Culture | Page 1748 | Science Codex

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.

Shorter treatment course potentially on the horizon for hep C patients

April 15, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Data from a Phase 2 clinical trial show that an investigational injectable treatment known as RG-101 in combination with a four week course of oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment was well tolerated and resulted in high virologic response rates post-treatment among Hepatitis C (HCV) infected patients with genotypes 1 and 4, who had not been treated previously.

New treatment algorithm can predict benefit of treatment in end-stage liver disease

April 15, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A new algorithm designed to help physician decision-making in End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD), was able to accurately predict death in 96% of patients with ESLD.

The algorithm, presented at The International Liver CongressTM in Barcelona, Spain, is based on a combination of pre-morbid liver function and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) grade, and allows physicians to help determine patients who were likely to benefit from intensive care unit (ICU) treatment compared with those who would not.

Antiviral therapy prolongs survival in immune tolerant hepatitis B patients

April 15, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A new study, presented today at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona Spain, demonstrates that the use of antiviral therapy for patients in the immune tolerant phase of Hepatitis B (HBV) prolongs overall survival and reduces the risk of the most common form of liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HCC) and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).

The study showed that the risks of developing HCC and liver cirrhosis were significantly lowered among those who received nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment.

Greek dancing improves jumping ability of elderly heart failure patients

Athens, Greece - 15 April 2016: Greek dancing improves the jumping ability of elderly patients with heart failure, according to research published today in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.1 Patients randomised to Greek dancing jumped higher and faster than their sedentary counterparts. Those who danced had stronger legs and could walk further.

Don't count on strangers in medical emergencies, especially if you're African-American

In the first study of its kind, Cornell sociologists have found that people who have a medical emergency in a public place can't necessarily rely on the kindness of strangers. Only 2.5 percent of people, or 1 in 39, got help from strangers before emergency medical personnel arrived, in research published April 14 in the American Journal of Public Health.

'Unmet nursing care' may contribute to racial disparities in rehospitalizations after heart attack

April 14, 2016 - Why are black older adults at higher risk of repeat hospital admission after a heart attack? Treatment at hospitals with higher rates of missed nursing care may be a contributing factor, reports a study in the May issue of Medical Care. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

Low-grade brain tumors: Radiation plus chemotherapy is best treatment, trial suggests

COLUMBUS, Ohio - New clinical-trial findings show that patients with a low-grade form of brain cancer who are treated with radiation plus a combination of chemotherapy drugs have better survival than patients treated with radiation alone.