Hepatitis A - An inflammatory viral disease of the liver with a short incubation period. Hepatitis A may be transmitted by eating contaminated food, by fecal-oral contact, and/or through household contact. Hepatitis A may be mild to severe; symptoms include fever, nausea, and jaundice.
Hepatitis B - Formerly called serum hepatitis, it is caused by the hepatitis B virus. About 12% of cases progress to chronic hepatitis. It is spread through shared needles, through sexual contact with infected individuals, through exposure to infected body fluids, and from mother to child. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, jaundice, and elevated liver enzymes.
Hepatitis C - is a life-threatening, disease of the liver, which is transmitted by exposure to blood. A particularly dangerous form of viral hepatitis, it is caused by an RNA virus. Hepatitis C can lead to serious, permanent liver damage, and in many cases, death. More than 82 percent of those who are infected will progress to chronic liver disease. It is suspected that there are, at present, more than 4.5 million people in the United States that are infected with hepatitis C, and more than 200 million around the world.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Hep C vaccine shows promise
An experimental peptide-based hepatitis C vaccine has shown promise in interim Phase II trial data, according to its developer Intercell.
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease and 170m people worldwide carry the disease, however, currently there is no available vaccine.
Intercell's vaccine (IC41) comprises of eight T-cell antigens, combined with its first-generation poly-arginine adjuvant (IC30). It is designed to stimulate T-cell responses against HCV protein structures and reduce viral load.
Intercell said that the first data to be analysed from half of the 50 treatment-naïve study participants showed that its vaccine met the primary endpoint of achieving a statistically significant viral load (HCV-RNA) reduction.
read more
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease and 170m people worldwide carry the disease, however, currently there is no available vaccine.
Intercell's vaccine (IC41) comprises of eight T-cell antigens, combined with its first-generation poly-arginine adjuvant (IC30). It is designed to stimulate T-cell responses against HCV protein structures and reduce viral load.
Intercell said that the first data to be analysed from half of the 50 treatment-naïve study participants showed that its vaccine met the primary endpoint of achieving a statistically significant viral load (HCV-RNA) reduction.
read more
Liver disease in the news(All Kind Of Diseases)
Cirrhosis is a chronic, progressive and irreversible disease of the liver. It has a number of different causes:
In South Africa, the most common cause of cirrhosis is chronic alcoholism. Alcoholic liver disease develops after more than a decade of heavy drinking (a factor which varies between individuals).
Chronic hepatitis B, C and D are other causes. Hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis worldwide and, like hepatitis C, causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis D also affects the liver, but mostly in people who already have hepatitis B.
Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the immune system attacks the liver. Inherited diseases such as Wilson disease can also affect the way the liver works.
Other lesser causes include:
1.non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which is associated with diabetes;
2.blocked bile ducts, often caused by primary billary cirrhosis in which the ducts become inflamed, blocked and scarred;
3.drugs, toxins and infections (e.g. severe reactions to prescription drugs, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, or parasitic infection such as bilharzia); and
4.repeated heart failure accompanied by liver congestion.read more
In South Africa, the most common cause of cirrhosis is chronic alcoholism. Alcoholic liver disease develops after more than a decade of heavy drinking (a factor which varies between individuals).
Chronic hepatitis B, C and D are other causes. Hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis worldwide and, like hepatitis C, causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis D also affects the liver, but mostly in people who already have hepatitis B.
Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the immune system attacks the liver. Inherited diseases such as Wilson disease can also affect the way the liver works.
Other lesser causes include:
1.non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which is associated with diabetes;
2.blocked bile ducts, often caused by primary billary cirrhosis in which the ducts become inflamed, blocked and scarred;
3.drugs, toxins and infections (e.g. severe reactions to prescription drugs, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, or parasitic infection such as bilharzia); and
4.repeated heart failure accompanied by liver congestion.read more
Faulty blood-test kits found in Durgapur
Faulty blood-testing kit scare is back to haunt the state again. Defective blood kits were found at Durgapur sub-divisional hospital on Saturday.
“The kits were meant for testing different viruses like Hepatitis B, C and HIV. But while performing tests in Durgapur, it showed false positive results. We have concluded that the kits are defective and immediately informed the state health department and stopped all further tests. The blood collected in Durgapur will be tested at a facility in Asansol on a different and more reliable technique-based on the Elisa test to keep the blood bank functional,” said professor Santanu Halder, chief medical officer of health, Burdwan.
The kits are “one step anti-HBC kits” of lot number 019061 with an expiry date of 5.7.09. These kits are mainly used to test the presence of hepatitis C, B and HIV. The kits are manufactured by Standard Diagnostic Incorporated, Korea, but are supplied to the state health department by an Indian company. read more
“The kits were meant for testing different viruses like Hepatitis B, C and HIV. But while performing tests in Durgapur, it showed false positive results. We have concluded that the kits are defective and immediately informed the state health department and stopped all further tests. The blood collected in Durgapur will be tested at a facility in Asansol on a different and more reliable technique-based on the Elisa test to keep the blood bank functional,” said professor Santanu Halder, chief medical officer of health, Burdwan.
The kits are “one step anti-HBC kits” of lot number 019061 with an expiry date of 5.7.09. These kits are mainly used to test the presence of hepatitis C, B and HIV. The kits are manufactured by Standard Diagnostic Incorporated, Korea, but are supplied to the state health department by an Indian company. read more
Blood scandal compensation bill set to exceed €1bn
The State's bill for compensating people infected by contaminated blood products provided by the Blood Transfusion Service is reportedly set to exceed €1bn..
The tribunal has found that around 250 people were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C as a result of contaminated blood products used to treat haemophilia.
Another 1,600 were infected with Hepatitis C as a result of receiving contaminated anti-D blood products.
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The tribunal has found that around 250 people were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C as a result of contaminated blood products used to treat haemophilia.
Another 1,600 were infected with Hepatitis C as a result of receiving contaminated anti-D blood products.
read more
Tattoo studio faces $10M lawsuit
A $10 million class-action lawsuit has been launched against an Oshawa body art studio after thousands of people were urged to get tested for blood-borne diseases because they may have been exposed to dirty equipment.
The lawsuit against Longhorn Custom Bodyart Studio was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Whitby Monday on behalf of Oshawa resident Kaleb Beaulieu, who received a tattoo at Longhorn in July.
Durham Region health authorities warned that possible use of non-sterile equipment could lead to transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C and sent letters to 2,400 people, urging them to see a doctor and get blood tests. The 530 results that have come back so far were all negative, said spokesperson Glendene Collins.read more
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