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• It’s Flu Season: Protect Your Liver from Unintentional Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Overdose

  Image courtesy of marin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Cold season is here and sometimes the flu vaccine and washing our hands just aren’t enough to keep colds at bay. If you do get sick, make sure the over-the-counter (OTC) medication you take doesn’t damage your liver while it's relieving your cold symptoms Acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) is the most popular painkiller in the United States. (In other parts of the world it is known as Paracetamol.) Not only is it found in the 8 billion acetaminophen pills Americans take each year to reduce aches and pains, it’s also found in cough and congestion medications. When we have hepatitis B, we need to be careful we don’t unintentionally overdose when we take acetaminophen pills and cough or sinus medications. Dozens of cold and flu medications that promise to suppress our coughs and let us sleep through the night contain acetaminophen as one of their ingredients, but we won’t find “Tylenol” listed as an ingredient on their labels. Instead, we need to look carefully for “acetaminophen” on the label. How much acetaminophen can adults safely take? Unless we have serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis, doctors say we can safely take the recommended dose of acetaminophen for a very limited period of time without damaging our livers. In fact, doctors routinely recommend this painkiller following a liver biopsy or to reduce interferon’s flu-like side effects. The maximum dose of acetaminophen that adults can safely take over a 24-hour period is four grams, which equals eight extra-strength pills or about 12 regular-strength pills. (An extra-strength pill contains 500 mg and a regular strength pill contains 325 mg). But, if we drink two alcoholic beverages a day, we need to cut that recommended acetaminophen dose in half, that's how much acetaminophen can affect our livers. If we take too much of this drug at any one time, it builds up in our liver and causes serious side effects. For example, if an adult takes

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/its-flu-season-protect-your-liver-from-unintentional-acetaminophen-tylenol-overdose/
• Ten Things People with Hepatitis B Need to Know in 2016

  Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net In 2015, doctors continued to unlock the mysteries of hepatitis B and uncovered promising new treatments. Armed with new information, here are 10 things we can do in 2016 to safeguard our health and help prevent the spread of hepatitis B. Get monitored regularly. No one likes a blood draw or to be reminded they have hepatitis B, but it's important that you're tested annually or more often if you have a high viral load and/or signs of liver damage. There's no cure yet, but there are effective treatment options with more in the pipeline. So be brave, protect your health, and go to the lab for a blood test. If you've been prescribed an antiviral, don’t forget to take it. Taking a pill every day is tedious and it’s tempting to skip it, but failing to take your daily antiviral reduces its effectiveness and can lead to drug resistance. The hepatitis B virus is a master at mutating to escape whatever is attacking it. Forgetting to take your daily pill can lead to an uptick in your viral load and liver damage. Stay strong, take your daily pill, and keep that virus undetectable. Face it, antivirals are a long-term commitment. Until a cure is developed, antivirals—either tenofovir (Viread) or entecavir (Baraclude)—are the best treatment to quickly reduce both viral load (HBV DNA) and liver damage. But they work for only as long as we take them, and once we start, we are usually committed to years of treatment. Quitting antivirals before we’ve achieved undetectable viral load and lost the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) often results in a resurgence of both viral load and liver damage. Antivirals are a long-term treatment that help prolong our lives. Demand to be screened for liver cancer. Some experts say current medical guidelines that recommend when we should be screened for liver cancer  don't go far enough to protect us. So take charge of your health and ask for a liver cancer screen,

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/ten-things-people-with-hepatitis-b-need-to-know-in-2016/
• The Importance of Advocating for Our Health, and Facing Our Fears

  Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Early detection of cancer saves lives. Whether it’s breast, liver, or skin cancer, when it’s found and treated early, our survival improves markedly. But here’s the rub. We intellectually know that early detection works, but performing those self-breast exams or getting screened for liver cancer carries a huge risk – what if something is found? Every trip to the doctor or lab reminds us of our mortality, especially when we have hepatitis B. We have to take that risk and acknowledge our mortality, even when the healthcare system doesn’t make it easy. A few months ago, the Hepatitis B Foundation assembled national experts to discuss how well the system worked to identify and treat liver cancer, which is now one of the top causes of cancer deaths. Worldwide, today hepatitis B causes 45 percent of liver cancers. Their findings, published in the April 2015 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, paint a dismal picture of a healthcare system that often fails us, our family members, and our friends who live with hepatitis B and are at risk of liver cancer. Not only are providers failing to screen a large percentage of at-risk patients, when they find liver cancer, their treatment is often inadequate and inconsistent across clinics. Who should be screened for liver cancer? Hepatitis B-infected Asian men (or of Asian descent) over age 40 years and Asian women over age 50 years, patients with a family history of liver cancer, patients with cirrhosis, and Africans over the age of 20 should all be screened. What is the screening? A semi-annual ultrasound and blood tests to detect liver cancer are recommended, but this approach is only 70 to 80 percent effective in identifying liver cancers. This means 20 to 30 percent of people at risk of cancer won’t get diagnosed. And there are other problems. A recent, large study of 5,000 insured hepatitis B patients in the U.S. who did not have cirrhosis

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/the-importance-of-advocating-for-our-health-and-facing-our-fears/
• There's Hope for a Hepatitis B Cure at the HEP DART 2015 Conference

  This year's  HEP DART conference brought together liver specialists and researchers from around the world to review and brainstorm about the latest research to find a cure for hepatitis B. Biopharmaceutical companies presented data that showed their cutting-edge treatments, which use micro-RNAs and other innovative approaches to reduce the virus, appear promising. Much of this research, however, is in early, pre-clinical stages and focuses on laboratory-grown liver cells or laboratory animals, though a few are in Phase I and Phase II trials. Joan Block, co-founder and executive director of the Hepatitis B Foundation, reported the following news in hepatitis B research from the conference, which was held in Hawaii from Dec. 6-10. HepDart 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of this conference, and about 600 attendees from 20 countries attended. In opening remarks, Dr. Patrick Marcellin of France noted that the cure for hepatitis C is a huge medical breakthrough, now, he noted we are faced with finding a cure for hepatitis B. This year's HepDart meeting included nearly two days devoted to hepatitis B drug development—which shows the new momentum around finding a cure hepatitis B by the scientific community. During previous HepDart meetings, there was almost no discussion about new hepatitis B treatment. But this year, there are more than five companies presenting new hepatitis B drug findings, Block reported. Researchers at the conference continued to lament the lack of resources spent to research and develop a cure for hepatitis B. They noted the U.S. government has spent $17.5 billion treating HIV. A fraction of that has been spent on finding cures for hepatitis B and C, which infects up to 6 million Americans. Despite the lack of financial investment in finding a cure, Joan Block reports that the consensus at the conference is that a cure is indeed possible. Despite barriers to achieving a cure because of the complexity of the hepatitis B virus, “the feeling is

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/theres-hope-for-a-hepatitis-b-cure-at-the-hep-dart-2015-conference/
• The Veterans Administration Ignores an Enemy on the Homefront: Hepatitis B

  Courtesy of the U.S. Defense Health Agency. With Veterans Day comes reports about the lack of adequate mental health care for men and women returning from war. There is another, invisible health issue threatening veterans of all ages--hepatitis B. Few veterans have ever been screened or treated for hepatitis B though their infection rate is four-times the national average. The percentage of veterans infected with hepatitis B may actually be higher, but no one knows. Only 15 percent of U.S. veterans have ever been screened for hepatitis B. Among the few screened and diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, only 25 percent have received antiviral treatment and only 13 percent have been screened for liver cancer. “While other chronic viral infections, such as hepatitis C and HIV, have received tremendous educational efforts,” said researcher David E. Kaplan, MD, “hepatitis B has received far less attention.” Kaplan and a team of Veterans Administration and University of Pennsylvania researchers authored the study that found woefully inadequate screening and treatment for veterans with hepatitis B. The veterans’ experience of inadequate hepatitis B screening and care is not uncommon in the U.S. Repeated studies find that in the private sector, a large percentage of people with chronic hepatitis B also never get the monitoring and drugs treatment they. It’s inexcusable that our flawed civilian health care system does not provide proper hepatitis B treatment, and it’s reprehensible that the VA system that knows many of its patients have hepatitis B and C renders such inadequate care. About 10 percent of all veterans treated by the Veterans Administration Health Administration today have hepatitis C, and at least 35 percent of them are co-infected with hepatitis B. Recent recruits may be immunized against hepatitis B, but millions who fought in earlier conflicts were not and are now infected. Veterans' high hepatitis B infection rate should surprise no one. The

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/the-veterans-administration-ignores-an-enemy-on-the-homefront-hepatitis-b/
• Lena Allweiss, PhD

  FellowDepartment of Internal Medicine, Viral Hepatitis Unit, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany Lena Allweiss is a research fellow at the gastroenterology department of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Her research area is viral hepatitis, in particular chronic hepatitis B and D infections. She received her diploma in human biology from the Philipps-University in Marburg in 2009. During her PhD in Hamburg she started to investigate the molecular mechanisms of chronic hepatitis B infection. She is a member of the International Coalition to Eliminate HBV (ICE-HBV) and the German Center for Infection Research (HBV Cure Project). Her research focuses on the interactions of the hepatitis B virus with the host using mice with humanized livers as a model. She is particularly interested in investigating the viral minichromosome, the cccDNA, and how it is affected by the host innate immune responses and exogenous antiviral treatments. Read the journal picks of the month from our Emerging Scholars Scientific and Medical Advisory Board here.  

  https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/reports/emerging-scholars-scientific-and-medical-advisors/lena-allweiss-phd/
• Annual Gala raises a record amount for the local Hepatitis B Foundation

  The first in-person fundraiser for the Doylestown organization, after two years of exclusively virtual fundraisers, was well-attended. Rev. Jason Crum Escalera, recipient of the Community Commitment Award and Chari A. Cohen DrPH, MPH, Senior Vice President of the Hepatitis B Foundation Doylestown, Pa., April 27, 2022 – The Hepatitis B Foundation Gala, an annual fundraiser and celebration of the nonprofit’s people and achievements, was held on April 1 at The Warrington, a popular event venue in Warrington, Pa. Gilead Sciences Inc. was the presenting sponsor of this record-breaking event. Not only did nearly 280 people attend the Gala, they and the event’s sponsors contributed more than $227,000, which is far greater than the amount raised at any previous Gala. Additionally, it was an in-person event for the first time in three years because COVID-19 meant the Foundation was forced to hold the Gala online in 2020 and 2021. The guests enjoyed a great variety of casino games and a robust silent action. The latter was a huge success with items and services from donors such as The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, Leading Edge Aviation and Bong Pil Yang, who contributed stellar artwork by Yong Hun Kim. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick provided a Day at the Capital and others donated a collection of fine wine, their vacation home for a weekend and a wide variety of other goodies. A focus of the evening was special recognition for President Timothy M. Block, PhD, one of the organization’s co-founders, who will transition in June from president to executive chair of the Board of Directors and begin a sabbatical at Yale University. Dr. Block was surprised and expressed appreciation for all of the attention. “We were thrilled to have so many of our loyal supporters and staff come together to honor the great people who have made major contributions to the fight against hepatitis B,” Jean Holmes, vice president of institutional advancement, said. “We owe a huge thank you to everyone who came, participated in the silent auction, donated, and shared well-wishes with our distinguished guests and Dr. Block.” Two of our region’s most-respected elected officials, Sen. Steve Santarsiero and Rep. Fitzpatrick, were invited to speak. The Congressman and Senator both spoke admiringly about the Hepatitis B Foundation, Dr. Block and his wife Joan, who co-founded the organization. D. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD, recipient of the Baruch S. Blumberg Prize and Timothy M. Block, PhD, President and Founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation Following the celebration of Dr. Block, he turned the spotlight toward this year’s honorees, a major figure in hepatitis B research and a very well-known figure among the Foundation’s wonderfully supportive community of people living with hepatitis B. The Baruch S. Blumberg Prize for Outstanding Contributions to Hepatitis B Research was awarded to D. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD. Dr. Tyrrell is currently a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and the University of Alberta. The Community Commitment Award was presented to Rev. Jason Crum Escalera, a #justB Storyteller. Rev. Crum Escalera works to educate young people, particularly high school students, about prevention and delivers testimonials of his own hopes and strength. He is well known in the hepatitis B and HIV advocacy communities and strives be “a voice to the voiceless around the world.” About Hepatitis B:  The most common serious liver infection in the world, it is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which attacks and injures the liver. Each year up to 1 million people die from hepatitis B worldwide, even though it is preventable and treatable. The number of adults living in the U.S. who have chronic hepatitis B infection may be as high as 2.4 million, which is nearly three times greater than the federal government’s official estimate, according to a new report by a team of public health experts, scientists and physicians. Hepatitis B is a “silent epidemic” because most people do not have symptoms when they are newly or chronically infected. Thus, they can unknowingly infect others and continue the spread of hepatitis B. For people who are chronically infected but don’t have any symptoms, their livers are still being silently damaged, which can develop into serious liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: We are the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or call us at 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org.

  https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/annual-gala-raises-a-record-amount-for-the-local-hepatitis-b-foundation/
• Hepatitis B Foundation supports launch of new global online forum dedicated to supporting people with hepatitis B, connecting with health experts

  Doylestown, April 13, 2021 – The Hepatitis B Foundation is pleased to support the official launch of HepBcommunity.org, a new global online forum dedicated to supporting those living with and affected by hepatitis B. Founder of the new online forum and Westmead Hospital’s hepatitis B researcher, Dr. Thomas Tu said, “Hepatitis B affects almost 300 million people globally and kills 800,000 people per year through liver cancer or liver failure.” “While hepatitis B remains incurable, it can be managed and treated. But, people with hepatitis B face social stigma and discrimination, discouraging them from seeking medical help that could prevent progression of their illness to serious disease like liver cancer,” Tu added. Living with hepatitis B himself, Tu founded HepBcommunity.org for affected people worldwide to connect with each other, form support networks, and get advice from verified medical experts and researchers. Westmead Hospital’s Storr Liver Centre and the Hepatitis B Foundation have provided start-up funding and coordinate the forum with support from the World Hepatitis Alliance. The site is peer-led, volunteer run and is free to join. Already, more than 200 members from all over the world have joined. Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, senior vice president, Hepatitis B Foundation, believes, “The new forum is critically important because people can anonymously seek advice about how to live with hepatitis B, and what they can do to protect their liver and long-term health.” “The ultimate goal is to save lives,” adds Su Wang, MD, MPH, president, World Hepatitis Alliance. “This is a safe and friendly online community that gives people around the world the information and support they need to live successfully with hepatitis B.” The HepBcommunity.org forum, however, is not intended to replace doctor and specialist consultations for the medical care or treatment of hepatitis B. # # # About the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF): The Hepatitis B Foundation, headquartered in the United States, is the nation’s leading non-profit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education, public health and patient advocacy. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation, follow us on Twitter@HepBFoundation, read our blog at hepb.org/blog  or call 215-489-4900.    About HepBcommunity.org: HepBcommunity.org is a global online forum that represents a safe and free platform created to support people living with and affected by hepatitis B, and to connect them with health experts and scientists in the field. It is funded and coordinated by the Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Hospital Foundation, and Hepatitis B Foundation with support from the World Hepatitis Alliance. To learn more, go to HepBcommunity.org.   About the Storr Liver Centre: The Storr Liver Centre is one of the top research and patient care centers in the world that aims to understand liver disease and liver cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing effective preventive and curative strategies. We have active research programs in liver cancer, metabolic liver disease, and hepatitis B virus infection. To learn more, please contact Dr. Thomas Tu (t.tu@sydney.edu.au) or Prof. Jacob George (Jacob.george@sydney.edu.au).   About the Westmead Hospital Foundation (WHF): Westmead Hospital Foundation (WHF) is the principal fundraising organisation for Westmead Hospital. For 31 years, Westmead Hospital Foundation has provided (through generous corporate and community donations and legacy gifts) support for medical research and patient care at Westmead Hospital. For more information, visit us westmeadhf.org.au, follow us on Facebook facebook.com/Westmead/, on Instagram instagram.com/westmeadfdn/ or call +61 2 8890 6289.   About the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA): The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) is an international umbrella organisation with over 300 members in 100 countries. WHA represents the 325 million people living with viral hepatitis worldwide. WHA strives to support and promote the voices of the people and communities affected by viral hepatitis, to raise the profile of viral hepatitis and to establish comprehensive hepatitis strategies in all countries. Through better awareness, prevention, care, support and access to treatment, the ultimate goal is to work with governments to eliminate these diseases by 2030. To learn more, go to worldhepatitisalliance.org.

  https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-supports-launch-of-new-global-online-forum-dedicated-to-supporting-people-with-hepatitis-b-connecting-with-health-experts/
• Hep B United to honor Corinna Dan, former HHS official

  Doylestown, Nov. 19, 2020 – Hep B United and the HBV Forum are pleased to name Corinna Dan, RN, MPH, as the 2020 recipient of the Hepatitis B Federal Champion Award for her commitment to eliminating hepatitis B. Ms. Dan will receive the award at the Hep B United Virtual Summit on Dec. 4. The Hepatitis B Federal Champion Award recognizes individuals at the national level for their outstanding contributions to communities impacted by hepatitis B. Past award recipients include Hepatitis B Congressional Champions U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng of New York. Ms. Dan is being recognized for her long-time championship of policies and programs to prevent hepatitis B and improve the lives of communities disparately impacted by the disease. As former Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ms. Dan worked across federal departments in partnership with community organizations to coordinate the national response to the viral hepatitis epidemics in the United States. Ms. Dan worked to improve awareness and develop policy recommendations to eliminate mother-to-child or perinatal transmission of hepatitis B infection. She organized the first technical consultation, convening federal agencies, hepatitis B, and maternal and reproductive health experts around the country to identify model programs and policies. “Corinna's work in hepatitis B has been instrumental in the fight for elimination and informing outreach and advocacy for vulnerable populations," said Jeffrey B. Caballero, co-chair Hep B United and executive director, AAPCHO. "She has been a true partner to Hep B United and ensuring that our coalition's priorities are addressed at the highest levels of HHS. I have been honored to work alongside Corinna, and I thank her for her outstanding leadership and dedication to hepatitis B elimination.” Veronica Miller, PhD, co-chair of the HBV Forum Steering Committee and executive director of the Forum for Collaborative Research, said: “Corinna’s commitment to sound policies and effective programs to combat viral hepatitis is inspiring. We celebrate her tireless leadership in bridging ‘boots-on-the-ground’ implementers with policy makers to promote public health,” Before her time at HHS, Ms. Dan served as a Hepatitis B Policy Fellow with AAPCHO, focused on addressing hepatitis B-related health disparities and promoting projects and amplifying the voices of partners representing the African immigrant and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. About Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is one of the world’s most common infections and the primary cause of liver cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the world. Up to 292 million are chronically infected, and almost 1 million people die each year from hepatitis B-related liver failure and liver cancer. In the U.S., one in 20 Americans has been infected with hepatitis B, and up to 2.2 million are chronically infected. The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood, unprotected sex, unsterile needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn due to blood exchange during delivery. Although hepatitis B is preventable and treatable, there is still no complete cure for this deadly liver infection. About Hep B United: Hep B United is a national coalition established by the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian and Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) to address the public health challenge of hepatitis B by increasing awareness, screening, vaccination and linkage to care for all Americans, with a particular focus on Asian-American and Pacific Islander populations that are disproportionately impacted. To learn more, visit www.hepbunited.org. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org. About the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization (AAPCHO): AAPCHO is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration, and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. To learn more, visit www.aapcho.org.

  https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-to-honor-corinna-dan/
• Hepatitis B Online Support Groups

  For immediate assistance with general mental health or a crisis, in the U.S. you can call 988, and globally you can find resources here.  Support Groups There are some good Internet Support Group Listservs dedicated to hepatitis B. These Lists provide emotional support and practical help for those living with hepatitis B. There are also organizations that can refer individuals to traditional in-person support groups.   Internet Support Groups Hep B Community HepBCommunity.org is a global peer-led, volunteer-driven forum to support those living with and affected by hep B supported by the Hepatitis B Foundation (USA) and Westmead Hospital Foundation (AU). We are dedicated to connecting people affected by hep B with each other and with verified experts in the field who provide trustworthy and accurate advice. HBV Adoption Support List Adoptive or biological parents of children living with hepatitis B are invited to participate. This is a restricted list to protect the privacy of parents and children, and requires pre-approval by the list owners to join. Update: This group has moved to Facebook and is currently set to private. Please email info@hepb.org for more information.  If you know of any other online support groups, please email us at info@hepb.org. 

  https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/online-support-groups/