Sources

Main topics can be found within the left column; sub-topics and/or research reports can be found near the bottom of this page.  Thank you

Document Name & Link to Document

Description

File Size /Type

3 articles about Hepatitis C Virus not being just an IVDU disease

Hepatitis C Risk Not Limited to Injection Drug Users

AIDS battle reaches new climax in Asia with aggressive condom policy

In an aggressive policy to stem the growing HIV/AIDS problem, the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants sex workers in Asia to adopt this uncompromising stand when facing clients.

AIDS-CDC’s Investigation of HIV Transmissions by a Dentist

Report from the CDC on dental transmission of HIV

5,150 kb pdf

Approximate Time line for Hepatitis

Historic view of Hepatitis

At least five related, but distinct, hepatitis C viral genotypes exist

Hepatitis C virus, the major causative agent of blood-borne non-A, non-B hepatitis in the world, has been the subject of considerable nucleic acid sequence analysis.

1,379 kb pdf

Blood tests and their ranges

Lab values for Hepatitis

Californians Support Needle Exchange, Condoms for Prisoners

The majority of Californians support access to clean needles for injection drug users and condoms for prisoners to fight the spread of HIV.

Chronic Hepatitis C During Pregnancy

In a pregnant patient with chronic hepatitis C, will a scheduled cesarean section reduce the risk of vertical transmission? Is there a place for the use of pegylated interferon during the third trimester to reduce viral load?

Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management

The hepatitis C virus (Hepatitis C Virus) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. It accounts for about 15 percent of acute viral hepatitis, 60 to 70 percent of chronic hepatitis, and up to 50 percent of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer. Almost 4 million Americans, or 1.8 percent of the U.S. population, have antibody to Hepatitis C Virus (anti-Hepatitis C Virus), indicating ongoing or previous infection with the virus. Hepatitis C causes an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 deaths annually in the United States

Clearer Liver Warning Urged for Painkillers

Experts are urging the federal government to mandate clearer and more consistent warning labels for acetaminophen, and the nation's leading maker of the pain and fever remedy has announced it is ready to do so.

Clinical Features of Hepatitis C-Infected Patients With Persistently Normal Alanine Transaminase Levels in the Southwestern United States

It is difficult to estimate the duration of infection in a majority of subjects owning to multiple risk factors. However, it is easier to predict the duration of disease in subjects who have had a single blood transfusion or used intravenous drugs for a short duration of time. There has been a suggestion that the mode of transmission of infection influences the severity of liver disease.

Conditions Link to Hepatitis

Condom is the mainstay of the fight

The condom has been the mainstay of the fight against HIV/AIDS and widespread distribution of free condoms by local family planning clinics has succeeded in a massive reduction in the spread of the virus.

Controversial Issues in Hepatitis C Virus

Many of the seminal presentations concerning this virus and its clinical sequelae will be reviewed throughout the remainder of this meeting coverage. This summary will specifically review data presented on a variety of controversial areas in the world of clinical Hepatitis C Virus.

Controversy Regarding risk of Transmission of Infection via Dental Handpieces

Current epidemiologic evidence indicates that infectious diseases, specifically blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, are not transmitted from patient to patient via dental instruments. However, ongoing laboratory investigations suggest that potential pathogens may be retained within dental handpieces, creating a theoretical risk of cross infection.

Dental instrument and device sterilization and disinfection practices

Dental instruments and devices require sterilization or high-level disinfection. An evaluation of the implementation of such processes was undertaken. Eleven thousand questionnaires on methods used to sterilize and disinfect dental instruments were sent to dental practices and 1391 (13%) were returned for evaluation. Sixty-eight percent of respondents believed they were sterilizing their instruments, however, some of the liquid chemical products used were not suitable for sterilizing instruments, and 12% of respondents used incorrect contact times

Dirty Needle Research rejected

The United Nations has disputed the findings of United States researchers which says most HIV infections in Africa result from dirty medical needles.

Discovery of immune group in Uganda raises Aids vaccine hopes

Scientists believe an effective Aids vaccine may be a step closer after studying an unexpected response to the HIV virus in individuals in Uganda who appear immune.

Doctors Gun-Shy on Newborns' Hepatitis Shot

A large percentage of newborn babies aren't getting the recommended hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) because hospitals were thrown off their routine by a precaution that was intended to be temporary, doctors say.

Double trouble: South African study on dual HIV infections highlights superinfection risk

Researchers from the University of Cape Town have found further evidence suggesting that patients who become infected by more than one strain of HIV prior to seroconversion (antibody formation) are more likely to progress rapidly to AIDS.

Factors Associated with Prevalent Hepatitis C: Differences Among Young Adult Injection Drug Users in Lower and Upper Manhattan, New York City

In both sites, testing positive for Hepatitis C Virus antibody was associated with having injected for more than 3 years. Additionally, Hepatitis C Virus infection was positively associated with injecting with someone known to have had hepatitis and with sharing cotton (but the association was statistically significant only in Harlem).

107 kb pdf

Further evidence for association of hepatitis C infection with parenteral schistosomiasis treatment in Egypt

Hepatitis C virus (Hepatitis C Virus) infection and schistosomiasis are major public health problems in the Nile Delta of Egypt. To control schistosomiasis, mass treatment campaigns using tartar emetic injections were conducted in the 1960s through 1980s. Evidence suggests that inadequately sterilized needles used in these campaigns contributed to the transmission of Hepatitis C Virus in the region. To corroborate this evidence, this study evaluates whether Hepatitis C Virus infections clustered within houses in which household members had received parenteral treatment for schistosomiasis.

Further evidence of super-infection found in African sex workers and Swiss drug injectors

Super-infection - that is, infection with a genetically diverse strain of HIV once chronic infection is established - was the topic of three presentations on the first full day of the Second International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Paris.

Hepatitis C Virus and DENTAL TRANSMISSION

Dentristry has come a long way and is doing many things to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. However the Hepatitis C Virus transmission occurs through blood and equipment not viewed as a risk may in fact be harbouring the virus. Next time you go to the dentist make a note of everything he/she touches with their gloved hands. The gloves could have your blood on them. How is the dentist going to clean the areas he touched?

Hepatitis C Virus Viral Load Ultrasensitive Testing

The information below (the TMA study I reported toy you that was presented here at AASLD) compared a highly sensitive TMA qualitative test to LabCorp/NGI's highly sensitive quantitative test (apples/oranges) Our Hepatitis C Virus quantitative test (Hepatitis C Virus SuperQuant) has a sensitivity of 100 copies / 39 IU's w/ a dynamic range to 5 million copies / 2 million IUs. Our Hepatitis C Virus qualitative RNA test (Hepatitis C Virus UltraQual) has a sensitivity of 5-8 copies / 2 IU's. The UltraQual test is the most sensitive qualitative test commercially available in the world.

HEMODIALYSIS (Hepatitis C Virus)

'The incidence was directly related to the prevalence in the dialysis unit. Units with a prevalence of less than 19% had an annual incidence of 2.5% compared to a 35.3% incidence in units with a prevalence greater than 60%. There was a wide variation in the incidence of Hepatitis C Virus infection in HD units across the country, with geographical location, unit ownership and socioeconomic factors playing a significant role.

Hep C is deadly: Many emergency workers around country afraid to be tested or treated

"They are pretty scared," said Jackson of his comrades who have the virus. "They don’t really know what it is, and they don’t want to talk about it because they don’t want to admit they’re scared."

Hep C-the Silent Epidemic

Hepatitis C (Hepatitis C Virus) is being called the silent epidemic because as many as 70% of those infected with this virus don't know even know it. 

Hepatitis B in Children

Based upon CDC statistics, an estimated 80,000 persons in the USA were infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1999. People of all ages, including children, can get hepatitis B and about 5,000 die per year from sickness caused by HBV.

Hepatitis C a Growing Killer Among People With HIV

Liver disease is emerging as a leading killer of people with HIV because many are also infected with the liver-damaging hepatitis C virus. Newly available hepatitis C drugs offer the greatest promise yet for the prevention of liver damage and death. But treatment remains complicated for people infected with both viruses, a top researcher says.

Hepatitis C Among Drug Users: De^’ja^’ Vu all Over Again?

Approximately 80% of persons infected with Hepatitis C Virus become chronic carriers, and Hepatitis C Virus is readily transmitted through sharing of injection equipment. Hepatitis C Virus is quite common in populations of injection drug users, with seropreva1ence rates typically from 60% to 80%. Hepatitis C Virus infection also frequently occurs early in a drug injection career, usually before the user seeks help for drug problems.

Hepatitis C from Gammagard®, An Intravenous Immunoglobulin [IGIV]

In February, 1994 Baxter Healthcare Corporation withdrew from world markets Gammagard®, an immunoglobulin administered intravenously to those with acquired or congential immune disorders, after 112 people in the U.S. were reported having symptoms of hepatitis C, the most fatal form of the this liver disease.

Hepatitis C Growing chorus of concern over the ‘silent’ epidemic

Nearly 25 years have passed since Paul McVetty, now 44, roamed the streets of San Francisco, shooting drugs, sharing needles, embracing havoc with fellow runaways.

Hepatitis C may be transmitted via toothbrushes

The viral infection hepatitis C could possibly be transmitted by common household items such as toothbrushes, researchers warned here at Digestive Disease Week, an annual meeting of gastroenterologists.

Hepatitis C Risk Not Limited to Injection Drug Users

A study in New York City has found a higher than expected prevalence of hepatitis C infection among non-injecting drug users. In this study, as many as 17 percent of the subjects who denied a history of injection drug use were found to be infected, compared to a 2 percent infection rate in the general population.

Hepatitis C The Insidious Spread of a Killer Virus

This stealthy disease can incubate for decades. Now thousands of people are getting sick. By 2010 it may strike down more Americans each year than AIDS

Hepatitis C virus and interferon resistance

Interferon plays a critical role in the host’s natural defense against viral infections and in their treatment. It is the only therapy for Hepatitis C Virus infection; however, many virus isolates are resistant. Several Hepatitis C Virus proteins have been shown to posses properties that enable the virus to evade the interferon-medicated cellular antiviral responses

373 kb pdf

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Mothers and Infants Cohort Study

Our study is in accordance with other studies that have shown low overall Hepatitis C Virus vertical transmission risk and atrend toward higher risk with maternal risk factors such as HIV-coinfection or Hepatitis C Virus viremia. A delay in infant Hepatitis C Virus antibodyresponse may be associated with HIV coinfection although larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Young, Low-Income Women: The Role of Sexually Transmitted Infection as a Potential Cofactor for Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Injection drug use is the highest risk exposure for Hepatitis C Virus, but HSV-2 and noninjection drug use contribute significantly to increased risk. Hepatitis C Virus prevention programs in impoverished areas should integrate drug treatment and sexually transmitted infection control.

Hepatitis C Virus Linked With Carotid Plaque

Hepatitis C virus core protein positivity is an independent predictor of carotid plaque, researchers in Japan have found.

Hepatitis C Virus Resistance to Antiviral Therapy

Research produces highly efficient antiviral drugs. At the same time, viruses develop sophisticated strategies to evade their actions

199 kb pdf

Hepatitis C Virus Transmission From an Anesthesiologist to a Patient

Our investigation suggests that the anesthesiologist acquired Hepatitis C Virus infection from patient B and transmitted Hepatitis C Virus to patient A. No further transmission was identified. Although we did not establish how transmission occurred in this instance, the one previous report of bloodborne pathogen transmission to patients from an anesthesiologist involved reuse of needles for self-injection

Hepatitis viruses: Changing patterns of human disease

Changes in human ecology and behavior have had discernable effects on the epidemiology of the hepatitis viruses in different ways and to different degrees.

1,439 kb pdf

High Hepatitis B Rate Among Young Gay Men

Almost one out of five gay men is infected with the potentially fatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) by the age of 22, despite the fact that a vaccine to prevent the disease has been available for almost 20 years, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study has found.

Nurses constantly balance occupational risks with their primary goal of providing quality health care to all persons. Because threats to personal well-being may affect practice, nurses must promote a safe and healthy work environment to protect themselves, their loved ones, patients, and coworkers.

As front-line providers of health care, nurses have long been exposed to blood-borne pathogens on the job. The AIDS epidemic has heightened awareness of this and has broadened our knowledge of other bloodborne diseases, notably hepatitis-B (HBV) and hepatitis-C (HCV).

IDENTIFICATION OF A NEW TRANSMISSIBLE VIRAL AGENT ASSOCIATED WITH VIRAL HEPATITIS OF UNKNOWN ETIOLOGY (NANE HEPATITIS)

Today a significant number of annual cases of viral acute and chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis – conservatively estimated at 300,000 worldwide – cannot be attributed to the known viruses A, B, C, D and E. As a consequence, major efforts have been undertaken toward the discovery of new hepatitis viruses that could be linked to non-A / non-E (NANE) hepatitis.

Illegal Drug Users Need/Deserve Treatment for Hepatitis C

"Controlling hepatitis C will require providing treatment to people who use illegal drugs. We believe that when treatment is guided by evidence, tolerance, and compassion, this can be done,"

Detection of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Salivary Glands

Hepatitis C Virus infection has been associated with several extrahepatic manifestations, among these, to diseases with oral manifestations such as Sjogren’s syndrome or sialadenitis. Hepatitis C Virus RNA has been detected in saliva and in salivary glands from patientw with sialadenitis by polymerase chain reactions.

723 kb pdf

Incidence and Risk Factors for Acute Hepatitis B in the United States, 1982-1998: Implications for Vaccination Programs

In 1982, a safe and effective vaccine became available to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and was recommended for persons at increased risk for infection.

Incidence of seroconversion to positivity for Hepatitis C antibody in repeat blood donors in England, 1993-5

The rate of seroconversion for positivity to Hepatitis C Virus antibody in repeat blood donors in England was extremely low.

221 kb pdf

Jet injectors can regularly transmit relevant volumes of blood

As a result of this work, WHO and other major users of jet injectors have reconsidered their use.  A more positive outcome of this work has been an understanding of previously unsuspected contamination mechanisms, which is enabling design of new generations of jet injector whose safety can be assessed in our model.

Liver Disease in Pregnancy

Women with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis exhibit a higher risk of fetal loss during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is associated with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, and hepatic infarction and rupture. These rare diseases result in increased maternal and fetal mortality. Treatment involves prompt delivery, whereupon the liver disease quickly reverses.

Liver Injury Associated with Hepatitis C Infection

The role of the host immune response in determining clinical outcome following hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is well recognized.

More People getting Liver Cancer, Study Finds

The study focused on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver. People infected with chronic hepatitis B or C, or cirrhosis, face a substantially increased risk of developing this cancer

MORE PEOPLE MAY BE AT RISK FOR Hepatitis C Virus THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

Recent media attention to the hepatitis C epidemic may have given Americans a false sense of security that the disease is one of intravenous drug users and sexually promiscuous people only, according to Stephen P. Longello, Hepatitis C Foundation.

Needle Use Soars In Young Heroin Users

The number of young heroin addicts in New Jersey who said they injected the drug spiked sharply in the last decade, state health officials say. And they suspect the problem isn't unique to the Garden State.

Needle-Exchange Program Cut Hepatitis C Transmission Rate

According to a report presented to the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, injection drug users who began injecting drugs after the 1993 legalization of a safe needle program in San Francisco had a much lower risk of contracting hepatitis C virus (Hepatitis C Virus) than those who started earlier.

New CDC Treatment Guidelines Critical to Preventing Health Consequences of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The CDC has issued national guidelines to help health care providers protect their patients from the health consequences of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). CDC revises the guidelines periodically (approximately every four years).

Nurses

Presents a question-and-answer advisory on legal matters concerning nursing and medical professions in the United States. Transition from medical and surgical nursing to home health care; Notification of employer on a hepatitis C infected employee; Variations of health facility restraint standards

 One in Four Heroin Injectors Infected With Hepatitis C

 A new report in the Journal of Infectious Diseases (2000;182:1588-1594) indicates that approximately 25 percent of Chicago-area injection drug users are infected with the hepatitis C virus (Hepatitis C Virus).

Piercing

What to expect from piercing

Predictors of Mother-Adolescent Discussions About Condoms: Implications for Providers Who Serve Youth

By univariate analysis, mother-adolescent communication about condoms was associated with greater knowledge about sexuality and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, perception of having enough information to discuss condoms, information from a health-related source, less conservative attitudes about adolescent sexuality, perception that the adolescent was at risk for human immunodeficiency virus, greater ability and comfort in discussing condoms, stronger belief that condoms prevent human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and a more favorable endorsement of condoms.