Culture | Page 1747 | Science Codex

Farmers are not just the backbone of a nation, they may have stronger hips too

A team of UK and Swedish researchers has released the findings of a new study which assessed the hip fracture risk of farmers in Sweden.

Sweden is one of the few countries which tracks hip fractures through a national registry. It is therefore possible to assess how hip fracture risk across the country varies according to occupation, economic status, level of education, latitude, and urban versus rural residence. Although hip fracture risk is known to be correlated to physical activity, that's one of the variables, among others, which the registries can't track.

Heart attack patients more depressed but get less antidepressants

Athens, Greece - 16 April 2016: Heart attack patients are more depressed but are less often prescribed antidepressants than people who have not had a heart attack, according to research presented today at EuroHeartCare 2016 by Dr Barbro Kjellström, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.1

Phase 2 data show treatment efficacy in 'difficult-to-cure' hepatitis C patients

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A Hepatitis C (HCV) drug currently under investigation, ABT-493 and ABT-530, which is an all-oral once-daily antiviral treatment, helped HCV genotype 3 patients with heavily scarred livers and no previous treatment history to achieve a 100% sustained virologic response after receiving the treatment for 12 weeks (SVR12).

Investigational treatment provides hope for some chronic liver disease sufferers

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A new study presented today provides hope for a new treatment in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare condition characterised by inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts of the liver and for which there are currently no medicines.

The study, presented at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, showed that at 12 weeks, Norursodeoxycholic acid significantly reduced levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme found in the blood of which levels increase in the presence of liver disease.

Scientists find a way to cure hepatitis C with 6 weeks of treatment

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A pilot study presented today found that all patients with acute HCV who were treated with a direct-acting antiviral treatment over a 'short-duration' of six weeks had undetectable HCV after a 12 week follow-up. The investigator-initiated study, presented at The International Liver CongressTM in Barcelona, Spain, demonstrated that the combination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for only six weeks is sufficient to treat patients with acute HCV.

Disappointing data for diabetes drug in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: New data presented today at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, demonstrates that the drug sitagliptin - more commonly used to treat diabetes - was no more effective than placebo for reducing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

However, researchers did demonstrate that nonvasive imaging techniques based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were useful for measuring changes in liver fat and fibrosis, a finding that can inform future clinical trials in the disease.

Waist not weight -- the key to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A new study presented today demonstrates that a build-up of fat around the waist can cause more serious complications than obesity in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study was presented at The International Liver CongressTM 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

New study challenges the concept of treatment failure in hepatitis C

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Data presented today demonstrate that choosing a different combination of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for Hepatitis C can eradicate the virus at four weeks in patients who had already failed on previous medication regimens.

The results were presented at The International Liver CongressTM in Barcelona, Spain and suggest that with the amount of DAAs available, the right combinations must be chosen for the right patients in order to eradicate the virus from the body.

Public health concern as data reveals high prevalence of hepatitis B among refugees in Germany

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A new study presented today demonstrates the potential challenge posed to public health systems across Europe as a result of the prevalence of Hepatitis B among new refugee populations. The study was presented at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

Low-cost generic direct-acting antiviral treatment for hep C is equivalent to branded formulations

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Data presented today demonstrates that generic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are as effective and safe as branded treatments to cure Hepatitis C.

The summary results presented today at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, showed high sustained virologic response (SVR) after treatment with generic sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, daclatasvir and ribavirin, confirming clinical efficacy equivalent to outcomes seen in Phase 3 clinical trials of branded combination treatments.

New study demonstrates efficacy of all-oral treatment regimens in adolescents with hepatitis C virus

April 16, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Adolescents with Hepatitis C (HCV) could benefit from a combination of direct-acting antivirals, according to new data presented today at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. The study demonstrated that adolescent patients with HCV genotype 1 aged 12 to 18 years who were treated for 12 weeks with a fixed dose combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir attained high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.

Mayo clinic: Long-term benefits to the liver-kidney transplant

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A new study from physicians at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, found there may be long-term benefits to simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation versus kidney transplantation alone. The study, "Decreased Chronic Cellular and Antibody-Mediated Injury in the Kidney Following Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation" published recently in the journal Kidney International.

Self-understanding helps criminal substance abusers

Impulsiveness, crime and problems with social interaction. Many substance abusers also struggle with antisocial personality disorders, which makes it difficult for them to complete a drug or alcohol treatment programme. New research from the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research at Aarhus BSS reveals that just six additional counselling sessions may lower the drop-out rate and increase the outcome of the treatment programme.

Poor patient warfarin knowledge may increase risk of deadly side effects

Athens, Greece - 15 April 2016: Patients have poor knowledge of warfarin which may increase their risk of serious side effects, according to research presented today at EuroHeartCare 2016 by Dr Kjersti Oterhals, a nurse researcher at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.1

Studies demonstrate improved safety results achieved with investigational drug for hep B

April 15, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Studies presented today at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, demonstrate that tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) improves patient safety while maintaining efficacy in patients with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread, TDF).

The studies demonstrate that regardless of Hepatitis B e antigen status (HBeAg*), 25mg of TAF once-daily was as effective as, and safer than, 300mg of TDF once-daily, with fewer negative changes in bone and kidney parameters.