Public release date: 1-Dec-2011
Contact: Dawn Peters
healthnews@wiley.com
781-388-8408
Wiley-Blackwell
German researchers have determined that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)—a flavonoid found in green tea—inhibits the hepatitis C virus (HCV) from entering liver cells. Study findings available in the December issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, suggest that EGCG may offer an antiviral strategy to prevent HCV reinfection following liver transplantation.
HCV infection can lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer. HCV is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and a primary indication for liver transplantation, affecting up to 170 million individuals worldwide according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). Prior studies report that nearly 2% of the world population is infected with chronic HCV and up to 20% of the population in some countries.
While standard treatment with interferon with ribavirin and newer protease inhibitors may clear infection in some individuals, a substantial number of patients still may not respond to these therapies. For individuals receiving liver transplants due to complications from HCV, reinfection of the healthy donor liver remains a significant concern. Antiviral strategies that target HCV in its early stages are urgently needed to prevent graft reinfection and improve long-term outcomes for patients.
To address this critical issue, Dr. Sandra Ciesek and Dr. Eike Steinmann from the Hannover Medical School in Germany investigated the effect of the EGCG molecule, which is a major component of green tea, in preventing HCV from attaching to liver cells. "Green tea catechins such as EGCG and its derivatives epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechingallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC) have been shown to exhibit antiviral and anti-oncogenic properties," explains Dr. Ciesek. "Our study further explores the potential effect these flavonoids have in preventing HCV reinfection following liver transplantation."
Results showed that unlike its derivatives, EGCG inhibits entry of HCV into liver cells. The authors suggest that EGCG may impede HCV cell entry by acting on the host cell as the green tea catechin was not found to alter the density of virus particles. Pretreatment of cells with EGCG before HCV inoculation did not reduce the infection; however application during inoculation inhibited the rapid spread of the HCV. Lastly, researchers showed that EGCG inhibits viral attachment—the initial step in the HCV infection process. "The green tea antioxidant EGCG inhibits HCV cell entry by blocking viral attachment and may offer a new approach to prevent HCV infection, particularly reinfection following liver transplantation." concludes Dr. Ciesek.
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Full Citation: The Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Entry." Sandra Ciesek, Thomas von Hahn, Che C. Colpitts, Luis M Schang,Martina Friesland, Jörg Steinmann, Michael P. Manns, Michael Ott, Heiner Wedemeyer, Philip Meuleman, Thomas Pietschmann and Eike Steinmann. Hepatology; Published Online: November 30, 2011 (DOI: 10.1002/hep.24610); Print Issue Date: December 2011. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.24610/abstract.
Author Contact: To arrange an interview with Dr. Sandra Ciesek or Dr. Eike Steinmann, please contact Jo Schilling at jo.schilling@twincore.de.
This study is published in Hepatology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the article may contact healthnews@wiley.com.
About the Journal
Hepatology is the premier publication in the field of liver disease, publishing original, peer-reviewed articles concerning all aspects of liver structure, function and disease. Hepatology's current impact factor is 10.885.Each month, the distinguished Editorial Board monitors and selects only the best articles on subjects such as immunology, chronic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, genetic and metabolic liver diseases and their complications, liver cancer, and drug metabolism. Hepatology is published on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). For more information, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1527-3350 .
About Wiley-Blackwell
Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit www.wileyblackwell.com or our new online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities.
Thank you Hepatitis C news and Research.
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
100 Nutrition facts about 25 popular foods
Very interesting information!!
http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/foodalert.htm
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| Dandilion Greens are good for the liver |
http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/foodalert.htm
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
L.A.s Liver Life Walk
Join. Raise Funds. End Liver Disease.
Event Date: September 18, 2011
Event Location: Ocean View Park, Santa Monica
Event Location: Ocean View Park, Santa Monica
Event Schedule: Registration 7-9am
Walk Begins at 9am
Walk Begins at 9am
Did you know that 1 in 10 people in the United States face a future with liver disease? The American Liver Foundation® is working toward a world free of liver disease and we need your help! Together we will make a difference. Take the first step today by registering to walk in our local Liver Life Walk event.
Every step you take and every dollar you raise helps the American Liver Foundation® fund research grants, public education and advocacy in an effort to increase awareness and progress in the fight against liver disease. Walk for Fun...Walk for Life!
That is not just our motto, it is exactly what participants do when they participate in the Liver Life Walk. Join tens of thousands of supporters from coast to coast as we pound the pavement to put an end to liver disease!
Thank you for supporting the American Liver Foundation®. Together we can make a difference!
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
Update on HCV treatments Telaprevir/Boceprevir
Both Drugs Have Been Recommended By The FDA Advisory Panel For The Treatment Of Hepatitis C.
Both of the new medicines work by blocking a protein called protease that the virus needs to replicate.
April 28 The FDA advisory panel unanimously backed the approval of Vertex Pharmaceuticals proposed hepatitis C-drug telaprevir.
April 27 - VICTRELIS (boceprevir) was unanimously recommended for approval by the FDA Advisory Committee .
Merck & Co. expects to launch boceprevir in May, pending U.S. regulatory approval
The FDA is not required to follow the panel's recommendation, though it usually does. The FDA will make the final approval decision which is expected by May 23.
Highlights;
Telaprevir
1-The cure rate for new patients taking telaprevir ranged between 75 and 79 percent, compared with 60 and 65 percent for boceprevir.
2-Most panelists said that patients who had previously failed treatment could likely achieve a cure within six months — half the time needed with older drugs — when taking telaprevir
3-As for Merck's drug Boceprevir those same patients would likely need a full year's worth of treatment with triple therapy. 4-Vertex executives said they were exploring a twice-daily regimen of telaprevir.
5-The agency said the risks of telaprevir were associated with skin reactions, such as rash, and anemia. The main safety concern discussed by the panel was severe rashes in a small number of patients, including three suspected cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a life-threatening outbreak of blisters. Vertex said the rashes disappeared when telaprevir was stopped.
Panelists urged Vertex to warn about the problem and tell doctors and patients how to spot a serious rash and when to stop treatment if needed.
Vertex offered rashes were managed in most patients with antihistamines and topical corticosteriods
Boceprevir
1-Mentioned by the panel is the concern for the complexity of prescribing the new Hepatitis C drug. The other concerns are safety, risk, and resistance variance.
2-Labeling; The panelists were split on using boceprevir in (null responder) patients. These patients were not included in Phase III trials, therefore no data is available. Also raised was the concern over the labeling allowing for treatment in advanced liver damage; Grade 3 Stage 4 patients.
3-Longer treatment duration was discussed in the difficult to treat patients; African Americans, patients with liver damage and for those people who have failed prior standard therapy.
4-Members of the FDA panel appeared to support shorter treatment for patients who show early responses to boceprevir.
5-Boceprevir's main risk is blood disorders such as anemia, a lack of red blood cells that causes fatigue and other symptoms, FDA reviewers said. Panelists said the problems needed monitoring but were manageable and usually not severe.
6-Some voiced concern that patients would find it challenging to stick with the three-times-a-day dosing for boceprevir on top of the two older medicines. (PEG-IFN plus RBV)
To read the article in its entirety, please visit HCV New Drug Research
Spread the word! Live Life then Give Life!!
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Both of the new medicines work by blocking a protein called protease that the virus needs to replicate.
April 28 The FDA advisory panel unanimously backed the approval of Vertex Pharmaceuticals proposed hepatitis C-drug telaprevir.
April 27 - VICTRELIS (boceprevir) was unanimously recommended for approval by the FDA Advisory Committee .
Merck & Co. expects to launch boceprevir in May, pending U.S. regulatory approval
The FDA is not required to follow the panel's recommendation, though it usually does. The FDA will make the final approval decision which is expected by May 23.
Highlights;
Telaprevir
1-The cure rate for new patients taking telaprevir ranged between 75 and 79 percent, compared with 60 and 65 percent for boceprevir.
2-Most panelists said that patients who had previously failed treatment could likely achieve a cure within six months — half the time needed with older drugs — when taking telaprevir
3-As for Merck's drug Boceprevir those same patients would likely need a full year's worth of treatment with triple therapy. 4-Vertex executives said they were exploring a twice-daily regimen of telaprevir.
5-The agency said the risks of telaprevir were associated with skin reactions, such as rash, and anemia. The main safety concern discussed by the panel was severe rashes in a small number of patients, including three suspected cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a life-threatening outbreak of blisters. Vertex said the rashes disappeared when telaprevir was stopped.
Panelists urged Vertex to warn about the problem and tell doctors and patients how to spot a serious rash and when to stop treatment if needed.
Vertex offered rashes were managed in most patients with antihistamines and topical corticosteriods
Boceprevir
1-Mentioned by the panel is the concern for the complexity of prescribing the new Hepatitis C drug. The other concerns are safety, risk, and resistance variance.
2-Labeling; The panelists were split on using boceprevir in (null responder) patients. These patients were not included in Phase III trials, therefore no data is available. Also raised was the concern over the labeling allowing for treatment in advanced liver damage; Grade 3 Stage 4 patients.
3-Longer treatment duration was discussed in the difficult to treat patients; African Americans, patients with liver damage and for those people who have failed prior standard therapy.
4-Members of the FDA panel appeared to support shorter treatment for patients who show early responses to boceprevir.
5-Boceprevir's main risk is blood disorders such as anemia, a lack of red blood cells that causes fatigue and other symptoms, FDA reviewers said. Panelists said the problems needed monitoring but were manageable and usually not severe.
6-Some voiced concern that patients would find it challenging to stick with the three-times-a-day dosing for boceprevir on top of the two older medicines. (PEG-IFN plus RBV)
To read the article in its entirety, please visit HCV New Drug Research
Spread the word! Live Life then Give Life!!
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