Hoping to learn more about treatment options for liver cancer, but weren’t able to make the webinar with Dr. Gish on April 27th? Continue reading "Treatment Options for Liver Cancer YouTube Webinar With Dr. Robert Gish"
Highlights of the New WHO Chronic Hepatitis B Guidelines
Have you had an opportunity to take a look at the new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the treatment of those with chronic hepatitis B?
Guidelines developed by other medical organizations including AASLD, EASL, and APASL were focused mainly on the prevention, care and treatment of hepatitis B for those living in higher income countries. The new WHO guidelines were developed with low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) in mind, though they are certainly applicable in high-income countries as well. Continue reading "Highlights of the New WHO Chronic Hepatitis B Guidelines"
HBV Journal Review April 2015
HBF is pleased to connect our blog readers to Christine Kukka’s monthly HBV Journal Review that she writes for the HBV Advocate. The journal presents the
latest in hepatitis B research, treatment, and prevention from recent academic and medical journals. This month, the following topics are explored:
- Half of Patients with HBV Genotype C Will Lose HBsAg
- Five-year Study Shows Tenofovir Dramatically Improves Cirrhosis
- Tenofovir Also Effective Against Adefovir and Multi-drug Resistance
- Tenofovir Is Effective in Pregnant Women Who Have Resistance to Other Drugs
- Estimates of Liver Cirrhosis in the U.S. Jump 50%
- Taking Antivirals for Three Years After Undetectable Viral Load Reduces Relapse Risk
- Study Finds Antivirals Can Replace Costly HBIG after Liver Transplant Surgery
- Hospitalized Hepatitis B Patients Have Higher Death Rates and Longer Stays Than Hepatitis C Patients
- Small Study Finds Psoriasis Treatment May Not Reactivate Hepatitis B
- Emulsion Made from Ginkgo Leaves Shows Promise Against Hepatitis B
- Experimental Treatment Boosts the Immune System and Slows Viral Replication
- HIV-HBV Coinfected Patients Have High Rates of Hip Fractures
Continue reading "HBV Journal Review April 2015"
Webinar on Treatment Options for Liver Cancer: What You Need to Know
Please join the Hepatitis B Foundation’s Liver Cancer Connect program and world-renowned liver disease specialist, Dr. Robert Gish for a webinar on Monday, April 27th 12 noon EDT to learn about liver cancer treatment. How does the stage of the cancer affect treatment? Why are screening and surveillance so important? What are the available treatments and what are the therapies in development? Continue reading "Webinar on Treatment Options for Liver Cancer: What You Need to Know"
Hepatitis on the Hill – HBV Personal Perspective and Action Alert
On March 9-10 I participated in “Hepatitis on the Hill” in Washington, DC. The event was organized by Hep B United (HBU), the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) and the Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership (HAP), and brought together both hepatitis B and C advocates. This was an incredible opportunity to work together, network, and advocate on the Hill. Continue reading "Hepatitis on the Hill – HBV Personal Perspective and Action Alert"
Action Alert! Urge Your House Representative To Support Increased Hepatitis B and C Funding!
Please tell your Representative that viral hepatitis is important to YOU, and ask for support of the President’s proposed FY16 budget increase for the Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC. Increased funding is essential to support HBV and HCV programs. You don’t have to be politically savvy to participate, but we need your help. Call, email or write today!
Representatives Mike Honda, Hank Johnson, and Judy Chu are asking all House Representatives to sign an important letter supporting a doubling in funding for hepatitis B and C programs in the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bill (see text of letter below). This is the same increase in funding that President Obama recommends in his proposed budget, which was released last month. The deadline for Representatives to sign the letter is end of day, March 19, 2015.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to ask our House Representatives for leadership in the fight against the hepatitis B and C epidemics. The more signatures on this letter, the better chance of securing badly needed funding to expand testing, linkage to care, surveillance, and other vital services.
Please take a few minutes before March 19th to call your House Representative’s office in Washington, DC and ask/him to sign this letter. Continue reading "Action Alert! Urge Your House Representative To Support Increased Hepatitis B and C Funding!"
The Fifty Shades of “Gray” of Hepatitis B Transmission – Part 2
You can’t neatly package and control everything, but you can use good judgment and not over react when thinking about hepatitis B transmission. Hep B is not casually transmitted, but you know yourself, and both infected and uninfected individuals can take simple precautions. If you don’t have hepatitis B and you are sexually active, make sure you are vaccinated. If you have hep B, encourage your partners to get vaccinated. If you’re not in a monogamous relationship and/or one partner has not completed the hepatitis B vaccine series, use a condom!
(Click here if you’re looking for Part 1) Continue reading "The Fifty Shades of “Gray” of Hepatitis B Transmission – Part 2"
HBV Journal Review March 2015
HBF is pleased to connect our blog readers to Christine Kukka’s monthly HBV Journal Review that she writes for the HBV Advocate. The journal presents the
latest in hepatitis B research, treatment, and prevention from recent academic and medical journals. This month, the following topics are explored:
- Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Markedly Lower Cancer Risk in Hepatitis B Patients
- Hepatitis B Increases Risk of Stomach Cancer
- Unsafe Injections Caused 1.7 Million HBV Infections Worldwide in 2010
- New Guidelines Require Doctors to Screen for Hepatitis B Before Starting Chemotherapy
- Computer Reminders Effective at Prompting Doctors to Screen for HBV Before Starting Chemotherapy
- Study Finds Getting Frequent Cancer Screenings Saves Lives
- Use of Radio Waves to Destroy Small Liver Tumors as Effective as Surgery
- Interferon Increases Thyroid Disease in Hepatitis B and C Patients
- Smoking Impairs Recovery from Hepatitis B and the Effectiveness of Immunization
- Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage Declined 2.1% in 2013
Continue reading "HBV Journal Review March 2015"
Slaying the Fibrolamellar Beast
February 28 is Rare Disease Day.
Last year, we featured the story of Gail Trecosta, who described how her teenage son Matthew was bravely battling a rare form of liver cancer called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FHC).
This year we are featuring FHC again but with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose. Continue reading "Slaying the Fibrolamellar Beast"
The Fifty Shades of “Gray” of Hepatitis B Transmission – Part 1
All pun and a little fun is intended with this title, but the “adult” version of hepatitis B transmission is a serious concern. There are “shades of gray” when it comes to hepatitis B transmission and the degree of risk with sexual activity. Continue reading "The Fifty Shades of “Gray” of Hepatitis B Transmission – Part 1"