Research & Treatment News
April 29, 2010
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Particularly valuable to those with Hepatitis C, a new investigation sheds light on the common misconception that veggie burgers are a liver-friendly food.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
For the estimated four to five million Americans living with chronic Hepatitis C, protecting their livers from damage is paramount to staying healthy. Assuming veggie burgers to be health food fare, many with Hepatitis C make this popular vegetarian item a dietary staple. However, a non-profit organization that performs research and investigations on agricultural issues has found that some veggie burgers may not be all that. In fact, the Cornucopia Institute recently revealed that many veggie burgers are made with a toxin that is known to put an additional burden on the liver.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a virus that lurks in the bodies of a staggering number of people, slowly damaging the liver. While about half of those infected are lucky enough to successfully eliminate the virus from their body with the current standard treatment, a significant portion of those with Hepatitis C must wait for better, emerging treatments.
The liver is an amazing organ, responsible for countless functions that keep us alive. One of the liver's primary responsibilities is to remove waste and toxins from the blood supply. Unfortunate for those with chronic Hepatitis C, a liver that has already sustained damage from the virus has a much harder time cleansing the blood. Thus, more toxins circulate throughout the body, a situation that puts many structures in jeopardy - including the liver.
Having a higher concentration of toxins in the blood is akin to a double whammy for the liver:
· With more toxins to process, there is a greater workload on the liver.
· The increased toxin exposure causes more liver cells to die - rendering them unable to function.
Thus, individuals managing chronic Hepatitis C must make every effort to limit the amount of toxins their liver contends with.
Hexane
A toxic chemical made from crude oil, hexane is used in the manufacture of some soy-based foods. In conventional food processing, soybeans are immersed in what the industry calls a "hexane bath" before they are further processed into ingredients such as oil, soy protein isolate or texturized soy protein - common ingredients in traditional veggie burgers. Unfortunately, the liver bears the brunt of hexane's burden, and can easily be damaged by high levels of hexane exposure.
Veggie Burgers
People managing Hepatitis C typically strive to avoid easily recognizable liver toxins like cigarette smoke, processed junk food and alcohol. However, most are totally unaware that some vegetarian food contains hazardous chemicals. A recent investigation by the Cornucopia Institute found that many non-organic veggie burgers are made with hexane.
In order to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers, manufacturers of soy-based fake meat like to make their products have as little fat as possible. The cheapest way to do this is by submerging soybeans in a bath of hexane to separate the oil from the protein. According to Cornucopia Institute senior researcher Charlotte Vallaeys, "If a non-organic product contains a soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, or texturized vegetable protein, you can be pretty sure it was made using soy beans that were made with hexane."
According to the Cornucopia Institute, popular veggie burgers made with hexane, include:
· Amy's Kitchen
· Boca Burger, conventional
· Franklin Farms
· Garden Burger
· It's All Good Lightlife
· Morningstar Farms
· President's Choice
· Taste Above
· Trader Joe's
· Yves Veggie Cuisine
Veggie burgers that are hexane-free, include:
· Boca Burgers "Made with organic soy"
· Helen's Kitchen
· Morningstar "Made with organic"
· Superburgers by Turtle Island
· Tofurky
· Wildwood
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards strictly prohibit the use of hexane. While products labeled "organic" aren't allowed to contain any hexane-derived ingredients, that rule doesn't apply to foods that are labeled "made with organic ingredients."
There is no realistic way to avoid contact from all of the toxins lurking in today's society. However, until everyone infected can be cured from Hepatitis C, those with the virus have extra motivation to minimize their toxin exposure. Thanks to the Cornucopia Institute's research, we know which veggie burgers contain hexane and which are hexane-free - knowledge that gives those with Hepatitis C greater control over the toxins gaining entrance into their bodies.
References:
http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/cell_Biology/module_5/hazards2.htm, A Toxic Substance - Hexane, Retrieved April 14, 2010, Texas A & M University, 2010.
http://www.alternet.org/food/146439/which_veggie_burgers_were_made_with_a_neurotoxin, Which Veggie Burgers Were Made With a Neurotoxin?, Kiera Butler, Retrieved April 14, 2010, Mother Jones Online, April 2010.
http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf, Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry, Retrieved April 14, 2010, Retrieved April 14, 2010, Cornucopia Institute, 2010.
http://www.eco-usa.net/toxics/chemicals/hexane.shtml, Hexane, Michael Habeck, Retrieved April 14, 2010, Toxicological Profile for Hexane, July 1999, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Eco-USA, 2010.
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April 27, 2010
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To help prevent Hepatitis C from destroying their new liver, researchers from Japan devised a way to improve immune response in people with Hepatitis C who undergo a liver transplant.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Receiving a liver transplant may be the last chance at survival for someone whose Hepatitis C has progressed to end-stage liver disease. By removing a severely diseased liver with a healthy one, liver transplants appear to be an opportunity for someone with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) to live a virus-free life.
However, nearly all liver transplant recipients become re-infected with Hepatitis C almost immediately following their surgery. In an attempt to prevent HCV from infecting their new liver, clinicians have been scrambling for solutions to this re-infection problem. By stepping outside the box of traditional HCV treatment, researchers from Japan have devised a novel, promising strategy to prevent Hepatitis C from inundating newly transplanted livers.
The number one cause of liver transplants in America, HCV has emerged as a premier health problem. Experts estimate that around 200 million people are infected with Hepatitis C worldwide. Usually progressing to a chronic illness, approximately 50 percent of those with HCV can be cured with the current standard of therapy, pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
Unfortunately, those who have had this virus for decades and do not respond to HCV therapy are vulnerable to progressive liver damage. If HCV wrecks enough havoc on the liver, liver failure and liver cancer are two potentially devastating outcomes. These are the people whose last resort might be a successful liver transplant.
A major challenge facing liver transplant recipients and their physicians is the recurrence of HCV infection. Within the first few days after transplant surgery, it is common for Hepatitis C viral loads to climb back up to the levels before the transplant. In fact, the viral load often exceeds pre-transplantation levels. Experts believe this is due to the suppression of the immune system that results from the immunosuppressive drugs used to prevent rejection of the transplanted liver.
Keeping this deficit of the immune response in mind, researchers from Hiroshima University in Japan conducted a trial to test the HCV suppression ability of transplanted immune cells. As published in the November 2009 edition of Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers performed the following sequence of events. They:
· Extracted immune cells known as lymphocytes from the donor livers before the transplant
· Activated the lymphocytes in vitro
· Injected the activated lymphocytes into the patients three days after they had received their liver transplants
The researchers found that this ingenious method worked, by keeping HCV levels low in most of the HCV-infected patients who received a liver transplant.
Numbering about one trillion in each individual, lymphocytes are small white blood cells that conduct most of the immune system's actions. There are two main categories of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells.
· B cells - produce specific antibodies to infectious microorganisms.
· T cells - kill infectious microorganisms by destroying the body cells that are infected. In addition, T cells release chemicals called cytokines that initiate the immune response.
More research is required to investigate the clinical applicability of injecting lymphocytes to suppress Hepatitis C. However, the authors of this study believe they have developed a novel paradigm for the inhibition of viral replication in HCV-infected liver transplantation recipients.
References:
http://thyroid.about.com/library/immune/blimm06.htm, Understanding the Immune
System, Mary J. Shomon, Retrieved January 7, 2010, about.com, 2010.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2010/NewsRev-342.html#_Keeping_Hepatitis_C, Keeping Hepatitis C Virus at Bay after a Liver Transplant, Retrieved January 5, 2010, Hepatitis C Support Project, 2010.
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/38374, Adoptive immunotherapy with liver allograft-derived lymphocytes induces anti-HCV activity after liver transplantation in humans and humanized mice, Masahiro Ohira, et al, Retrieved January 5, 2010, Journal of Clinical Investigation, November 2009.
http://www.medsci.org/v03p0079.htm, Management of HCV Infection and Liver Transplantation,Thomas D. Schiano, Paul Martin, Retrieved January 7, 2010, International Journal of Medical Sciences, April 2006.
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Early results from a Phase II study demonstrate that Bristol-Myers Squibb's experimental drug has unrivaled potency against the Hepatitis C virus.
Bristol compound potent against hepatitis C
(Reuters) - An experimental Bristol-Myers Squibb compound called BMS-790052 is proving to be the most potent yet at treating hepatitis C, an infection poorly treated with existing drugs, company researchers said on Wednesday.
An early, phase I safety study of the compound found it was highly effective at blocking the protein NS5A, a new target that might provide one more weapon against a virus that can quickly develop resistance.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63K5QB20100421
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April 21, 2010
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Dealing with Hepatitis C infection is more challenging when you can't sleep. Before using a pharmaceutical sleep aid, you might want to first try eating one of these five insomnia-easing foods before bed.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
At some point or another, most of us have struggled from not getting a good night's sleep. When such a problem happens regularly, the implications of chronic sleeplessness can be devastating. Whether due to the health of their liver, a side effect of combination therapy or some other reason, over half of all those with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) suffer from sleep problems. Although it may appear to be an overly simplified solution, many people have realized that dietary approaches can help promote a restful slumber.
To address insomnia, physicians often prescribe some kind of sleep aid drug. Although the newer sleep aids are generally non-habit forming, every drug comes with a list of warnings and side effects. As the primary organ that must process drugs, the liver's burden is increased with every chemical substance ingested. A mainstay of managing chronic HCV is supporting the liver by reducing the quantity of chemicals it must process. Thus, finding natural ways to ease insomnia should always be attempted before someone with chronic Hepatitis C resorts to taking a sleep aid drug.
Sleep is as important to liver health as are a healthy diet and regular exercise. Insomnia effects tend to be cumulative, with chronic insomnia often leading to:
· severe fatigue
· cognitive difficulties
· depression
· anxiety
· metabolic disturbances
· chronic pain disorders
Because sleep rejuvenates the psyche and immune system, it is especially needed to wage the battle against chronic Hepatitis C. Alternatively, long-term sleep deprivation will increase the severity of chronic HCV. According to Alan Franciscus, executive director of the Hepatitis C Support Project in San Francisco, many of the vague symptoms of Hepatitis C - such as fatigue -are also symptoms of not getting enough sleep. Since the two conditions go hand in hand, insomnia can compound symptoms.
When it comes to Hepatitis C, the following could be a culprit for insomnia:
· Stress or Anxiety - Worrying about health may keep the mind overly active, making relaxation and, therefore, a restful sleep difficult.
· Interferon Treatment - Insomnia is a common side effect of interferon therapy, the current standard treatment for HCV.
· Cirrhosis - Those who have an advanced case of Hepatitis C infection may have cirrhosis, the permanent hardening and scarring of the liver. In those with cirrhosis, histamine levels in the brain are often altered. Histamine regulates the sleep-wake cycle, so if levels of this chemical get out of balance, so too can sleep patterns.
Besides taking drugs to help you sleep, there are a variety of approaches to promote slumber. Non-pharmaceutical solutions for insomnia span eliminating caffeine, taking a hot bath in the evening, reducing your bedroom's temperature, turning off the TV early and setting aside time for unwinding before bed. While all of these factors can help insomnia, diet can also have a profound impact on sleep.
"If you don't eat right, you lose sleep; and when you're sleep-deprived, your eating habits suffer," says Sally Kravich, a holistic nutritionist and author of Vibrant Living: Creating Radiant Health and Longevity (SPK Publications, 2003). "It's the ultimate catch-22," she says. "A lack of sleep causes leptin, an appetite-regulating hormone, to crash, which causes you to eat more," she says. "Not only does eating more eventually lead to weight gain and an increased risk of obesity - both of which can affect how well you sleep - but the foods you're most likely to reach for when you're tired will keep you up at night."
In an effort to improve the quality of your sleep, the following five foods show promise:
1. Whole Grains - High fiber grains (like brown rice, oats and quinoa) keep you full (so you don't wake up with hunger pangs), contain large amounts of tryptophan (an amino acid that increases the calming neurotransmitter serotonin) and boosts melatonin (a sleep-inducing brain hormone).
2. Pecans - Pecans help diminish insomnia because they are rich in B vitamins, particularly Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is known to help calm an overactive nervous system. Pecans also contain pyridoxine, which produces serotonin and stimulates the production of melatonin.
3. Cherries - Instead of just boosting the production of melatonin, cherries are one of the few known food sources that actually contain melatonin. Experts suggest eating a bowl of cherries one hour before bed to help induce sleep.
4. Bananas - Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have found that potassium may be one of the elements responsible for deep, slow-wave sleep. Their research on fruit flies identified a gene regulating potassium flow as essential for fruit-fly sleep. While a link between potassium and sleep in humans has not been firmly established, foods like bananas, which contain both tryptophan and potassium, may be doubly good for sleep.
5. Warm Milk - There is sound logic behind this folk remedy for insomnia. Besides containing tryptophan, milk contains calcium, which has a natural calming effect on muscles and the central nervous system. Warming up milk reduces the energy required to digest it, ideal for convincing the body to unwind and do less work.
Not getting enough sleep can have a big impact on one's quality of life and on the progression of Hepatitis C. To reduce the toxins the liver must process, those with HCV are urged to refrain from taking pharmaceutical drugs whenever possible. If home remedies and lifestyle changes are not helping you get a decent night's sleep, then a physician's prescription pad may be necessary. But make sure you give these five foods a chance to alter your body's chemistry in a way that could have you sleeping through each and every night.
References:
http://journals.lww.com/jcge/Abstract/publishahead/A_Review_of_Sleep_Disturbance_in_Hepatitis_C.99511.aspx, A Review of Sleep Disturbance in Hepatitis C, Sockalingam, Sanjeev MD, FRCPC, et al, Retrieved December 19, 2009, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, September 2009.
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/best_foods_to_beat_insomnia, Best Foods to Beat Insomnia, Hilary Smith, Retrieved December 19, 2009, suite101.com, 2009.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/five-foods-for-better-sleep.html, Five Foods for Better Sleep, Monica Bhide, Natural Solutions Magazine, Retrieved December 19, 2009, care2.com, 2009.
http://www.choosecherries.com/health/sleep.aspx, A Natural Way to Fight Jet Lag, Retrieved December 20, 2009, Cherry Marketing Institute, 2009.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5654384_cure-insomnia-naturally-food.html, How to Cure Insomnia Naturally with Food, The Armchair Herbalist, Retrieved December 19, 2009, eHow, Inc., 2009.
http://www.liversupport.com/wordpress/2008/09/nightcaps-insomnia-and-liver-disease/, Conquering Insomnia, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Retrieved December 19, 2009, Natural Wellness, 2009.
http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepc-guide/managing-hepatitis-c, Managing Hepatitis C, WebMD, LLC, 2009.
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Interim Phase II study results showed that, when paired with ribavirin, Locteron demonstrated potency against Hepatitis C similar to pegylated interferon. In addition, Locteron demonstrated 57 percent fewer adverse effects at a more favorable dosing schedule of once every other week.
Biolex Announces Presentation at EASL of Interim Results From EMPOWER Phase 2b Study of Locteron® in Chronic Hepatitis C
Locteron Dosed Once Every Two Weeks Demonstrated a Comparable Reduction in Viral Load Compared to Once-Weekly Standard of Care With 57% Less Flu-Like Adverse Events
PITTSBORO, NC--(Marketwire - April 16, 2010) - Biolex Therapeutics, Inc. announced that interim results from EMPOWER, a prospectively designed analysis of results from two Phase 2b trials of Locteron®, were presented yesterday in a late-breaker session at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Austria. Locteron, controlled-release interferon alpha 2b, is designed to improve patient care by providing a more convenient once-every-two week dosing schedule and by reducing the flu-like symptoms associated with pegylated interferons, the current standard of care. In the EMPOWER study, the 480 µg dose of Locteron demonstrated viral kinetics and response rates that were comparable to the PEG-Intron® control while also achieving a 57% reduction in flu-like adverse events.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Biolex-Announces-Presentation-EASL-Interim-Results-From-EMPOWER-Phase-2b-Study-Locteron-1148840.htm
Posted by Editors at 9:12 AM --- Printer-friendly version
April 20, 2010
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Those with Hepatitis C are often occupied with whether or not they have a high viral load. Despite the tendency to associate a high viral load with worsening illness, experts agree that the results of this test have little bearing on Hepatitis C disease progression.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Upon being diagnosed with Hepatitis C, the myriad of subsequent tests can seem like a flurry of being poked and prodded. As one of the primary markers physicians use to assess this illness, viral load's significance can be misleading. One of the most common misconceptions among Hepatitis C patients is that a higher viral load indicates a greater severity of their disease. This causes many people to incorrectly conclude that if their viral load is high they are in much more serious trouble than if it was low. However, the primary purpose of viral load testing is to determine someone's candidacy, progress and success for Hepatitis C antiviral treatment.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver. However, the virus does make its way outside of the liver. This is why Hepatitis C can be measured in the bloodstream. A viral load test determines how many viral particles are floating around in the blood. These particles contain RNA, copies of Hepatitis C's genetic material. There are three types of tests used to evaluate viral load:
1. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) - PCR tests measure Hepatitis C RNA in the blood to tell if there is an active infection. This test can measure small amounts of the virus (5-10 IU/mL).
2. bDNA (Branched-chain DNA) - The bDNA test only measures medium to high viral loads above 50 IU/mL. This means that if a person has a viral load below 50 IU/mL, a bDNA test may not be able to detect the virus.
3. TMA (Transcription-mediated amplification) - The TMA test also measures Hepatitis C RNA in a blood sample. The TMA test can measure very small amounts of the virus (as few as 5-10 IU/mL).
Results of these viral load tests can be translated in two ways - either in the number of copies of the virus per milliliter or by International Units per milliliter (IU/mL). Physicians often differ in their opinion about what constitutes a high or a low viral load measurement. While these ranges may not be completely agreed on, the following measurements generally denote a high or low Hepatitis C viral load:
When expressed in terms of copies per mL:
· Low = fewer than 2 million copies
· High = greater than 2 million copies
When expressed in terms of International Units per mL:
· Low = fewer than 800,000 IU/mL
· High = greater than 800,000 IU/mL
Viral load does not appear to correlate with a person's wellness. In fact, a person with a viral load below 200,000 (in terms of copies/mL) may not be able to get out of bed because of their Hepatitis C infection - while someone with a viral load of 10 million (in terms of copies/mL) could feel fine. When it comes to determining liver disease severity, a liver biopsy - or similarly equivalent method - is the only way for a physician to accurately determine his or her patient's health. This is because a liver biopsy - not viral load - physically examines liver tissue to see how much damage actually exists.
Although Hepatitis C viral load is not a measure of liver disease severity, it is an important marker for several other reasons:
1. A viral load test can determine if the Hepatitis C virus is still present in the body, or if it has been cleared.
2. The chance of a pregnant woman passing the virus on to her child is very low - unless she has a high viral load. An expectant mother with a high viral load has a slightly greater chance of passing the virus to her baby.
3. Numerous studies have shown that people with lower Hepatitis C viral loads respond better to interferon therapy than those with higher viral loads. This information may help physicians determine who is a good candidate for interferon therapy.
4. For those on interferon treatment, viral load testing helps physicians determine if the treatment is working and how long a person should take it.
When a physician evaluates your viral load to see if you are responding to interferon treatment, they look at this number in terms of logarithims:
· A 1-log change is a 10-fold difference.
· Significant changes in viral load are a 2-log difference or a 100-fold change. Differentiating between a 1- and 2-log change can be deceiving.
· A viral load of 800,000 that drops down to 400,000 might appear to be a big drop but it's only changed by a factor of two - which is just a fraction of a 1-log change.
· However, a change from 800,000 to 8,000 would be significant - as that is a 100-fold change.
· In general, if a person's viral load has dropped 2 logs or more after 12 weeks of antiviral treatment, there is a greater chance that his or her treatment will be successful.
Besides viral load's use for monitoring during treatment, it is also used to evaluate the success of Hepatitis C treatment. Viral load is measured to see if the person achieved a sustained virilogic response (SVR). Achieving SVR means that six months after antiviral treatment was completed, viral load tests found no detectable Hepatitis C virus in the blood.
Hepatitis C viral load will normally fluctuate throughout the course of anyone's illness. In and of itself, viral load is not a reason for concern. It may sound like a good measure of how someone is faring with Hepatitis C. But outside of this test's use to determine if someone is a candidate for treatment, to monitor treatment or to see if treatment was successful, Hepatitis C viral load reveals very little about the degree of a person's liver disease.
References:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4448469_understand-hepatitis-c-viral-load.html, How to Understand Hepatitis C Viral Load, Richard Ferri, Retrieved December 3, 2009, eHow, Inc., 2009.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/Basics/Viralload_09.pdf, HCV Viral Load Tests, Alan Franciscus, Retrieved December 3, 2009, The Hepatitis C Support Project, 2009.
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April 19, 2010
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After just three days of a Phase 1b trial, Vertex's VX-222 is asserting itself as a possible contender to partner with telaprevir for a new Hepatitis C combination therapy regimen.
Hepatitis C Virus Polymerase Inhibitor VX-222 Reduced Viral Levels Over Three Days In Phase 1b Trial
In conjunction with an oral presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced results from a Phase 1b clinical trial of the investigational oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor, VX-222. In the trial, treatment with VX-222 for three days was well-tolerated, with all adverse events being mild to moderate in severity.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10726924/1/hepatitis-c-virus-polymerase-inhibitor-vx-222-reduced-viral-levels-over-three-days-in-phase-1b-trial.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI
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Learn about the mid-trial results of PSI-7977's effectiveness against Hepatitis C.
Pharmasset jumps on hepatitis C study results
PRINCETON, N.J.
Pharmasset Inc. on Thursday reported promising early results from a clinical trial of a hepatitis C drug candidate.
The company is testing a drug candidate called PSI-7977. In the midstage trial, a group of 63 hepatitis C patients are being treated with a combination of PSI-7977 and two older drugs, Pegasys and Copegus, or Pegasys and Copegus alone. None of the patients have received any previous treatment for the disease.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9F3JTC00.htm
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April 14, 2010
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Learn about a new study that shows Hepatitis C doubles the risk of kidney cancer.
Hepatitis C Tied to Higher Kidney Cancer Risk
The virus' influence may extend beyond the liver, researchers say
FRIDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- People infected with the hepatitis C virus are at much higher risk of developing kidney cancer, new research suggests.
A study of more than 67,000 patients enrolled in the Henry Ford Health System from 1997-2008 found that 0.6 percent of patients with hepatitis C developed kidney cancer.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637823.html
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Results of the PROVE3 trial found that drug regimens using telaprevir were more effective against Hepatitis C than regimens without telaprevir in both treatment naïve patients and previous treatment non-responders.
Mid-stage trial notes efficacy in investigational hepatitis C treatment
By Alaric DeArment
CORK, Ireland (Apr. 9) Patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C fared better when given an investigational drug developed by Johnson & Johnson division Tibotec and Vertex Pharmaceuticals than when given the standard therapy, after they had failed previous treatments, according to results of a mid-stage trial published Thursday.
The results of the 453-patient, phase 2 "PROVE3" trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that regimens based on the drug telaprevir worked better than other drugs at keeping the virus undetectable in the bloodstream.
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http://drugstorenews.com/story.aspx?id=136035&menuid=345
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April 12, 2010
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Fermented foods are not yet accepted into mainstream America. However, fermented foods are a rich source of antioxidants and micronutrients with the potential to help manage chronic Hepatitis C infection.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
After living for just a short period of time with any kind of chronic disease, it quickly becomes clear that the foods we eat can have a dramatic impact on our health. Advocates of a healthy diet as a means to deter the advancement of chronic disease typically promote the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and lean sources of protein. However, many people fail to appreciate that fermented foods also can play a major role in health maintenance.
As the organ that must cleanse the blood of impurities and perform a substantial portion of necessary life functions, the liver is especially sensitive to what we ingest. Thus, those with chronic liver disease from Hepatitis C are becoming increasingly aware that their food choices can either help or hinder their liver's health.
Many in the U.S. rarely consider fermented foods to be health food fare. Despite this distinctly American oversight, other cultures have prized fermented foods for their impact on digestion and liver health since ancient times. Upon recognizing some of the properties fermented foods share, it appears that people with Hepatitis C could benefit from this distinctively pungent and sour genre of food.
Initially used as a means to safely store food, humans have been fermenting foods to aid the digestive process for centuries:
· Stored in goat bags and dropped over the back of camels in the North Africa's hot deserts, camel milk yielded some of the first yogurts.
· In ancient Egypt, the Greeks and Romans consumed pickles to promote liver and gallbladder health.
Fermentation is a controlled process of food decomposition. With the addition of a specific culture in the absence of oxygen, food is broken down. Fermentation creates new nutrients and beneficial digestive bacteria that help us digest and assimilate food. Since it doesn't involve heat, fermentation retains enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients that are usually destroyed by food processing. Some of the more well-known fermented foods, include:
· Kimchi (Korean pickled cabbage)
· Sauerkraut (unpasteurized: made with bacteria, not vinegar)
· Natto (a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans)
· Brewed soy sauce
· Kefir (a fermented milk drink)
· Umeboshi (pickled Japanese plums)
· Yogurt (containing live cultures)
· Kombucha* (fermented tea)
· Miso (a fermented paste made from either rice, soybeans, barley or chickpeas)
· Pickles (made with bacteria, not vinegar)
· Poi (fermented, mashed tarot root)
Besides the recognition that eating fermented foods helps with the digestion and assimilation process, several studies have shown even more benefit to those with chronic liver disease.
· A well-known substance used by virtually every cell of the body to neutralize toxins, glutathione can protect the liver from being damaged by Hepatitis C. Unfortunately, clinical studies have demonstrated that the level of glutathione is significantly depressed in many people with Hepatitis C. In a 2007 edition of the journal BioFactors, Japanese researchers investigated the antioxidant activity of a fermented grain. They found that fermented grain resulted in a significant increase in cellular glutathione levels, an obvious benefit to those with Hepatitis C.
· As published in the April 2006 edition of Oncology Reports, investigators studied the effects of fermented brown rice on the development of hereditary hepatitis in rats. They found that the fermented food helped prevent the development of hepatitis. In addition, they concluded that fermented brown rice played a role in protecting the rat's liver from free radicals, an event that could potentially delay the progression of Hepatitis C in humans.
· In the May 2009 edition of the journal Nutrition, German researchers studied the effects of a fermented food concentrate (Regulat) in healthy volunteers. They found that the intake of this fermented food significantly strengthened immune function by enhancing intracellular glutathione content.
Up to this point, no large-scale clinical trials on fermented foods and Hepatitis C have been conducted. However, the general digestive benefits and reported properties of fermented foods make it a culinary delicacy worth investigating further. We know that food can have a dramatic impact on the liver's health. Thus, consuming a fermented food that is known to boost glutathione levels is a logical choice for those who are managing chronic Hepatitis C.
* While several studies have demonstrated an antioxidant effect of Kombucha tea, there are a handful of reports that suggest Kombucha tea is toxic in humans. Although the reported harmful effects are sparse compared to the number of people who drink this tea, there is no way to guarantee its safety. Because of this, many healthcare practitioners advise to only consume Kombucha tea when it is prepared hygienically and to limit its consumption to a maximum of twice a week.
References:
http://iospress.metapress.com/content/d7043727n3175631/, Assessment of antioxidative activity of extract from fermented grain food mixture using chemical and cellular systems, Yoko Ogawa, et al, BioFactors, 2007.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/fermented-foods-essential-digestive-aids.html, Fermented Foods: Essential Digestive Aids, Delia Quigley, Retrieved December 17, 2009, Care2.com, Inc., 2009.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16525673?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=4, Inhibitory effects of fermented brown rice and rice bran on the development of acute hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats, Shibata T, et al, Retrieved December 18, 2009, Oncology Reports, April 2006.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19061947?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1, Niuchangchih (Antrodia camphorata) and its potential in treating liver diseases, Ao ZH, et al, Retrieved December 18, 2009, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, January 2009.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19121921, Regulatory effects of a fermented food concentrate on immune function parameters in healthy volunteers, Schoen C, et al, Retrieved December 18, 2009, Nutrition, May 2009.
http://www.regulat.net/, Regulat ®, Retrieved December 18, 2009, eCommerce Engine, 2009.
http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/Fermentation.html, The Importance of Fermentation, Eric Armstrong, Retrieved December 19, 2009, treelight.com, 2009.
Posted by Editors at 12:14 PM --- Printer-friendly version
April 5, 2010
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An innovative substance with an obvious similarity to a common liver support supplement begins a Phase II clinical trial to protect the livers of those with Hepatitis C.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Novelos Therapeutics, a Massachusetts based biopharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes oxidized glutathione-based compounds for the treatment of cancer and hepatitis. One of their products, NOV-205, has just enrolled its first participant in a Phase II clinical trial for Hepatitis C previous treatment non-responders. Although there are several chemical differences, a popular supplement taken by people with Hepatitis C has a distinct resemblance to this experimental compound.
For the estimated four to five million Americans with Hepatitis C, the current standard treatment of pegylated interferon and ribavirin can help only about 50 percent of those infected. For those with the virus who did not have a successful outcome with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, preventing any further decline of their liver's condition is a medical priority.
Prevention of liver disease progression has historically fallen into the categories of lifestyle modifications, herbal supplementation and alternative medical practices. However, Novelos Therapeutics' NOV-205 is one of the first pharmaceutical agents to be categorized as a hepatoprotective compound - meaning its goal is to protect the liver from incurring any further damage. Described not just as a hepatoprotective agent, but also a substance containing immune modulating and anti-inflammatory properties, NOV-205 is a unique formulation of oxidized glutathione and inosine.
NOV-205:
· Demonstrated safety, reduced viral load and improved liver function in a Russian trial of 178 patients with Hepatitis B and C.
· Was approved in Russia by the Ministry of Health in 2001 as a monotherapy for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C.
· Successfully completed a Phase 1b trial in the US, proving itself as a safe compound.
As of March 2010, an ongoing U.S. Phase 2 trial to expand the safety database and assess NOV-205's efficacy commenced. Taking on a notoriously challenging to treat population, this trial is being conducted on patients with Hepatitis C who did not respond to pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy. Treatment centers are currently recruiting participants for this study in the states of Florida, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
While a detailed explanation of NOV-205's formulation remain under wraps, the Novelos Therapeutics product line clearly revolves around oxidized glutathione-based compounds. Glutathione is a well-known antioxidant that can benefit individuals with Hepatitis C. It is an enzyme found in all of the body's tissues that protects against potential damage from wastes and toxins.
Glutathione is available as an over-the-counter pill. However, its absorption into cells has been repeatedly questioned. A better way of boosting this antioxidant in the body, many experts advocate supplementing with glutathione's building blocks - so that the body can convert them into glutathione.
Since a liver with Hepatitis C must continually defend itself against damage from the virus, many people with this illness supplement with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) - a building block of glutathione. While NOV-205 clearly contains a different form of glutathione, the logic behind this experimental drug is along the same lines as NAC supplementation. For the previous non-responders to Hepatitis C treatment who are lucky to get into this trial, NOV-205 could help thwart their liver disease progression. For everyone else, supplementing with NAC is a wise move in the name of hepatoprotection.
For more information about the eligibility requirements and recruitment centers for the NOV-205 clinical trial currently underway, visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01058512?term=NCT01058512&rank=1.
References:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01058512?term=NCT01058512&rank=1, A Trial of NOV-205 in Hepatitis C Patients Who Failed Standard Therapy, Retrieved April 4, 2010, ClinicalTrials.gov, 2010.
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/07/hcv_and_the_bod.html, HCV and the Body's Most Important Antioxidant, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Retrieved April 4, 2010, Natural Wellness, 2010.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2010/040210_b.html, Novelos Starts Phase 2 Trial of NOV-205 to Reduce Liver Damage in Non-responders to Interferon Therapy for Hepatitis C, Retrieved April 4, 2010, hivandhepatitis.com, April 2010.
http://www.novelos.com/docs/Novelos%20PR%203-25-10%20205%20Ph2%20initiation.pdf, Novelos Therapeutics Enrolls 1st Patient in Phase 2 Hepatitis C Trial with NOV-205, Retrieved April 4, 2010, Novelos Therapeutics, Inc., 2010.
Posted by Editors at 11:43 AM --- Printer-friendly version
April 1, 2010
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Many don't realize how critical lymphatic fluid movement is for staying healthy with Hepatitis C infection - and that physical activity is the best way to promote lymph flow.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Regardless of a person's specific health concerns, experts seem to universally proclaim that exercise is the solution to just about everything. This is especially true when it comes to battling the Hepatitis C virus. While there are several reasons that exercise is beneficial to those with Hepatitis C, its function of encouraging movement in the lymphatic system is often overlooked.
Most people have a general understanding of what the cardiovascular system is and how it functions. This is not the case for the lymphatic system. Despite its importance to our health, a majority of us have little to no concept of the lymphatic system - including where it is, what it does and how it relates to Hepatitis C.
A Brief Overview of the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system consists of lymph vessels, nodes and organs for circulating lymph fluids. While it helps maintain fluid balance and transport fats and nutrients to the circulatory system, its most important function is to support immune function.
Considered to be one of the most important aspects of our immune system, the lymphatic system carries cellular waste, toxins and pathogens away from the tissues. It can accomplish this seemingly impossible task, because lymphatic fluid:
· bathes every one of our cells
· collects unwanted substances
· removes unwanted substances by transporting it away in its own network of lymph vessels
Connecting the lymphatic system together, the lymph vessels are akin to a microscopic, fine net laced throughout the entire body.
Lymph Flow
Blood vessels and lymph vessels are often next to one another. However, blood and lymphatic fluid's movement through their respective vessels is very different. Blood courses through its vessels because it is pumped by the heart. Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system has no pump.
Lymph fluid depends on skeletal muscle contractions to move through lymph vessels. Thus, physical activity is the best way to transport cellular debris, pathogens, cancerous cells and toxins away for removal. Without adequate movement, the cells are left stewing in their own waste products and starving for nutrients, a situation which could only worsen chronic Hepatitis C infection. This is especially problematic for those who lead a relatively inactive lifestyle, such as those who sit in a vehicle driving all day or are parked in front of a computer screen for a majority of their waking hours. In contrast, vigorous exercise has been reported to increase lymph flow by 15 to 30 times more than inactivity.
Applied to Hepatitis C
For those individuals who must manage Hepatitis C infection, one of the goals is to help the liver process its toxic load in any way possible. Aiding the circulation of lymphatic fluid is one small way to accomplish that goal.
Because the livers of those with Hepatitis C may have some degree of impaired function, this organ may not be as effective in its role of detoxification. Thus, those with liver damage commonly have a backup of cellular waste and toxins in their bloodstream - a situation that can lead to more liver damage, cancer or hepatic encephalopathy.
Hepatic encephalopathy occurs when toxic substances normally removed by the liver accumulate in the blood and impair the function of brain cells. Hepatic encephalopathy can lead to decreased cognition, coma and can ultimately be fatal.
By keeping active, those with chronic Hepatitis C can help their liver manage the continual onslaught of waste and toxins. Physical movement is necessary for moving unwanted debris along lymph vessels. This is just one reason why exercise helps reduce demand on the liver and helps keep the immune system healthy - a benefit for anyone regardless of his or her Hepatitis C status.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatic_encephalopathy, Hepatic Encephalopathy, Retrieved October 17, 2009, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2009.
http://infectiousdiseases.about.com/od/glossary/g/lymphatic_system.htm, Definition of Lymphatic System, Ingrid Koo, PhD, Retrieved October 17, 2009, About.com, 2009.
http://lumologie.com.au/Page/TheLymphaticSystem, The Lymphatic System, Retrieved October 16, 2009, Lumologie Pty Ltd 2009.
http://www.cbass.com/lymph.htm, Healthy Lymph System, Healthy Body, Retrieved October 17, 2009, Clarence and Carol Bass, 2009.
http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/rebounding-for-detoxification-and-health.htm, Why rebounding is so beneficial, Retrieved October 16, 2009, Healing Daily, 2009.
http://www.naturalalternativeshealth.com/lymphatic-therapy.html, Lymphatic Therapy, Retrieved October 16, 2009, Natural Alternatives, 2009.
Posted by Editors at 9:59 AM --- Printer-friendly version
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Upon finding that Isis-11 binds to a spot on the Hepatitis C virus needed for viral replication, researchers may have discovered a new structure for future Hepatitis C treatments.
Potential new target for treating Hepatitis C found
ANI, Mar 30, 2010
A team of researchers has discovered that binding of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to the genetic material of the virus causes a major conformational change that may adversely affect the ability of the virus to replicate.
This discovery, published in the March 29 early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides a potential new target for structure-based design of new hepatitis C treatments.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Potential-new-target-for-treating-Hepatitis-C-found/articleshow/5741948.cms
Posted by Editors at 9:27 AM --- Printer-friendly version
