis C in mice

An over-the-counter drug indicated to treat allergy symptoms limited hepatitis C virus activity in infected mice, according to a National Institutes of Health study. The results suggest that the drug, chlorcyclizine HCl (CCZ), potentially could be used to treat the virus in people. Results were published April 8 in Science Translational Medicine

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes liver inflammation and often leads to serious complications such as cirrhosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of HCV can prevent liver damage. Drugs are available to treat HCV, but costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

“Although hepatitis C is curable, there is an unmet need for effective and affordable medication,” said lead author T. Jake Liang, M.D., senior investigator at NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). “CCZ is a promising candidate for part of a treatment regimen for this potentially life-threatening disease.”

Conducted at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, the study found that CCZ blocked the early stage of HCV infection likely by impairing the ability of the virus to enter human liver cells grafted in the mice. The outcome was similar to that of commonly used antiviral drugs but without those drugs’ toxic side effects.

“Using an innovative high-throughput screening process, we identified CCZ as a potent inhibitor of hepatitis C,” said Anton Simeonov, Ph.D., acting scientific director of NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), which collaborated in the study. “Identifying already approved drugs from the NCATS Pharmaceutical Collection may offer a faster route to potential discovery of treatments for all diseases.”

The researchers will next study how the drug affects people. CCZ is currently used for the treatment of allergies, not for HCV. “People should not take CCZ to treat their hepatitis C until it has been demonstrated that CCZ can be used safely and effectively for that purpose,” cautions Liang.

“NIH research is vital to finding creative solutions for some of today’s most serious public health issues,” said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D. “The CCZ medication may eventually provide an affordable alternative to costly options, especially in low-resource communities where hepatitis C infection is widespread.”

HCV infection affects an estimated 185 million people worldwide. People with hepatitis C interested in participating in clinical research on CCZ may call 1-866-444-2214 (TTY 1-866-411-1010) or visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (Clinical Trial # NCT02118012) for information. Support for both studies comes from the intramural research programs of the NIDDK and NCATS and from Hiroshima University.

Faster, Easier Cures for Hepatitis C

Transformative advances in drug treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration are giving the 3.2 million Americans with chronic hepatitis C a chance for a longer, healthier life without the virus. That’s welcome news for baby boomers—who make up three of four adults with the hepatitis C virus—and millions of other Americans, many of whom don’t yet know they are infected and carriers.

Hepatitis C can be cured, and today’s drug therapies are very effective and easier for patients to take, says Jeffrey S. Murray, M.D., the deputy director of the Division of Antiviral Products in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Murray is an internist who specializes in infectious diseases.

A Preventable and Curable Disease

Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Each is caused by a different virus.

Hepatitis C is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States. There is no vaccine for this disease, but hepatitis C can be prevented by avoiding behaviors that can spread the virus—including sharing needles, syringes or other equipment to inject drugs.

A diagnosis of hepatitis C no longer means months and months of painful drug injections, which for decades were the only option. Science is making strides in therapies, giving patients new alternatives.

“Interferon-based injections often make patients feel ill and give them flulike symptoms,” Murray says. The treatment by interferon also lasts six months to a year, and cures only 40% to 50% of hepatitis C patients.

“Patients with very advanced liver disease couldn’t take the traditional treatment because often those injections could make them worse,” he adds. “Now, patients can treat their hepatitis C with only pills– drug combinations that are faster and have a higher cure rate.”

Today’s pills have double the viral cure rates—90% to 100%—in just in 12 weeks’ time. Reducing the treatment from a year to three months is a huge advantage for people with hepatitis C, especially because it’s easier to swallow a pill than to get an injection, Murray says.

The new regimens include Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), which is the first drug approved to treat certain types of hepatitis C infection without the need to co-administer interferon. In recent years, FDA has also approved three protease inhibitors—Olysio (simeprevir), Victrelis (boceprevir) and Incivek (telaprevir)—to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Olysio is a protease inhibitor that blocks a specific protein the hepatitis C virus needs to replicate. The drug is a component of a combination antiviral treatment regimen.

Baby Boomers and Hepatitis C

For most people, hepatitis is a silent disease until it causes substantial damage to the liver. That process may take several years, and can lead to liver failure, liver transplantation and liver cancer.

“Hepatitis C is a bit like smoking, the longer you’ve had it, the higher your risk of developing complications—in this case, liver cancer and end-stage liver disease. It’s a progressive disease that takes years, even decades, before the patient develops cirrhosis or cancer,” Murray says. “The good news is that when you cure hepatitis C, you also lower its risks, though you don’t completely erase the years of damage to your liver.”

Once infected with the hepatitis C virus, nearly 8 in 10 untreated people remain infected for life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three in four patients with chronic hepatitis C are baby boomers (people born from 1945 to 1965), and many became infected before the virus was identified and the blood supply was tested for the disease. That’s why it’s important for baby boomers—there are 76.4 million of them, according to the U.S. Census Bureau—to take a simple blood test for hepatitis C.

“When it comes to hepatitis C, the outlook for the future is better, but the past is catching up with us—especially if you are a baby boomer,” Murray says. “Still, this is a fortuitous time because better hepatitis C treatments are becoming available just as the patient population at risk of long-term complications is about to peak. There are treatments for chronic hepatitis and many reasons to get tested now more than ever because of the availability of safe and effective therapies

3/14/14 Health News: FIVE SECOND RULE IS REAL - Stethoscopes Play a Part in Spreading Germs - Vinegar Safe Way to Kill TB Germ - Vinegar May Be Cheap, Safe Way to Kill TB Germ

THE FIVE SECOND RULE IS REAL?

Apparently, food picked up just a few seconds after being dropped is less likely to contain bacteria than if it is left for longer periods of time, according to the findings of research carried out at Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences. The findings suggest there may be some scientific basis to the...Continue Reading

Stethoscopes Could Play a Part in Spreading Germs

New study shows that the amount of bacteria on a stethoscope can be higher than all parts of the doctor's hand except for the fingertips after examining a patient. Doctors' hands touch dozens of patients a day and medical standards require them to sanitize after they examine a patient, but what about their stethoscopes? With germs from many patients coming into contact with stethoscopes each day, a new study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, suggests the stethoscope should be subject to the same sanitary procedures as doctors' hands.continue Reading

Vinegar May Be Cheap, Safe Way to Kill TB Germ

A potent weapon against a dangerous class of bacteria may be as close as the kitchen cupboard, new research suggests. Scientists say common vinegar may be an inexpensive, non-toxic and effective way to kill increasingly drug-resistant mycobacteria -- including the germ that causes tuberculosis. Although researchers often use chlorine bleach to clean tuberculosis bacteria on surfaces, the study authors pointed out that bleach is also both toxic and corrosive. Meanwhile, other disinfectants may be too costly for tuberculosis labs in poor countries were the illness most often occurs. But the research team found that acetic acid, the active ingredient in vinegar, does the trick cheaply and effectively. Continue Reading

Hepatitis C Cases Fall 16% in U.S., CDC Survey Finds

The number of Americans with hepatitis C fell 16 percent to 2.7 million over almost a decade, a government survey found, just as new, more effective treatments for the chronic liver disease reach the market. The survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covers data gathered from 2003 to 2010. It updates information collected in 1999 to 2002 that counted 3.2 million people as being infected. Hepatitis C can be symptomless for years before it begins to scar the liver, leading to cancer, organ failure and, eventually, a transplant.continue Reading