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• HBV Journal Review - September 2014

  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: New Study Finds HBV Genotype E Responds Poorly to Entecavir HBV Genotypes Help Tell the Human Story of Slavery in the Americas Researchers Find Tenofovir Increases Hip Bone Loss in Older Patients Decline in HBV RNA Indicates Who Loses HBeAg During Antiviral Treatment  Shortened Vaccination Schedule May Get More Drug Users Immunized Primary Care Doctors Rarely Screen Patients for Cirrhosis Tenofovir or Telbivudine Recommended for Pregnant Women with High Viral Loads Access to Healthy Food Vital for HBV Patients, but Many Live in Food "Deserts" Scientists Create Viable Liver Cells in a Lab for HBV Research Nerve Damage Prompts Warning Against Telbivudine-Interferon Combo Treatment HBV Journal Review September 1, 2014 Volume 11, Issue 9 by Christine M. Kukka New Study Finds HBV Genotype E Responds Poorly to Entecavir Experts know some hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains called genotypes respond better to interferon treatment than others, but now scientists are discovering that genotypes respond differently to antiviral treatment too. HBV genotypes are found in different regions of the world and each evolved over centuries to have slightly different molecular make-ups with unique traits. Some carry a higher risk of liver damage and cancer, while other genotypes are less virulent. In a recent study, Italian researchers compared how well patients with genotypes A, D and E fared after three years of treatment with the antiviral entecavir (Baraclude). All of the patients tested negative for the hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg-negative). The scientists measured hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels and HBV DNA (viral load) every three months during the first year of

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/hbv-journal-review-september-2014/
• HBV Journal Review - April 2014

  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: Despite Antiviral Treatment, Liver Cancer Risk Persists Vitamin D Appears to Help Prevent Liver Cancer Dandelions May Be the Next Best Herbal Treatment for Hepatitis B Kidney Problems Are Prevalent with Hepatitis B Even Before Treatment Starts HBV Genotype H Appears to Cause Immediate Chronic Infection in Adults HBV Genotype E Has the Worst Response to Pegylated Interferon Cancer-Causing YMDD Mutations Found Frequently in HBV Genotype C High Iron Levels Found in Patients with Liver Failure Vietnamese-Americans at High Risk of Undiagnosed Hepatitis B and C Entecavir Performance Is Mediocre in Lamivudine-Resistant Patients A Simple Platelet Count Test Could Be Best Indicator of Fibrosis HBV Journal Review April 1, 2014 Volume 11, no 4 by Christine M. Kukka Despite Antiviral Treatment, Liver Cancer Risk Persists Researchers have hoped that treating hepatitis B patients with antivirals would reduce both their viral loads and their liver cancer risk. However, a new study that followed 1,378 treated and 1,014 untreated patients over five years found antivirals did not reduce liver cancer rates as hoped. The study tracked new liver cancer cases among patients infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) (average age 47, 65% male) who had been treated primarily with entecavir (Baraclude) for their high viral loads and liver damage. They compared that group's liver cancer occurrence to those of patients whose "inactive" HBV infection did not require treatment. Among the treated group, 70 patients (6.2%) developed liver cancer during the study period compared to only 11 (1.1%) in the untreated group. Notwithstanding  the ability of antivirals to reduce viral load, a

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/hbv-journal-review-april-2014/
• Adopting a Special-Needs Child with Hepatitis B

  William - Waiting child with HBV. Contact advocacy@anorphanswish.org for more information. If you are considering the adoption of a special needs child, I would encourage you to consider adopting a child with Hepatitis B. Children with HBV are available for adoption around the globe. Remember that one third of the world’s population has been infected with HBV.  The transmission of HBV from mother to child during delivery process is very common in many parts of the world. HBV can be prevented in 95% of cases for those that are vaccinated and receive HBIG within 12 hours of birth, with the other two shots of the series to follow, but unfortunately these options are not available to many infants around the globe.  Because HBV is a silent infection, many moms are not even aware they have HBV, and few are screened and identified during pregnancy. Adopting a child with HBV is very manageable. However, it is good to get educated before you move forward.  Kids with HBV may require treatment when they return home, although most do not. This will not be determined until your child arrives home and has a thorough work-up with a liver specialist.  Please don’t ask for additional testing of your child, as the additional needle sticks raise their risks for infectious disease. Most children do not have symptoms with their HBV.  They appear perfectly healthy, and they are healthy with the exception of having the HBV virus circulating in them.  They sleep, eat and cry, just like any other baby, and they run, play, captivate and steal the hearts of their parents just like any other child. Quite often treatment is not necessary for a child with HBV. They have high viral loads, which do make them infectious, but the good news is that the HBV vaccine is a requirement in nearly all states, and licensed day-care facilities. These elevated numbers sometimes worry parents, but the kids are just fine and it is merely a stage of the virus, which tends to occur children infected at

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/adopting-a-special-needs-child-with-hepatitis-b/
• Hepatitis B and Your Neighborhood Pool

  Photo by Sheila http://ht.ly/6eRlt Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of the summer, and with it, the opening of the community pool.  Every summer, questions regarding hepatitis B and the public pool are asked.  Typically it is those that are infected, or have children that are infected with HBV, that have concerns.  Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.  Does that mean you should be worried about contracting or spreading a blood borne pathogen like hepatitis B at the community pool?  Personally I don't believe so, but there are a couple of things to consider. If you're concerned about a blood spill in the pool water than do not worry.  As long as you are frequenting a well-maintained pool that follows guidelines for consistently monitoring chlorine and pH levels in the pool, you'll be fine. Use common sense when at the pool.  Check that the water is clear, and the sides aren't slimy. If the odor of your pool is too strong, something may be off.  Speak with management if you have concerns.  Pool staff are responsible for keeping water safe.  There are strict guidelines that must be followed.  Still have doubts?  Purchase your own pool test strips to confirm disinfecting quality of the pool. Blood spills on the deck are a plausible transmission route for blood borne pathogens like HBV, but this hazard can be readily averted with proper cleanup.  Chlorine is a very effective agent against hepatitis B and other pathogens.  When made fresh and used in the correct concentrations, (nine parts water to one part chlorine) it kills pathogens like HBV.  As a team manager of a neighborhood swim team, I found the lifeguard slow to clean up a blood spill on deck.  The protocols are in place, but everyone needs to be vigilant to ensure they are followed.  If you have HBV and are bleeding on deck, don't be afraid to insist that the blood spill be properly disinfected.  There's no need to disclose your status.  These are standard precautions

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/hepatitis-b-and-your-neighborhood-pool/
• Hepatitis Health Action Alert: The Hepatitis Community Responds to Health Care Reform

  ACTION ALERT! Prevention funding in Health Care Reform is under attack. Tell your representative to vote NO on H.R. 1217 On April 5th, the assault on the Affordable Care Act continued when the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted along partisan lines in favor of H.R. 1217, which would repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This fund, part of the health care reform law, provides money each year for vital prevention and public health services. The fund will grow each year until it eventually provides $2 billion/year. This fund offers a great opportunity to get some of the money targeted to viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and testing programs. We cannot advocate for that money if the entire fund is repealed. We also must protect this fund as part of defeating the ongoing strategy by those who oppose the Affordable Care Act to attack the law by repealing and de-funding its important pieces. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 1217 as early as this week. Please take a few minutes to call your Representative and tell him/her to vote NO. Here's what YOU can DO: Please call your U.S. House Representative immediately. We are hearing directly from Congressional staff that phone calls are the most effective form of communication. Call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-888-876-6242 and ask to be connected to your Representative. When you reach your Representative’s office, tell whoever answers the phone that you are a constituent, and that you would like to speak to the staff person who handles health care issues. Whether you speak to the staff person live or leave a voice mail, tell him/her: “My name is _______________ and I live in (city/state). I am calling to urge Representative ____________ to vote no on H.R. 1217. This bill would repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is an important part of the Affordable Care Act. This Fund is a great opportunity to provide badly needed funding for viral hepatitis

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/119-2/