Cingles Info

Hi Jak,
And boy don't I know that!!! If there is one thing
that has become abundantly clear since I first got
sick is that not only are Doctors human... most of
them are just average and few that I have run into
seem to truly care.
I question everything and in the words of Walt
Whitman, "...re-examine all you have been told at
school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever
insults your own soul..."
Thanks for the note Jak.
Take care,
Grace

Hi Linda,
I'm glad you found this interesting and informative.
I did the same before I made any decisions - I
gathered lots of info and listened to many
experiences. It took me almost a year to decide to
try traditional tx.
It is very powerful to hear someone say "It'll help me
make my decision..." - my first reaction is to come up
with all kinds of disclaimers (human nature is an
interesting thing), but I do want to reiterate that my
experiences are my own and we all have very different
ones. Not to mention, we all have very different
reactions to tx. I don't promote any particular
method of getting better or feeling well. I do what I
think is best for me and I support others in making
decisions that are best for them. It is hard
sometimes knowing what is right... trust yourself,
ultimately you know what is best for you.
I wish you much success on your journey for better
health.
Take care,
Grace

Thank you - you dear sweet woman. I love you too and
all you do for the boards and everyone on them.
You're the best!
Love,
Grace

See Gracie...it could always be worse...you could be pregnant! :-)

Jak,
I'm an inveterate (read as: obsessive/compulsive) researcher and I have
found that...reading those Rx Inserts and the PDR is hazardous to your
health too!...Almost ALL the dam drugs are processed thru your liver and
have the warnings (or, in the case of Zoloft, say "we haven't tested this on
people with liver problems so talk to your doctor"...who will then tell you
they're ok...just like everything else...that says "if you have liver
disease, talk to your dr. before taking this"...as if the dam dr. didn't
have anything to do with you having the Rx...Right?!)
But...at some point you have to weigh your odds against "what condition your
condition is in" (yes, I AM an OLD Hippie :-) and decide which is
worse...liver damage vs. suicide...or homicide, for example...ya know? :-)
Love,
Nancy

hi pam - if that clock is right, you sure keep some strange hours. guess
your on a "sleep as needed" routine or something. me - i gotta get my
regular 8 (+ naps) or i growl real loud a lot. and i don't like doin' that
or bein' mean to anyone.
i guess tc IS a card; i don't know him, so i wasn't sure if he was comin' on
to me or somethin'. anyhow, it WAS nice to know that the "resume" might be
appealing to someone. now, only if one of them happens to be a female,
philly person who's neither too young nor too old, too poor nor too rich
(well, THAT would be OK as long as she's kinda earthy and ain't got her nose
in the air like k. hepburn in "the phila. story). then again...
ah, just kiddin'
LOL from a :--)

Hey Grace
I wish you Well. You may have to try some of those anti-depressants!
The road your on is not easy by no means. Your on shot 7 and doing
good so far........Congrats
Ask Pam or someone else who has been on the treatment.
Wish I could help you

Hi Jak
sorry to disapoint you, but I really liked your letter!lol
If I was a woman in your area I would e-mail you, but I'm not, I am
a guy fron Michigan.Good Luck Jak

Monday July 15, 10:17 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Inhale
Inhale Reports that a Product Using Its PEGylation Technology Has Been
Granted Priority Review by FDA -- PEGASYS and Ribavirin Combination for
Treatment of Hepatitis C
SAN CARLOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 2002--Inhale Therapeutic
Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:INHL - News) today reported that a product using
Inhale's PEGylation technology has been granted priority review by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has granted a six-month Priority
Review Status of the Biologics License Application (BLA) and New Drug
Application (NDA) for Roche's combination therapy of PEGASYS® (peginterferon
alfa-2a) and Roche ribavirin tablets, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis
C in patients without cirrhosis and with cirrhosis with compensated liver
disease. Roche submitted this file with the FDA in June 2002 and approval
action is expected by the end of the year.
PEGASYS is composed of a high molecular weight branched polyethylene glycol
(PEG) molecule linked to interferon alpha-2a. The PEG is chemically added to
keep the drug active in the bloodstream longer and at a more constant level
than standard interferon. The PEG used in PEGASYS was licensed by Roche from
Inhale's subsidiary, Shearwater Corporation.
"We are pleased to be part of this important new therapy for this
difficult-to-treat disease," said Ajit Gill, president and chief executive
officer, Inhale. "We believe that the PEGASYS clinical data add to the
growing recognition of our PEGylation technology as an avenue to optimizing
the delivery and performance of many pharmaceutical products."
Priority designation is granted to biologics and drugs that if approved must
address unmet medical needs, offering a significant improvement in the
safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a
serious or life-threatening disease, according to FDA policies and
procedures.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that is
found in the blood of persons who have this disease. Unfortunately, most
people who are infected with this blood-born virus transmitted through body
fluids are unaware of it because it may take years for symptoms to develop.
Hepatitis C is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and the
number-one reason for liver transplants in the U.S. An estimated 2.7 million
Americans are chronically infected with the virus, with approximately 35,000
new infections each year. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimate that hepatitis C is responsible for eight to ten
thousand deaths per year and could increase to 38,000 by 2010.
According to Roche, the PEGASYS combination filing is based on two large
pivotal studies conducted with more than 2,400 patients. Data filed with the
FDA include findings from a study evaluating the treatment duration and dose
of ribavirin for patients with genotype 1 and non-1 hepatitis C. The PEGASYS
combination filing also includes data regarding predictability of a
patient's response at week 12 to PEGASYS combination therapy.
In June PEGASYS monotherapy and combination therapy was granted marketing
authorization by the European Commission, making it immediately available in
all European Union countries and paving the way for approvals in Central and
Eastern European countries. PEGASYS has been approved for use in 25
countries since its first approval in Switzerland in August 2001.
The most common serious adverse events reported for PEGASYS, observed in
clinical studies to date, were infections, psychiatric disorders and
gastrointestinal disorders. The most common adverse events for combination
therapy included flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, fatigue,
headache, myalgia/arthralgia, nausea/vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea and
abdominal pain, injection site reactions, partial alopecia, depression,
irritability, insomnia and dizziness. Severe psychiatric adverse events have
occurred during treatment with PEGASYS, combination interferon/ribavirin, or
interferon alone therapy both in patients with and without a previous
psychiatric disorder.
In addition ribavirin has its own adverse events, the most serious of which
are birth defects. For this reason, ribavirin and interferon with ribavirin
must not be used by women or male partners of women who intend to become
pregnant during therapy or within six months of therapy. Ribavirin has been
shown to cause anemia in some patients, which may exacerbate previous
coronary heart disease, or deteriorate heart function.
About PEGylation. Inhale's proprietary advanced PEGylation technology was
developed by its subsidiary, Shearwater Corporation. It is a technology for
the chemical attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer chains to a
broad range of drug substances such as peptides and proteins including
antibody fragments; small molecules; and other drugs. The effect of
PEGylation is to increase drug circulation time in the bloodstream, improve
drug solubility and stability, and reduce immunogenicity. The potential
advantages of PEGylation are to decrease dosing frequency, improve drug
efficacy and safety, improve stability, and simplify drug formulation.
About Inhale. Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc. provides a portfolio of
leading performance-enabling drug delivery technologies and expertise to
enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to maximize the
performance of their compounds. Inhale offers three leading drug delivery
platforms: PEGylation for enhanced delivery performance of most major drug
classes; a suite of technologies for the inhaleable delivery of
macromolecules and small molecules for systemic and local lung delivery; and
supercritical fluid powder particle engineering to easily control particle
characteristics, such as shape, size, crystal habit and stability for a
variety of drug delivery applications. The company is collaborating with
major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current
views of both companies' managements as to future products, product
development, and other future events and operations. These forward-looking
statements involve uncertainties and other risks that are detailed in
reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including Forms 10-K. These documents identify important factors that could
cause the companies' actual performance to differ from current expectations,
including the outcome of clinical trials, regulatory review, manufacturing
capabilities and marketing effectiveness.

Hi J.D. Really sorry to hear that the virus came back again :-( How long
were you clear or did you stop testing each year and have no idea? The good
news is that you HAVE the insurance. Right? Don't most insurance policies
have a one year pre-existing clause so even if they want to hassle you about doc
and treatment costs they should only be able to do it the first year. Did they
not test you when you got the policy? I thought that was routine anymore.
Hang in there and get in touch with Kerry who is your neighborhood which is the
neighborhood that I want to be back in LOL I miss COLORADO!
Peace
Pam
Have I said that enough to make the world crazy yet? LOL My shrink reminded
me the other day that has been EIGHT years since I was diagnosed and moved away
from Colorado EIGHT YEARS - I can hardly believe it! Well 9 since I was
diagnosed and 8 since I moved back to Florida to be technically correct LOL

I'm a S/dWM, 57, who lives and works in Haddonfield, and has
lived in
the same county all his life. Fortunately, living near center city
Philadelphia and in the Delaware Valley has broadened my horizons to
include almost everything from all types of museums to mountains,
zoos to sea shores, rock & roll to orchestras, marching band
competitions to watching "old" movies, or just walking in the
nearby
(rather large) county park.
Having been Dx-ed with HCV six months after an "empty nest"
seperation and then forced to sell the family homestead six months
later during the divorce was a real "3 strikes, you're
out" feeling
that lasted a long time. The last of my 3 stepchildren had just
finished his first year away at college and my two, being the oldest,
had long since left the nest.
Now, six years later, the Dragon is still in stage 1, my habits, diet
and lifestyle have changed dramatically but my tastes haven't. My
home is small but pleasant, and my son rebuilt and souped-uo this
computer for me to get on-line with him. He seems to understand why I
meditate, do yoga, walk a lot, etc., but is a little too busy
changing diapers for 3 of my 4 grandchildren for us to
really "interface" much these days.
By the way, this is my first attempt to reach-out to any woman since
that "third strike." Perhaps that's why I've told you
this story, Up-
front, now. If you're interested, we can exchange e-mails and
pictures before we commit to lunch or anything else.
If you're a female Cingle who has it "together" most of
the time and
is available for lunch and/or a walk in the park on a Monday or a
Tuesday, then please write to jakthomis113@...
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Jak Thomis

HAHAHAAAAAAA John, yer crackin me up over here.
So good to hear that your tests came back okay. And
I'll admit - I had been wondering about you and Lisa.
I'm so happy to hear that things went well. You're
such a gentleman!
On treatment... Dennis and I have been burning up the
email lines going over all kinds of stuff in regards
to treatment. He is such a sweet soul and has been so
helpful to me.
I took shot #7 on Friday night and while the physical
has not been bad, the mental is really starting to get
to me. Now I will say that on the weekends - it's not
so bad, but during the workweek - I have a REALLY
short fuse. Sometimes that is not so good - being in
a 'service' position. However - I do try to keep that
in perspective.
Another one of my problems is that I've always been
anti-drug (let me clarify... prescription drugs). I
grew up with a mother that was diagnosed with every
mental illness under the sun and was treated with
anti-psychotic and anti-depressant drugs for the
entire time I knew her (21 years) and it never helped
her a bit, she killed herself at the age of 43 to
escape the pain. So I have a history of disdain when
it comes to head meds and head doctors in general. No
disrespect intended to you folks that do take them and
they work for you... this is just my personal
experience.
So, I advised my gastro that I was experiencing
depression and he wanted me to stop treatment. I went
to my PCP and he agreed with my gastro. That really
chapped my hide. After much pressure from me, my PCP
relented and wrote me an rx for Paxil. I got it
filled and now I don't want to take (I think I really
just wanted to win the battle). I've been doing
research (for hours and hours and hours...) and taking
yet another drug with more possible sides, not to
mention the withdrawal problems - just doesn't appeal
to me. I can't emphasize enough that all these
choices are extremely personal. What works for and
appeals to one can be so different in another.
I did get an RX for Ativan fairly early on for anxiety
and promptly cut them up into 1/4 dosage and use them
sparingly while at work. Pam - I use your trick of
putting a 'chip' under my tongue and letting it
dissolve. It also helps that I have an understanding
boss - I keep a cot in my office and when I feel I
need to - I shut my door, put in a CD and take a
little nap.
I'm under some very tight deadlines right now at work
and could potentially have to travel to all our
offices to train users on a new software program.
That will take me to NY, Denver, Atlanta, Seattle and
3 offices in So. Cal. - all before the end of the
year. Or I may poop out long before then...
BUT, the good news is... my blood work looks
outstanding. My AST/ALT has gone from 150/256 to
21/15 in the first 4 weeks of treatment. First time
it's been under 3 digits in over 2 years. And just
seeing those results, knowing my liver is getting a
much-needed break - makes it all worth it.
As a reminder... I've had the virus for 2 1/2 years (I
believe) I'm a 1b, grade 1, stage 1 with a fluctuating
viral load of 21,000 - 2.2 million.
Prior to treatment - I had no ongoing long-term health
problems, nor had I been on any prescription drugs
(okay - well birth control, but that doesn't count),
which did influence my decision to treat now - while
I'm young (relatively) and healthy. It's not easy,
but challenging, and if I acheive SVR - worth it. I
hope to only do this once and be done with it.
Ask me again in a couple of weeks and I may have an
entirely different opinion...
Confused? Me too.
Take care John,
Grace

Pammie,
From what I can figure here, being manic depressive would make one live
twice as long as they should but only half as long as they could...or am I
thinking too hard again? :-)
Love,
Nancy

Hi TC,
I am from California. How is the whether in Michigan right now?
Talk to ya later...
Melissa
tcraw2000 wrote:HI Melissa, I don't think I have met you before. I am tom aka
TC in
Michigan. So what part of the world are you from? talk to you later I
hope

This is a good letter :-)
Winning Your Social Security Disability Claim:
15 Mistakes You Can Not Afford to Make!
by Scott E. Davis, Esq. and Scott M. Harris, Esq.
ImmuneSupport.com
02-03-2000
Mistake #1: Assuming that what SSA tells you is true. Unfortunately, some
of the advice Social Security Administration (SSA) employees provides to the
public is incorrect. So if you aren't happy with what SSA told you over the
telephone, you'll be glad to know it may not be correct. The problem is,
many people have told me they did not file a
disability claim for years (and went without benefits they deserve) simply
because a SSA employee gave them bad information.
Advice: Don't give up on your claim until after you have reviewed your case
with a disability lawyer. Disability lawyers know more about the law than
SSA employees and give you correct information.
Mistake #2: Assuming the SSA Administration will approve your claim. Not
true. Many people believe that because they have paid into SSA, their claim
should easily be approved when they apply for disability benefits. Many
people believe it's just a matter of filling out the forms and going through
the process. But this isn't true. SSA denies 70 to 75% of first-time claims.
SSA denies 82% of claims that are appealed for Reconsideration. However, the
good news is that when cases are heard before judges, nationwide over half
(53%) are approved.
Advice: (1) Appeal every denial within 60 (sixty) days of receipt, (2) build
a strong case by understanding what information Security Security requires,
and (3) make sure to present it properly.
Mistake #3: Assuming the disability forms you fill out will win your case.
Usually they will not. Claimants hurt their case by overstating what they
can do. In most cases, SSA and judges rely heavily on medical records as
well as your doctor, psychiatrist and/or psychologist's opinion about your
ability to work full time. If the judge isn't happy with you.if he doesn't
believe what you're saying.or if he is looking for a reason to deny your
claim, he may look for inconsistencies in answers you provided earlier on
the forms. For example, if you answer one way on the form and testify at a
hearing to something else, the judge may use the answer on the form to
undermine your credibility and support a denial of your claim.
Advice: When completing the forms, be honest, accurate and brief! You should
always answer the question in the space provided - do not attach additional
sheets of paper or write in the margins. Also, it is important to assume you
are back working full time on a sustained basis (8 hours per day, 5 days per
week) when answering questions about what you are capable of doing.
Mistake #4: Assuming that your medical and/or psychological symptoms will be
enough for the judge to approve your claim. Not true. You need detailed
medical records which document your symptoms and limitations and specific
opinions from your doctor, psychiatrist and/or psychologist if you hope to
win your case. Their opinions will only be given weight by the judge if you
have received continuous and consistent medical treatment. If you are not
treating regularly with your doctor you are jeopardizing your case!
Advice: It is critical you receive continuous and consistent medical
treatment and care so you can provide SSA and a judge with current and
complete medical records which support your doctors' opinions.
Mistake #5: Assuming your diagnosis will win your claim. It won't. It's true
that SSA needs a diagnosis. But SSA also needs medical proof that your
diagnosis causes limitations that are so significant and severe that they
preclude your ability to work full time on a sustained basis.
Advice: Disability cases are won based on your limitations, not your
symptoms. Make sure you provide detailed medical records from your doctor
that reflect your symptoms, his diagnosis, and your limitations.
Mistake #6: Assuming SSA will be persuaded by any type of medical treatment
you choose. It will not. You can choose any alternative therapies and
holistic treatments you desire. After all, you should do whatever it takes
to try to get better. However, be aware that SSA and judges are most
persuaded by mainstream doctors (M.D., D.O., psychologists) and how you
respond or fail to respond to mainstream treatment. If you are not taking
medications or are not receiving mainstream treatment by a mainstream
doctor, you may be jeopardizing your claim.
Advice: To win your claim, try to exhaust every medical treatment your
mainstream doctors recommend, so you can prove that in spite of doing so,
you continue to be unable to work full time on a sustained basis.
Mistake #7: Assuming your family doctor's opinion is the only one you need.
This may not be a good choice depending upon your diagnosis. If your
diagnosis is usually made and treated by a specialist (M.D., D.O., Ph.D),
you should treat with both a board certified specialist and your family
practitioner. From a legal standpoint, you want to show the judge your
diagnosis is correct and that you are receiving the best possible medical
care. You have a stronger case when your doctor is a specialist who is
skilled and experienced at treating people who have your condition. Social
Security law generally gives more weight to the opinions of a specialist
than a general practitioner. As a result, SSA and the judge will look more
closely at the credentials of the doctor who is providing the opinion.
Advice: Get your medical treatment from a specialist because the more skill
and experience your doctor has, the more likely you are to win your claim.
Note: If you are a member of an HMO and they will not allow you to go to a
specialist, consult with your disability lawyer, who can help you get
appropriate treatment.
Mistake #8: Assuming your doctor will support your claim for disability
benefits. He may not. Some doctors refuse to help patients with their
disability claims. Many doctors do not know SSA's definition of disability
and believe that one has to be bed ridden to qualify. In general, doctors
are very conservative in their opinion about a patient's ability to work.
Because SSA and a judge will want to know if your doctor supports your
claim, it is critical you know the same information! After you have
established a relationship with your doctor you should discuss with them the
fact that you have filed a claim for disability. Ask if they will support
your claim - if they will not, you should consider finding another doctor
because their opinion is not likely to change! It is critical your doctor
supports your inability to work full time on a sustained basis!
Advice: As soon as practicable, you should learn whether your doctor
supports your disability claim. If not, consider finding a more
compassionate doctor who will. One place to find a referral is to attend a
local support group for individuals who share your diagnosis.
Mistake #9: Assuming you have to go to SSA's doctor for a medical
examination. Often, SSA wants to a claimant to go a disability examination
with a doctor/psychiatrist/psychologist it chooses. Unfortunately, the
doctor is not really "independent" and probably performs many of these
examinations for SSA each month. In my experience, the majority of the time
the doctor will conclude you are not disabled and can return to work. Once
this opinion is included in your file SSA and a judge will have sufficient
evidence to deny your claim. Here's the good news: SSA rules allow your
doctor perform the disability exam and SSA should pay for all or at least
part of it. Naturally, if your doctor supports your disability claim he will
probably conclude your condition precludes your ability to work. Once your
doctor's exam report is in your file with a conclusion that you are
disabled, SSA and a judge may have sufficient medical information to approve
your claim.
Advice: This strategy is only possible if you are certain your doctor
supports your claim and is willing to do the examination. If you do not have
a doctor or your doctor will not perform the examination you must go to
SSA's doctor or risk having your claim denied or closed out. This strategy
really should only be employed by a disability lawyer because complex
regulations are involved and must be complied with.
Mistake #10: Assuming an entire year has to pass before you can file a
disability claim. Not true. SSA law requires that before you can be approved
one of the following must be true: (1) you have already been disabled and
out of work for one year, or (2) your doctors expect that you will be unable
to work for a minimum of one year from the date you last worked, or (3) your
medical condition is expected to result in death. Too many people have told
me that an SSA employee said they could not file a claim until one year had
passed since they last worked. This information is totally incorrect and if
followed, will almost certainly cost you disability benefits and medical
insurance!
Advice: Apply for disability benefits as soon as you or your doctors believe
your medical and/or psychological condition will preclude you from working
for at least one year. Waiting to file will only cost you benefits that you
may not be able to recover.
Mistake #11: Assuming that if you lose before a judge at a hearing, you can
simply file another claim. When you have a hearing before a SSA judge, you
do not want to lose. This is because, practically speaking, your best chance
at winning is at your first hearing before a judge. True, you can file a
second application if you lose at a hearing; however, the second time you go
through the process, SSA and a judge will know your first claim was denied.
In my opinion, this may have a detrimental effect on your second claim as
the second judge will know.
Advice: Make sure your case is properly prepared so you can present your
strongest case at the first hearing.
Mistake #12: Assuming you can handle your case without a disability lawyer.
Most people can't. SSA disability laws are complex, even many lawyers do not
understand them. To win your claim, you need to very carefully prepare your
case from the very beginning. In addition, it is critical to understand what
you need to prove legally in order to win your case; if you do not know what
you need to prove - why would you risk going before SSA or a judge without
knowing how to win your case? The fact that you and your doctor agree you
are disabled is not enough to win your case.
Advice: Retain only an experienced disability lawyer. They will help build
your case, develop a case strategy, obtain a complete set of your medical
records and critical opinions from your doctor that will maximize your
chances of success. More often than not, your doctor will not be familiar
with the stringent criteria that SSA and a judge will utilize in determining
whether you meet their definition of disability.
Mistake #13: Assuming any lawyer can help you win your claim. Not true. You
want a disability lawyer who is familiar with SSA laws and regulations.
Similar to doctors, attorneys generally specialize in a certain area of the
law. You wouldn't go to a dentist for a physical examination, so do not pick
just "any" attorney to represent you in your disability claim.
Advice: Choose a disability lawyer who's practice is dedicated to
representing clients because your odds of winning will increase. A seasoned
disability attorney will understand the strategy and tactics that are
crucial to helping you win your claim.
Mistake #14: Assuming you should not hire a lawyer until your case has
initially been denied. Not true. You can hire a lawyer any time you wish.
Unfortunately, many employees at SSA will tell you that it is not necessary
to hire an attorney until you have been initially denied. Following this
advice could be fatal to your claim! Why? Because in general, SSA will begin
preparing a case against you from the day you file your application!
Advice: You should consult with and/or hire a disability attorney as soon as
possible after you file your application. The attorney can explain how the
process really works and lay the proper foundation for your case by
developing a case strategy. The attorney can also guide your case through
the myriad of rules and regulations that are certain to have an effect on
your entitlement to benefits.
Mistake #15: Assuming that you cannot afford a lawyer. Not true. In almost
every case, you will only pay the attorney a fee if and when you have won
your case and received benefits. SSA law limits the amount of money your
lawyer can earn from your disability claim. Generally, by the time you win
your claim you will have accrued back benefits. The law mandates the fee can
only be 25% of your past benefits and is capped at $4,000. In other words,
if your back benefits total $1,000.00, the attorney's fee would be $250.00.
The law does not allow your lawyer to charge a fee on your future benefits.
What may be at stake? By way of example, assume a claimant is 45 years old
and their monthly disability benefit is $1,000.00. If the person never
returns to work before age 65, their disability benefits would total
$240,000.00!
This amount does not include the value of the lifetime health insurance they
would also receive through Medicare or Medicaid.
Advice: Because the amount of the benefits can be staggering, the truth is,
you can't afford not to hire an experienced disability attorney! Scott E.
Davis and Scott M. Harris are social security and long-term disability
insurance attorneys in Scottsdale, Arizona. They are the founding partners
of Harris ? Davis, PLC. Although they have experience representing clients
with a broad spectrum of physical and/or psychological disorders, the
majority of their disability practice is devoted to representing individuals
with FMS and/or CFIDS. Mr. Davis and Mr. Harris represent clients throughout
the United States. In most cases a fee is charged only if their client
obtains benefits. They invite your questions and inquiries regarding
representation via email: harris.davis@... or facsimile (602)482-4300.

THANKS A MILLION!!!
Deliman
Bayla <bgumins@...
JUST A REMINDER 31 days from today, cell phone numbers are being released to
telemarketing companies and you will start to
receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS.
These Telemarketers will eat up your free minutes and end up costing you money
in the long run. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell
phone: 888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a
minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.
PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS
You can register on line at:
www.donotcall.gov/ <http://www.donotcall.gov/
~ Bayla ~
Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...
It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things
that give value to survival."
C.S.Lewis

HI Melissa, I don't think I have met you before. I am tom aka TC in
Michigan. So what part of the world are you from? talk to you later I
hope

City considers needle collection program that some say won't work
By Adam Gorlick, Associated Press Writer | May 13, 2006
WORCESTER, Mass. --At the rate Lenny Carlson says he shoots heroin into his
veins, the needles don't last very long.
After four fixes a day, he's lucky to go five days without dulling the point so
much that it won't puncture the skin on his arms. And when he's done with his
"dirty works," as junkies call their used needles, he throws them on the
sidewalk.
"That's all you can do," said the 52-year-old, who blames his Hepatitis C on
sharing needles off and on since 1969. "What else am I going to do with my dirty
works?"
City health officials say they have an answer: Operation Yellow Box. Unique to
Massachusetts and modeled after a now-defunct program in Baltimore, the
Worcester proposal would set up secure boxes at five indoor locations around the
city where intravenous drug users could dispose their used needles.
The idea is to get needles off the streets where they threaten children who
might be tempted to pick them up and sanitation workers who have to.
But unlike the state's four needle exchange programs in Northampton, Cambridge,
Boston and Provincetown, turning in a used syringe in Worcester wouldn't get you
a new one.
By proposing a drop-off only program, organizers hope to skirt the heated debate
surrounding needle exchange programs, often critized by residents and
politicians who say giving a junkie a clean syringe is condoning his behavior
and contributing to crime.
The Worcester City Council has voted against needle exchange proposals several
times in the past few years.
"This should in no way be construed as a needle exchange program," said James
Gardiner, director of the city's Department of Health and Human Services, which
has asked the city council to consider approving Operation Yellow Box. "But we
need to find a way to better collect needles and protect people in the community
from them."
Gardiner says the proposal will also provide the chance for social service
workers to help wean junkies from their dope.
The five yellow disposal boxes would be placed inside health centers, AIDS
outreach facilities, the public health department and a homeless shelter --
places where addicts already go for services. Once they're in the door, Gardiner
said outreach workers will be able to educate them about the needle disposal
program and the dangers of drug use.
City health officials said they haven't figured out how much Operation Yellow
Box would cost, but state funding would be available for the program, said Donna
Rheaume, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health.
Barbara Haller, chairwoman of the city council's health committee and an
opponent of needle exchange, said she's open-minded to learning more about the
proposal.
But she says it will take a lot of convincing before the city council would
approve it.
"I don't know if this has any real value, or if its just feel-good policy and a
backdoor into needle exchange," Haller said.
Possession of a hypodermic needle without a prescription is currently illegal in
Massachusetts, creating a black market where some diabetics are willing to sell
their syringes to junkies for about $5 a piece.
The cost may seem minimal, but it cuts into an addict's budget for a $20 bag of
dope. With that in mind, many junkies are unwilling to discard a syringe until
it's completely useless. And by that point, it may seem like a bad idea to carry
worthless contraband to a disposal site and risk being caught by police.
"I suspect the demand for the needle will be greater than the desire for an
individual to appropriately dispose it," said David McCloskey, director of the
PIP homeless shelter, one of the proposed drop box sites.
And without the incentive of getting a clean needle in exchange for a dirty one,
many are skeptical that the program would work.
"Junkies don't give a crap," said David Tolka, 48, who says he always threw his
used needles down the sewer so children wouldn't find them. Now homeless, Tolka
says he drinks heavily but stopped using heroin three years ago. Still, he says
he sees plenty of intravenous drug use every day in the city's Main South
neighborhood.
"Nobody's going to throw their works in a box unless they get a clean needle,"
he said. "They just care about the fix."
Still, advocates say trying something that might get infected needles out of
circulation is better than doing nothing.
"One issue that comes up over and over again is that contaminated syringes are
being disposed of in public places -- in parks, in sewers, wherever," said Joe
McKee, deputy director of AIDS Project Worcester. "These boxes are one way to
address that issue short of needle exchange. It takes contaminated needles out
of the community and off the street."
Baltimore ran a similar drop box program for 15 months starting in 1996.
The effort resulted in the collection of 2,971 needles that were deposited in
specially converted mailboxes located in public places known to have high rates
of AIDS victims and drug users.
About 150 of the needles were randomly tested, and nearly 11 percent of them
were contaminated with HIV, said Kima Taylor, Baltimore's assistant commissioner
of health promotion and disease prevention.
The program was discontinued because city officials decided to focus its money
and energy on a needle exchange program, which had already been in place since
1994.
Don Des Jarlais, a research director at New York City's Beth Israel Medical
Center, said drop box programs haven't been widely implemented around the
country, and aren't as effective as needle exchange.
"It's worthwhile to set the boxes up, but there hasn't been an overwhelming
response to those programs," said Des Jarlais, who has written studies for the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control showing that needle exchange programs curb HIV
transmission. "Even where the programs are working well, it's probably only a
minority of disposed syringes that are going into these boxes."
Lenny Carlson, who says he only recently started shooting heroin again after
staying clean for 18 months, put it more bluntly.
"Unless you give a junkie a clean needle, he's not going to just give you a
dirty one," he said.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/05/13/city_consider\
s_needle_collection_program_that_some_say_wont_work/

those inquiring minds won't ever let up.....lmao
you asked....so now ya gonna get it.
for today, i'm doing really good :-)
you probably saw the post on my mri. they had me worried for about a
month because of a high alpha ___ protein test.....afp?...brain
fog.....the scan was for liver tumors and the results came back... no
evidence of any :-) my doc seems determined to get me on the peg...
butttttt......there isn't any urgency for now and i will wait to see
what developes. and then again ... i'm keeping an eye on our grace
to see how she responds.... dennis too...i wish them both a ton of
luck.
having fun?.......ya been talking to somebody i know?....lol
just wishing there were a couple more days in the week to get a
little time off..... eat, sleep, work and dr appts seem to fill my
schedule.
oh, ya say i been stalling long enough....(G)....and ya wanna hear
about lisa and me? now my shyness is going to come out... she came to
la for four days and it went by too quickly....we look forward to
seeing each other again. you never know what the future might hold :-)
love,
John

A Queens Doctor Finds Fighting Hepatitis B Is a Frustrating Task
By COREY KILGANNON
Published: May 13, 2006
Dr. Sing Chan, a hepatologist in Flushing, Queens, has been getting more and
more invitations for lunch lately from pharmaceutical representatives seeking to
interest him in new drugs developed to treat the hepatitis B virus.
As the number of new cases reaches a staggeringly high rate among recent Chinese
immigrants in New York City, drug companies are descending upon doctors and
pharmacists; marketers of fancy herbal remedies are pushing their products on
Chinese radio; and the many shops along Flushing's Main Street that sell
traditional Chinese herbs are stocking products with natural ingredients that
claim to purify the liver.
A study released this week reported that east Asian immigrants in New York City
run a far greater risk than other Americans for the hepatitis B virus. The
study, led by researchers at the New York University School of Medicine, was
certainly not news to Dr. Chan, whose client list has come to be dominated by
Chinese immigrants living around Main Street in whom the virus has been
detected.
The virus, which can lead to diseases like liver cancer and cirrhosis, has
plagued Asian immigrants for decades, and the number of patients who test
positive for it keeps rising in areas like Flushing.
"The numbers are going up all the time," Dr. Chan said. "Doctors are just not
doing enough to test patients for hepatitis B. Infected patients tell me, 'I've
had plenty of blood tests but they never checked for hepatitis B.' "
Because hepatitis B is endemic in many Asian countries, where it is transmitted
largely from mother to child, growth in the number of Asian immigrants in New
York and across the country has made the disease a broad, expensive health
problem. In the 2000 census, there were 800,000 Asians in the city, with roughly
half from China.
Hepatitis B, like hepatitis C, is generally contracted through the blood, and is
not transmitted through casual contact with infected people. Hepatitis A, which
is caused by a different virus, can be transmitted through food, but hepatitis B
cannot, with very rare exceptions.
"They spent one day teaching us about this in medical school," Dr. Chan said.
But now doctors and authorities can not ignore the scores of patients flocking
to the modest medical clinics and offices tucked away in commercial suites just
off Main Street, above noodle shops, bubble tea lounges and karaoke bars.
Dr. Chan and his colleagues in Flushing are frustrated. They are scrambling to
introduce a reluctant population of recent Chinese immigrants to medical
advances in treatment of the virus, including early detection and medication
that can suppress it.
"New patients say they are shocked when they find out they have the virus," he
said. "Then they admit that many of their friends and relatives have it. You get
a lot of old people who come and know they have it, but they say, 'My doctor
always said nothing can be done for it.' "
That is no longer so. Over the past decade, an array of new drugs has become
available to treat chronic infection and suppress the virus so that it causes
little or no harm. Usually, they must be taken for a lifetime.
"When I tell young Chinese people they have to take a lifetime worth of drugs
for a virus that is currently giving them no symptoms, they don't understand
that," he said. "Then they refuse and they remain carriers and can pass the
virus on."
For many Chinese immigrants, he said, hepatitis B has long carried a stigma.
Many people were told it is incurable and not to speak about it for fear one
would be vilified as a carrier.
"A lot of people don't want to come forward because they are undocumented and
can't get health insurance," said Ming-der Chang, vice president of Asian
initiatives for the American Cancer Society, which reports high incidence of
liver cancer among Asian immigrants in New York City. "They don't want to be
seen as carriers of the virus."
A 45-year-old man who emigrated from China 10 years ago said he avoided being
tested for the virus because he lacked money and health insurance. Getting a
hepatitis B diagnosis would mean a stigma that would affect his ability to rent
a room, get work and make friends, he said.
"I was worried I would be discriminated against," said the man, who was granted
anonymity because of his illegal status and his reluctance to reveal to his
friends that he has hepatitis B. "People still think the virus can be spread by
food and contact. Many poor immigrants come and live close together in small
rooms and don't want to live close to someone who has it."
In January 2005, the man developed liver cancer, caused by untreated hepatitis
B, doctors told him. A yearlong regimen of chemotherapy has shrunk his tumors to
the point where his doctors are optimistic about his survival, he said.
Dr. King-Chen Hon, a gastroenterologist with an office on Main Street, said that
a steady stream of new patients now come in complaining of the virus. By then,
they are yellow from jaundice or have liver problems, including cirrhosis or
cancer. But many come in with no clue that they are infected and no real
symptoms. Then they test positive.
Dr. Pat Basu, a hepatologist in Forest Hills, Queens, said there is a high
incidence of hepatitis B among the Bukharan immigrants who live near his office.
There is also a high rate among the South Asian populations of Indians,
Pakistanis and Bengalis in Elmhurst and Bukharans in Forest Hills, doctors there
say.
But it is among Chinese immigrants that the numbers are highest. The study found
that 15 percent of east Asians in New York - as many as 100,000 people - are
chronic hepatitis carriers, an infection rate 35 times the rate found in the
general population.
Some people with hepatitis B cannot afford Western medicine or had no success
with it, and turn to traditional Chinese herbal medicine, seeking to restore
their health among the pungent aromas of the stores that sell lotus seeds,
ginseng root, ginkgo, shark cartilage and fish oil.
Sam Zhang, 33, walked into one such store on Main Street and browsed among the
glass jars of dried fish, seahorses and hundreds of varieties of tea. He bought
$200 worth of herbal liver purifier for his mother, Li, 53, who has hepatitis B.
He bought a month's supply of an herbal remedy to purify the liver, for $200.
"Our doctor said not to try any traditional Chinese medicine because it's not
approved by the F.D.A.," said Mr. Zhang, who emigrated from Fujian Province in
1990 and owns a restaurant in Flushing. "But nothing else worked, so we'll give
it a try."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/nyregion/13epidemic.html?ex=1305172800&en=3411\
01696b0a7355&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Pessimism Can Be Kiss of Death
Particularly if you're suffering from a chronic illness
By Janice Billingsley
HealthScoutNews Reporter
MONDAY, July 8 (HealthScoutNews) -- If you have a serious chronic illness, a
pessimistic personality may shorten your life. That's the conclusion of a
new study by University of Iowa scientists that contends if you're a
take-charge, conscientious person, you're more likely to live longer.
In other words, you should think like Tiger Woods, not Woody Allen.
In the study of 174 men and women who suffered from chronic kidney disease,
the researchers found those who were prone to excessive worry and general
anxiety were nearly 40 percent more likely to die over a four-year period
than the average patient. Conversely, those who were upbeat, dependable and
goal-oriented were almost 40 percent more likely to live longer over a
four-year period than the average patient.
"We have confirmed what research and clinical work and many other people
have speculated, that there is a link between personality style and physical
health," says Alan Christensen, a professor of psychology and internal
medicine at the University of Iowa. He's the lead author of the study, which
appears in the July issue of Health Psychology. The research was funded by
the National Institutes of Health.
Many studies of this topic have been based on variables such as
self-reported symptoms and visits to the doctor. However, the data for this
study, Christensen says, was much more solid because the research was
"unfortunately based on the significant mortality rates for chronic renal
unsufficiency."
For their study, Christensen and his colleagues interviewed men and women in
the early stages of chronic kidney disease, a life-threatening condition in
which the kidneys don't function properly.
"We wanted to assess personalities before the patients showed symptoms of
kidney disease," he says, so the results wouldn't be skewed by anxieties
that come with advancing illness.
The patients, whose average age was 56, were given a standard personality
assessment test of 60 questions that gauged five personality areas:
neuroticism; conscientiousness; extroversion; openness to experience and
agreeableness.
They were then followed for two to five years, with the average follow-up
being four years. Forty-nine of the patients died during this time.
What the researchers found -- after controlling for age, diabetes and
anemia, which are the other major causes for mortality -- was that those who
had scored high on the neurotic assessment were 37.5 percent more likely to
have died over the four years than the average patient.
Meanwhile, those who received high marks for conscientiousness, which
indicates a diligence and willingness to take on challenges, were 36.4
percent less likely to die over the four-year period than the average
patients, Christensen says.
The question, he adds, is "how these personality styles affect
health-related behaviors."
He says people who tend to worry or be in a mildly depressed mood might not
take good care of themselves, while those who are more conscientious "tend
to comply with medical advice, and are more likely to see a doctor if
they're sick."
Dr. Joyce Gonin, who treats patients with chronic kidney disease at
Georgetown University Hospital, says, "It is very clear that the mood of the
patient will indicate if the patient will comply with the medication and
treatment. All too frequently, patients become depressed and skip their
dialysis session."
"On the other hand, the more motivated a patient is, the more educated he or
she becomes about the disease, the more control they have over their
illness, the less likely it is you will see preventable complications," she
says.
Because of this, she always assesses the emotional health of her patients.
"You can't deal with the chronically ill patient without taking into account
the psychological-social factors," Gonin says.
Adds Christensen: "There also may be a physiological component to
personality. We know there's some relationship. Patients that have
chronically negative emotions tend to be immunosuppressed."
What To Do
Information about dealing with chronic illness can be found at The Menniger
Letter. To learn more about kidney failure, visit the National Kidney and
Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Copyright © 2002 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. Last updated 7/8/2002

NIACIN TREATS DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
TORONTO, CANADA. Many digestive problems such as bloating, abdominal
distention or pain, heartburn and belching are caused by a lack of stomach
acid (hypochlorhydria). An adequate output of stomach acid is required in
order to prevent fungal and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine
(candidiasis and Helicobacter pylori) and to facilitate the flow of bile and
pancreatic enzymes. Dr. Jonathan Prousky of the Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine
believes that many cases of hypochlorhydria can be traced to a relative lack
of vitamin B3 (niacin, niacinamide). Some people, it appears, have a much
higher than normal need for vitamin B3 especially when under stress. If this
need is not met then digestive problems arise. Dr. Prousky cites the cases
of two patients with abdominal bloating and other digestion-related problems
whose condition improved very significantly after starting to supplement
with 1-3 grams/day of niacin (in divided doses). One of the patients also
suffered from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD); his symptoms completely
disappeared after beginning niacin supplementation.
Dr. Prousky suggests that patients who suffer the symptoms of low stomach
acid production can markedly improve their condition by supplementing with
200-500 mg of niacinamide with every meal. For more severe cases betaine
hydrochloride and 500-1000 mg of niacin per meal may be required. This
regimen may also help to eradicate a Helicobacter pylori infection. NOTE:
High doses of niacin should only be taken under the supervision of a
physician.
Prousky, Jonathan E. Is vitamin B3 dependency a causal factor in the
development of hypochlorhydria and achlorhydria? Journal of Orthomolecular
Medicine, Vol. 16, No. 4, 4th quarter 2001, pp. 225-37 [74 references]

Here is a wonderful story that I thought some of you might enjoy, if you read
real close and here the message it is truly wonderful.
Love, Light, and Blessings
Eric W
GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED
Don't start reading this one until you've got more than 3 or 4 minutes to just
"scan" over it. It deserves some time for reflection.
I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's
what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, "Are you
there, God?" he said.
"Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed..."
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.
Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night
something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the
very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during
labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an
adult.
He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he
always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that
Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and
that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.
Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?
Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to
walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for
dinner, and later to bed.
The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly
over the washing machine
like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.
He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner,
and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's
laundry chores.
And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to
the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on
the destination of each passenger inside.
"That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.
His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.
He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.
His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care
what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have
always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he
unloads the dishwasher
or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.
He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job
until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.
He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when
you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry
when he is hurt, angry or
sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a
child. Kevin seems to
know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an
"educated" person to grasp.
God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the
security Kevin has in his
simple faith.
It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge
that rises above my mortal
questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap . I am.
My obligations, my fear,
my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust
them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has
spent his whole life in
that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love
of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at
how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple
prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!
When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. There is
nothing attached. This is powerful.

Pam and Grace,
been trying for the past hour to get in the chat room at delphi.... it
keeps saying cannot find server :( oh well......... i may try
later.
love,
John

TOLD you Hon, I'm Here, There, and Everywhere (and there's certainly enough
"me's" to go around, eh? :-) But...no, I told Sybil to stay away from my
other lists...That girl gets on my nerves! LOL
Love Ya, Hon ;-)
Nancy

There will be a chat tonight at
http://forums.delphiforums.com/HepCingles/chat
It should start about 7 or 8 PST (which is 10 or 11 EST) and should run for
several hours. If you get there and no one is there please just hang for a
few and someone will show up. Ms. Gracie and I are going to try to get the
chat going again.......... Hope everyone can make it :-) We are going to
try to make it a regular Saturday night *thing* again :-) I am off to a
movie but will be there around midnight thirty or 1AM EST and next week I
promise to be on time :-) What is that saying........... be there or be
square?!?!? LOL
Peace and Love,
Pam
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened" -
Anatole France

Well cheese me, look who's here.lol~~~~~~~TC
ps. is Sybil on this list or should I e-mail her privately!

Committee Backs Expansion of Access to Low-Cost Drugs
By ROBERT PEAR
WASHINGTON, July 11 - By a vote of 16 to 5, a Senate committee approved a
bill today that would greatly expand access to low-cost generic versions of
prescription drugs. The full Senate plans a free-swinging election year
debate on drug prices next week.
Even supporters said they were surprised by the lopsided vote on the bill,
the first major setback in years for the industry that manufactures
brand-name prescription drugs sold in the United States and around the
world.
Ten Democrats, 5 Republicans and one independent supported the bill, while 5
Republicans voted against it. All the Republicans who voted for the bill are
up for re-election this year.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, the committee
chairman, hailed the outcome, saying, "This is a victory for patients and a
defeat for the special interests who have been exploiting loopholes" in
existing law to delay competition by makers of generic drugs.
The bill is likely to be the vehicle for a long-awaited debate on
prescription medicines next week in the Senate, where efforts to write a
prescription drug bill for Medicare recipients have been stymied. Members of
both parties plan to offer amendments to authorize coverage of prescription
drugs under Medicare, the federal health insurance program for 40 million
people who are elderly or disabled.
Today's vote was in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions. Another panel, the Finance Committee, has authority over Medicare,
but has been unable to reach agreement on Medicare drug benefits.
Republicans like Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire said they feared that
the bill approved today would lead to a blizzard of lawsuits by generic drug
companies challenging patents on brand-name medicines.
Under current law, a maker of brand-name drugs can often get a 30-month
delay in federal approval of generic drugs by filing a lawsuit that alleges
infringement of its patents. Critics say that some companies have delayed
generic competition for years by repeatedly seeking 30-month delays.
The bill approved today would allow a single 30-month delay, to protect
patents listed at the time a brand-name product is approved by the Food and
Drug Administration.
Brand-name drug companies adamantly opposed the measure, saying it would
reduce patent protections for their products, thus reducing incentives for
the discovery of cures and treatments.
Alan F. Holmer, president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America, said, "This legislation undermines the patent system that has
brought us a cure for polio, four new medicines to combat Alzheimer's
disease, a breakthrough treatment for leukemia and every AIDS treatment we
have now."
The Republicans who voted for the bill were Susan Collins of Maine, Tim
Hutchinson of Arkansas, Pat Roberts of Kansas, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and
John W. Warner of Virginia.
Today's vote was a victory for Senators Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New
York, the chief sponsor of the bill, and John McCain, Republican of Arizona,
the principal co-sponsor. An amendment devised by Ms. Collins and Senator
John Edwards, Democrat of North Carolina, to balance the interests of
generic and brand-name companies, ensured bipartisan support.
When Mr. Schumer and Mr. McCain introduced an earlier version of the bill
two years ago, experts on the drug industry dismissed it as a quixotic
effort to rewrite arcane patent laws. But the two senators translated the
issue into dollars and cents, saying patients, employers and insurers could
cut drug costs at least 30 percent whenever they used generic medicines
rather than brand-name ones.
The House passed a bill to add drug benefits to Medicare last month. House
Republican leaders deflected bipartisan efforts to rein in drug prices. But
the House leaders said they might return to the issue if the Senate passed a
bill addressing drug costs.
When their efforts to write a Medicare drug bill stalled, senators seized on
the generic drug legislation as a way to provide relief to consumers. In an
interview, Mr. Schumer said his bill affected everyone who used prescription
drugs and "does not cost the government anything." By contrast, the Medicare
bills would provide direct assistance only to the elderly and the disabled,
and would generate large federal costs, ranging from $370 billion to $700
billion or more over 10 years.
Mr. Schumer said his bill took "a free-market approach," trying to drive
down drug prices through greater competition, not through price controls or
regulation.
Kathleen D. Jaeger, president of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association,
said some brand-name companies had blocked generic competition by claiming
patents on incidental features of their products - for example, the grooves
cut into the surface of a tablet or the brown bottle in which a medicine was
packaged.
Under the bill approved today, Ms. Jaeger said, generic drug companies could
file suit in federal court to challenge such patents.

((((((((Gracie))))))))
Good to see you opening the Hepcats Hideout!!! I'll try to stop by
for a few minutes.....at least to say hi before going to work :)
Love.
John

NatureTEST FOR ALL, CURE FOR ALL - A RESPONSE TO CLINICAL TRIAL SEGREGATION
Please read and offer suggestions - if any - on how to make this more effective.
I apologize for the first post, as it was written in haste and not well worded.
If you have posted this, please do me the kindness of reposting it with this
revised copy.
And thank you for your patience.
Johanna Koskinen
10603 Blue Ridge Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri 64134
OFFICE- (816)767.8472 - 24-hour Toll-Free HEP C LINE (888).436.HEPC (4372)
Mailbox: P.O. Box 35033 Kansas City, Missouri 64134
Help Support our efforts to educate others about hep C! Adopt a "Tee"
(shirt, that is!).
Hep C - MO T-shirts Hep C-MO Postcards
TO: THE HEP C COMMUNITY
FROM: JOHANNA KOSKINEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEPATITIS C MULTICULTURAL
OUTREACH
RE: SHERING-PLOUGH'S HEPATITIS C TEST EXCLUSION
Many of you have read about Shering-Plough's decision to exclude African
Americans from one of their future clinical trials .To those who haven't, please
go to our website at: http://www.hepcmo.org and click on the link leading to the
full article, or go to our blog at: http://tfa-cfa.blogspot.com , where you can
read and respond to Shering-Plough's reasoning behind their decision.
Needless to say, our organization - along with other groups that focus
on services for the underserved and minorities - have expressed much concern
over their defense of their decision.
Myself , along with other "multicultural-based" organizations have been
asked to help spearhead the following initiative :
" TEST FOR ALL, CURE FOR ALL (TFA/CFA)" to respond to the practices of
scientific and medical exclusionary practices based on racial, financial and
cultural differences. Please go to: http://tfa-cfa.blogspot.com/ to read the
full article , which also explains the position of both the pharmaceutical
company and those of us who find their action irresponsible and self-serving.
It is important that you understand our intention is "not" to change or
influence the positive direction of any company or organization attempting to
find a vaccine and/or cure for Hepatitis C, but we do take exception to testing
and trials that are "altered" to serve - not the community - but the reputation
of any company or organization in need of a publicity image boost.
If you are an HCV, HIV or blood-borne pathogen-focused organization, whose
target audience is the African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American
population, we need to hear your voice on this issue;
If you are an African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American infected
with, or affected by the Hepatitis C virus, we need to hear you r voice on this
issue;
If you are someone who recognizes that this decision only reinforces the
idea that Health Disparities in multicultural communities is "okay", then we
need to hear your voice on this issue. Go to http://tfa-cfa.blogspot.com/, read
and respon d to this decision. If you are a health-oriented, community-based
organization, with special focus on the African American, Hispanic/Latino,
Native American populations, send an email to: TFA-CFA@... to discuss
ways to respond to Shering-Plough's decision.
Bottom line: Testing and trials for a select group only serve "a select
group." This virus infects and affects the lives of 5 million people in the U.S.
. This number has been used by many organizations to stress the need for
vaccines and cures to prolong live s. To use that number to gain support for
the purpose of finding a cure for hep C, only to "selectively" pick and
choose who will recieve that cure, is not only bad practice, but suggests it's
okay to not "care" about certain groups. Another way of putting it? Simply, it
borders on RACIALISM which is so defined:
ra·cial·ism
n.
1..
1.. An emphasis on race or racial considerations, as in determining
policy or interpreting events.
2.. Policy or practice based on racial considerations.
2.. Chiefly British. Variant of racism.
If you have any questions you'd like to ask privately, send them to:
TFA-CFA@...
Johanna
\

Hi alien and welcome!! ...... and welcome to ALL new members that I have
missed. Sadly this list hasn't been very talkative of late.........don't
want anyone leaving because it will come back to life again...... but
meanwhile......... i always advocate getting *out there* and talking and
chatting everywhere you can :-) Here is a list of a few more Hep C
Singles sites and some of those are really busy right now if you are in the
*chat* mode.......... i am hoping maybe (((Gracie))) and I can get the
Saturday night chat at delphi going again.......... that would be fun :-)
Anyway, take care all........ glad to see you here......... and please feel
free to check out some of these other sites as well :-) and SHOUT OUT if
you need anything at all!! I am in georgia, cirrhotic, can't do treatment,
divorced since 1979 but have a special someone at the moment ;-) How are
YOU doing and anyone else that is new please let us know a little about
you.......... thanks everyone! :-) Also there are some good links to Hep
C Websites under Bookmarks you might want to check out :-) TAKE CARE ALL!!

Companies compete to open meth clinic in Southern Vt.
May 13, 2006
By Dave Reed Herald Staff
SPRINGFIELD - Two out-of-state companies are interested in opening a
methadone clinic in the Windham and Windsor county region, citing a growing
number of heroin and opiate addicts in southeastern Vermont.
But Vermont's deputy health commissioner, Barbara Cimaglio, said while her
department hasn't taken a formal stand yet on the two proposals, the real need
for such treatment programs lies in the southwestern part of the state, the
corridor between Rutland and Bennington.
The two companies, BAART Behavioral Health Services of San Francisco, and
Habit Management Inc. of Boston, have filed competing applications with the
state Department of Banking, Insurance and Health Care Administration, in
anticipation of the certificate of need process.
While Habit Management, which operates a methadone clinic in West Lebanon,
N.H., has focused on the Brattleboro area, BAART has taken a broader approach,
saying the clinic could be located anywhere between Springfield and Brattleboro.
BAART, despite being based in San Francisco, has Vermont experience: It
has operated two mobile methadone clinics in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom towns
of St. Johnsbury and Newport for the past year.
Cimaglio, who works for the Department of Health, said Gov. James Douglas'
new budget includes funding for only 50 new treatment spaces for addicts.
"I think Vermont in general has a high need in the area of opiates. We
fall in the top tier of states with an opiate problem," she said.
"There's a serious opiate problem, and a growing prescription drug
problem," she said, saying the Health Department got its information from
reports of overdoses and people coming in for treatment.
The Department of Health is responsible for public funding for substance
abuse and addiction, she said.
According to recent surveys, in 2000, 438 people identified opiates as
their addiction source. In 2005, while the numbers are incomplete, 1,591
Vermonters made a similar designation, she said.
According the BAART's letter of intent, the company estimates another
1,000 to 2,000 Vermonters have opioid addiction problems.
"As a result of such widespread addiction, Vermont has experienced an
increase in crime, physical illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, as well
as increases in social problems; namely family violence and unemployment," wrote
Evan Kletter, chief executive officer of BAART.
She said in Windham County, the number of people seeking publicly funded
treatment jumped from 32 to 99 people in that same time period. In Windsor
County, the numbers jumped from 13 to 74.
"It's obvious our numbers are growing quickly. We've begun treatment
services in Chittenden and the Northeast Kingdom," Cimaglio said.
Cimaglio said the Department of Health would prefer a facility in either
Bennington or Rutland counties because those residents have to travel great
distances to get treatment.
She said she knew of at least one person from Bennington who traveled
daily to the new methadone clinic at Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Burlington
for treatment.
"What we have said publicly is our priority area is Rutland-Bennington
because the access is not as good. The clinics in New York are overflowing, and
are not taking out-of-state people at all. We are looking at a combination of
need and accessibility, a travel is a very big factor," she said.
"We're looking at all of those factors and not made any commitment," she
said.
Addicts on the eastern side of the state have treatment options out of
state, she said, either in New Hampshire at one of several clinics, or in
Greenfield, Mass., where most of the region's addicts now seek treatment.
Jennifer Garson, a BISHCA spokeswoman, said it was unclear whether the
proposed clinics - one mobile, the other not - would need a certificate of need
simply based on their size of its proposed operating budget.
If the clinic's budget is under $500,000, it is exempt from the CON
process, she said. So far, both proposals are below that figure, she said.
Repeated attempts to reach spokesmen for either Habit Management or BAART
were unsuccessful.
Habit Management, which wants to open an office clinic on Putney Road,
said in its most recent letter to state regulators that the clinic would serve
all of Windham County, as well as Springfield, Chester, Andover, and Weston,
towns in southern Windsor County.
Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@....
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/RH/20060513/NEWS/605130336/\
1003/EDUCATION05

Marilyn,
Consider it done! I live in PA and was born and
raised in Dallas, Tx area, so I will send to both.
Already have most of the email addresses for both PA
and TX news stations. Am adding this to other groups
I am in so they can read and possibly send emails also
about there stories and feelings. Thank you, Dana

HOW COME I DON'T SEE MY POSTS WHEN I SEND THEM IN?
LINDA

Government to investigate claims blood donations were infected with
Hepatitis C
Mon Jul 1, 4:04 AM ET
SYDNEY, Australia - The government on Monday ordered an investigation into
claims that thousands of hospital patients and hemophiliacs were given blood
products infected with the Hepatitis C virus a decade ago.
"I have contacted one of the senior officers in the (health) department and
requested we have an investigation into that claim," Federal Health Minister
Kay Patterson said Monday.
In its Monday edition, the Sydney Morning Herald said blood collected from
donors suspected of having Hepatitis C was given to thousands of hospital
patients and hemophiliacs in early 1990 in the form of plasma.
It said the decision to use the blood was made by national government
officials, the national Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and the Red Cross in
the belief that the virus could be killed with heat before the plasma was
used for a patient.
That decision was reconsidered and reversed later in 1990 and suspect blood
supplies were no longer used.
Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal liver disease caused by a blood-borne
virus spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.
Australian Red Cross Donor and Product Safety Committee chairman Dr. Tony
Keller defended its decision to use the blood.
"The decisions made in early 1990 were not made in any cavalier fashion at
all, they were made by experts in the field with national consultation and
in accordance with international guides as well," he told Australian
Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Keller said the Red Cross had traced recipients of contaminated blood
supplies and they had been given medical treatment and counseling. He would
not say how many people were affected.
He added that the chance of Hepatitis C contamination of the Australian
blood supply was now one in 900,000.
"We can't absolutely guarantee the blood supply but the systems we have in
place ... have made the blood supply very safe today," Keller said.

Hepatitis C Linked to Rare Lymphoma
Wed Jul 10, 5:04 PM ET
By Ed Edelson
HealthScoutNews Reporter
WEDNESDAY, July 10 (HealthScoutNews) -- Treating a viral infection can help
some patients with a rare cancer of the immune system, French researchers
say in a finding that might sound esoteric but offers a new way to fight
many kinds of leukemia and lymphoma.
The cancer is splenetic lymphoma, a malignant overgrowth of the white cells
the body makes as a reaction to infection, and the infectious agent is
hepatitis C virus. Seven of nine patients with the lymphoma had complete
remissions after they were given interferon to fight the virus. Two other
patients had the same remission when ribavirin, another antiviral drug, was
added to the treatment, says a report from researchers at Necker Hospital in
Paris. It appears in tomorrow?s New England Journal of Medicine ( news - web
sites).
All those patients were given the antiviral drugs because they tested
positive for hepatitis C. Tellingly, six patients with the same lymphoma who
were not infected with hepatitis C were not helped by antiviral treatment.
Why is such a small trial interesting? Because it adds to the growing body
of evidence that an infection can trigger a cancer of the immune system,
says Alan J. Kinniburgh, vice president for research of the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society.
"A virus elicits a response of the immune system to fight the infection, and
in that process there is rapid division of white cells," Kinniburgh
explains. "There may be mistakes made in replicating those cells, and some
of the resulting cells have a growth advantage that continues and manifests
itself as these rare lymphomas. What this study points to is that these
infectious agents may be participating in other lymphoid diseases, such as
chronic lymphoid leukemia."
Both lymphomas and leukemias are malignant overgrowths of white blood cells,
Kinniburgh says. "If the disease occurs in the blood and not in the lymph
nodes, we call it a leukemia," he says. "If it occurs in the lymph nodes, we
call it a lymphoma. This one occurs in the spleen, as well as the lymph
nodes."
One prospect is to detect such a cancer in its early stages, he says: "If we
can recognize that this process is occurring, we could use antiviral
treatment to stop it. But that now is speculation. We need much more
research in this area."
A role for viruses in leukemias and lymphomas was recognized as early as the
1960s, when the Epstein-Barr virus was detected in a malignancy called
Burkitt's lymphoma, says an accompanying commentary by Dr. Joseph S. Pagano
of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since then, more than
half a dozen viruses have been associated with different lymphomas, Pagano
says, and the new report "broadens our perspective."
However, the picture is complex, Pagano and Kinniburgh say. Many people are
infected with the hepatitis C virus, and very few of them develop lymphoma,
and not everyone with a lymphoma is infected with the virus, Kinniburgh
says. In the French report, six of 15 patients did not have the infection.
However, looking for signs of infection in patients with leukemia and
lymphoma could lead to new treatments, Pagano writes.
"A holy grail in cancer is the discovery of cellular markers that are
distinct from those found in normal cells," he says. "Thus, virus-associated
cancers that express viral neoantigens serve as inviting targets for
specific therapeutic interventions."
"Larger therapeutic trials of antiviral therapy are needed to determine the
role of antiviral therapy in hepatitis C virus-infected patients with
low-grade lymphoma," the French researchers write.
What To Do
You can learn more about these cancers from the National Library of Medicine
or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has a page on hepatitis C.

Tuesday July 9, 6:00 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
Rigel to Present Update on Hepatitis C Drug Development Program
New Research Indicates that Drug Candidate Significantly Decreases Viral
Replication in Disease Model
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rigel
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL - News) will present encouraging data
from the company's hepatitis C drug development program, showcasing a
potentially dramatic new strategy for treating this increasingly prevalent
disease. The presentation will take place on Thursday, July 11, at the
International Meeting on Hepatitis C and Related Viruses, the major annual
conference in the field being held this week in San Diego.
Rigel will present an update on the company's full range of hepatitis C
virus (HCV) research, with particular emphasis on its lead focus in this
area, a type of small-molecule drug able to block viral replication. This
approach is substantially different from the current treatment standard,
interferon- alpha, which primarily works indirectly to boost the immune
system. In contrast, Rigel's compound appears to target the virus directly,
by interfering with a viral protein involved in replication. The company's
research in HCV model systems suggests that this type of molecule could
dramatically inhibit the ability of the virus to reproduce.
"We've studied these drug candidates biochemically, at the cellular level
and in animal systems, and we believe this family of molecules to be both
potent, that is, to have significant ability to block viral replication, as
well as specific, meaning that they target the virus to the relative
exclusion of other cellular mechanisms." said Donald Payan, M.D., Rigel's
executive vice president and chief scientific officer.
Another advantage of Rigel's drug candidates is that, because they are small
molecules rather than large proteins, they can be more readily manipulated
to enhance the drug's profile. Rigel intends to scrutinize the various viral
inhibitors in its compound library and select a lead molecule to move into
clinical evaluation. The company plans to file an Investigational New Drug
(IND) application for its HCV drug with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration next year.
It is estimated that over 170 million people worldwide are infected by the
hepatitis C virus, with more than 4 million cases in the United States.
Approximately 85 percent of those who contract the disease remain
chronically infected. Interferon-alpha is ineffective in a significant
portion of HCV- infected individuals, and an increasing number of patients
are developing drug resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent need to
develop more effective and more direct antiviral agents.
About Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.rigel.com)
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a drug discovery and development company that
uses advanced functional genomics tools to discover novel drug targets that
can be used to develop orally administered small molecule drugs. Rigel's
technology is designed to identify molecules that play an important role in
regulating a human cell's response to disease by testing a very large number
of proteins in a very large number of cells to determine which proteins will
change a cell's response to the disease. Rigel currently has ten product
development programs underway, with five programs being proprietary programs
in the areas of asthma/allergy, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel
disease, cancerous tumor growth and hepatitis C. Rigel expects to begin
clinical trials during 2002 with one or more drug candidates from these five
programs. In addition to the Rigel-owned programs, the company has five
joint programs with its corporate partners in the product development areas
of asthma/allergy, autoimmunity, transplant rejection and two programs in
cancerous tumor growth. With Rigel's support, one of the company's partners
is conducting an additional program in chronic bronchitis at its premises.
Rigel has multi-year collaborations with Pfizer Inc., Cell Genesys, Inc.,
Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. and Novartis
Pharma A.G. Rigel is based in South San Francisco, California.
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including
statements related to Rigel's drug development programs and clinical trial
plans. Any statements contained in this press release that are not
statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking
statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects,"
"will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our
results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking
statements, including the risks detailed from time to time in Rigel's SEC
reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2001. Rigel does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I always ask for a Xerox copy of my reports. It's not too late. Call over
the telephone and ask them to send you a copy of your lab reports thru the
mail for your records, that's all. They're your records. Then you can look
them up on the internet. There are many sites.
Later, you can tell your Dr. you want to know what Genome type you are. It's
generally considered treatment length may depend on your Genome type. The
info is on web sites dealing with hep c and by Drs. I took this to my
Hepatologist. No one knows everything about hep c and every Dr. should
admit to that.
I actually had the biopsy Dr. send the slides of my biopsy to my
Hepatologist where I took the slides (picture of cultures) to a copy center
and had them reproduced in color so I can show another Dr. for a second
opinion and to have for comparisons later in my life. I realize this is
irregular. I was told they might be invaluable.
The more reports I have the more I learn and the more info I'm able to
provide to others and better records I'm able to keep. It's generally the
better I'm able to take care of myself. To participate in one's own recovery
is supposed to be the new peridime in medicine.
--
Aloha,
Linda

For anyone who can access there state here. Check you
Dr. Unfortunately, my state, PA is not listed and I
cannot remember the names of the Doctors I had in TX.
Dana
http://www.questionabledoctors.org/

Thought i would share the Michigan Hepfest link here in case anyone wanted
it ;-) Wish I could go!!
http://www.kilburn.org/hepc/1st_annual_hepfest.htm
Anyway, I think I have my outbook fixed now so it should only send one of
everything ;-) Thanks to everyone who tried to help!! Take care and have
a Happy Fourth!!

Newsday: Cause of Infection by Anesthesiologist
Cause of Infection Report: Anesthesiologist contaminated medicine vial
By Margaret Ramirez
STAFF WRITER
July 3, 2002
A city Health Department investigation of a hepatitis C outbreak at a
Brooklyn medical clinic last year found that at least 19 patients were
infected during anesthesia by medication vials that were contaminated
through the reuse of needles.
A 22-page report, obtained yesterday by Newsday under a Freedom of
Information request, details the results of tests on more than 2,000
patients
who were treated at the Bayridge Endoscopy and Digestive Health Center
between September 2000 and April of last year.
After initially saying in June of last year that eight patients who
underwent endoscopic exams there had later tested positive for the hepatitis
C virus,
the city investigators found that an additional 11 patients also had been
infected at the clinic.
Dr. Michael Phillips, a city Health Department epidemiologist, said in the
internal report completed June 25 that the outbreak most likely began when
one "source patient" with chronic hepatitis C underwent a medical procedure
at the clinic in March or April of last year.
The report said the anesthesiologist, Marvin Chiumento, reused needles and
vials to administer the patient's anesthesia. Phillips said Chiumento knew
that the patient had the blood-borne virus, which can lead to cirrhosis of
the liver.
Chiumento told investigators, if a patient needed more anesthesia, he would
dip into the same medication vial without changing needles.
Phillips believes that when the needle from the source patient was
reinserted into the same medication vial, the vial became contaminated. That
contaminated anesthesia in the vial continued infecting subsequent patients,
and the outbreak started.
"Every time that needle comes out of the patient and goes back into the
vial, some contamination has occurred," Phillips said. "The proper procedure
is that any time a needle goes into a multi-use vial, you should always
reach for a new needle."
Phillips said health officials looked at all possible modes for transmission
and found their smoking gun in the clinic's invoices for needles.
From September 2000 through April of last year, the report determined that
1,530 endoscopies - during which a light-tipped tube is inserted in the body
to inspect the stomach - were performed.
Since a minimum of three needles are used for each procedure, the total
number of needles that would normally be expected to be used was 4,590. But
the investigators, who analyzed clinic invoices, found that only 600 needles
were ordered for the same period.
Kristine Smith, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department, said no
disciplinary action was taken against Chiumento, and the clinic was allowed
to reopen in April.
But Smith said she could not comment on whether the state is investigating
Chiumento. Neither state nor city officials would comment on whether
Chiumento still was working at the clinic. Efforts yesterday to reach him
for comment were unsuccessful, nor could anyone at the clinic be reached.
At least two infected patients, meanwhile, have filed a class-action suit
against the clinic in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn alleging medical
malpractice. The patients, Deborah and Stephen Postler, said in the suit
that they underwent procedures in the spring of last year.
The report found that 12 patients were infected at the clinic in the initial
cluster in March of last year. But after the city Health Department expanded
the investigation and contacted all 2,192 patients who had been to the
clinic since it opened in January 2000, they found another seven patients
who were infected at the clinic. Seven patients required hospitalization for
the virus. The report found no evidence of HIV transmission.
Hepatitis C is a virus transmitted by blood that may lead to chronic liver
disease. It is the leading reason for liver transplants. Some patients may
not develop symptoms for a decade or more.
Epidemiologists were able to rule out the endoscope procedure as a source of
transmission because the scopes were used on a rotating basis.
"When one was being used, the second was being cleaned and disinfected and
the third readied for use," the report said.
Even so, investigators noted several problems at the clinic when a
demonstration endoscopy was performed for them. According to the report,
among the problems were: the biopsy forceps were not sterilized, the
endoscope was not leak-tested after use, and the anesthesiologist did not
wear gloves while placing the IV.
Copyright © 2002
http://www.newsday.com/

Ok Pam, will accept your Apologies this time.LOL
Sorry don't know how to fix your problem!
I may have to bail one of my son's out of jail tonight he has $800
worth of Fireworks(illegal here) and he wonders where his $$ go.lol
Happy Fourth All

Tuesday July 2, 10:01 am Eastern TimePress Release
SOURCE: Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute Receives Approval to Launch Transplant
Program at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth; Baylor All Saints
Offers First Liver Transplant Program in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Baylor Regional Transplant
Institute announced today that it has received approval from the United
Network for Organ Sharing, the government-directed organization that
oversees the national organ allocation system, to launch a liver and kidney
transplant program at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. The
transplant team anticipates performing their first liver and kidney
transplants in July 2002."We are thrilled to offer residents of Tarrant
County access to a world-class liver and kidney transplant program in their
own neighborhood," said Patrick Flynn, president, Baylor All Saints Medical
Centers. "The high quality of our physicians, nurses and medical center will
enable us to successfully perform life-saving liver and kidney transplants
for those who
desperately need them."For several months, the Baylor All Saints transplant
team has trained with the transplant team at Baylor University Medical
Center in Dallas, one of the nation's top 10 transplant centers. The Baylor
Dallas transplant team has among the highest kidney transplant survival
rates in Texas and among the nation's top liver transplant survival rates,
based on centers that receive the most complex cases."We anticipate
performing approximately 30 liver and 30 kidney transplants during our first
year. The Baylor All Saints transplant program will mirror the transplant
program at Baylor Dallas, offering patients advanced transplantation
techniques, such as living donor transplants," said Goran Klintmalm, M.D.,
Ph.D., chairman and chief of the Baylor Regional Transplant Institute and
the Baylor All Saints transplant program. Under Dr. Klintmalm's leadership,
Baylor began its transplant program in 1984 and today it is world- renowned.
Considered an expert in his field, Dr. Klintmalm has authored three liver
transplantation textbooks and trained more than 20 transplant surgeons who
now lead transplant programs around the world.Marlon Levy, M.D., surgical
director of the Baylor All Saints transplant program, and several
experienced transplant physicians, comprise the Baylor All Saints transplant
team. Dr. Levy is recognized for pioneering internationally known
xenotransplantation research at Baylor University Medical Center and has
performed more than 700 liver and kidney transplants during his 10-year
career as a transplant surgeon."Patients receiving liver and kidney
transplants at Baylor All Saints
will undergo quality treatment and have access to Baylor's leading
transplantation research program," said Dr. Levy. "Because of Baylor's
active
participation in transplantation research, some patients are able to benefit
from new immunosuppressant medications three to five years before they
become standard therapy."Fort Worth native Natalie Murray, M.D., is the
director of
hepatology at Baylor All Saints. "My team and I will provide expertise in
the treatment of liver disease to both liver transplant candidates and
recipients, as well as others with liver disease. We believe this new
service will enhance Tarrant County's medical resources," said Dr.
Murray.The Baylor All Saints transplant team is made up of transplant
surgeons; transplant physicians, including hepatologists and nephrologists;
anesthesiologists; radiologists; transplant coordinators; nurses;
pharmacists; social workers;
dietitians; and laboratory and business services personnel. The clinicians
are professionally credentialed in the field of transplantation.LifeGift
Organ Donation Center will serve as the organ procurement organization for
Baylor All Saints' transplant program. "We look forward to a strong,
successful working relationship with LifeGift," said Dr. Klintmalm.The
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute encompasses the Baylor University
Medical Center and Baylor All Saints Medical Center transplant programs, and
The
Dallas Liver Transplant Program, which provides comprehensive services for
both children and adults. The Institute also focuses on transplantation
research, including the study of transplant immunology. Baylor Health Care
System recently received a $5 million grant from the W.W. Caruth, Jr.
Foundation Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas to establish a transplant
immunology research program. Each year, the Baylor Regional Transplant
Institute performs around 335 solid organ transplants, including liver,
kidney, pancreas, heart and lung transplants. For more information about the
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute, visit <A
HREF="http://www.baylorhealth.com/BITS"
.Baylor
All Saints Medical Centers serve more than 100,000 people annually through
two full-service hospitals, primary care clinics, a rehabilitation and
fitness center, and a variety of specialty medical services. All Saints
Health System joined Baylor Health Care System in January 2002. SOURCE:
Baylor Health Care System

Hi everyone....... I am so sorry about the multiple posts on
Baylor last night. My computer is having a problem. I have seven
messages *stuck* in my out box and they just keep resending
themselves. I am not going to be using Outlook Express until I
can get this figured out. Please accept my apology for any
inconvenience. I want to welcome several new members that have
popped on and wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July. I will be
busy trying to fix my computer. If anyone has had this happen to
them and knows how to fix it, I would greatly appreciate hearing
from you. We had a storm here yesterday and I had Outlook Express
open and was in the process of replying to a message when suddenly
the power went out. When I first got back on line it wouldn't
send messages at all, then it sent them but kept them in the
Outbox so they keep resending. Anyway, take care everyone and I
hope to be back on line soon. I don't like typing from this
website (My ISP's). TTYL
Peace and Love,
Pam

Reminder - Woodstock Support group meeting on Tuesday!!
Woodstock Hepatitis C Support Group
Third Tuesday of every month.
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Woodstock Community Church
8534 Main Street
Woodstock, GA
770-720-8258 Frankie
770-720-0402 Greg
850-443-8029 Pam
or email figment@...