Cingles Info

New Jersey: Inmates Will Get Care for Hepatitis
Philadelphia Inquirer
10.31.02; Mark Fazlollah; Jennifer Lin
New Jersey, the only major state not currently treating prisoners for hepatitis
C, announced Wednesday that it would cover the cost of treating the disease.
Under a new agreement with prison medical provider Correctional Medical
Services, the state will assume the costs of the expensive treatment beginning
Nov. 1, according to state Treasury Department spokesperson Ralph Siegel.
"The state will pay for medicine, test costs and any necessity for additional
staff," Siegel said in announcing the agreement, which extends the CMS contract
with the state until Aug. 31, 2003. The money for hepatitis C treatment will be
in addition to the millions of dollars the state pays CMS. It was unclear,
Siegel said, how much extra money the state would need to spend. Other state
corrections departments are finding it can cost $15,000 to $25,000 per hepatitis
C-infected inmate to cover testing, monitoring and treatment. The drugs cure
about half of treated patients, with viral levels dropping to undetectable
levels and remaining there.
New Jersey's current contract with CMS expires today, and the state had received
no bids it considered acceptable for a new contract. CMS had asked for an
increase that would have raised the cost of prison health care by 30 percent to
more than $100 million annually, but it said the state would have to pay extra
for hepatitis C care. The state rejected that proposal, arguing that hepatitis C
care should have always been covered under the contract. Under the 10-month
extension, Siegel said, CMS will receive a 14.7 percent increase.
Like other states, New Jersey is facing epidemic levels of hepatitis C infection
among inmates. Nationally, 20-30 percent of prisoners are infected with the
blood-borne virus. In Georgia, the annual budget for hepatitis C treatment could
eventually approach $5 million, said Joseph Paris, the state's prison medical
director.
"We need federal assistance," said Reginald Wilkinson, director of the Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. "This is not just a prison
problem."
http://www.thebody.com/cdc/news_updates_archive/oct31_02/nj_inmates_hepatitis.ht\
ml
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i used to change out the quotes all the time but i think i got lazy LOL
I have about 15 or so that i rotate through ;-)
Peace and Love,
Pam
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer

Kinda like turn your head and cough..oohh...sorry..did I squeeze too
hard?

HCV Treatment Access Update
Thursday, October 31, 2002
Pegylated interferon and ribavirin coverage
Due to the budget crisis facing most Federal and States' drug assistance
programs, and the high cost of treatment, coverage for pegylated interferon and
ribavirin will be hard to come by. We provide some options for people who need
to go on HCV treatment now but have no way to pay for the drugs themselves. This
is a patchwork coverage at best, it is by no means universal. Following are some
ways to make best use of what is available:
Medicaid - The federal insurance program for the poor and disabled is required
to cover all FDA approved treatments. Currently, all 50 Medicaid programs cover
Peg-Intron and ribavirin. Only 9 cover Pegasys so far. Check with your Medicaid
for eligibility criterias.
ADAP - Currently, only seven ADAPs (AIDS Drug Assistance Programs) covers
Peg-Intron and ribavirin for people co-infected with HIV and HCV. They are:
California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and
Virginia. In addition, New York covers ribavirin but not Peg-Intron. For
eligibility criterias, See the Access Project database at
www.atdn.org/access/states/index.html. People who live in states where the ADAP
does not cover HCV treatment can apply to the programs listed below.
Schering's "Commitment To Care" Program for Peg-Intron and Rebetol (ribavirin) -
This program will help you identify ways to get the drugs paid for. If your
private insurance does not cover the drugs, and you do not qualify for Medicaid,
or your ADAP does not cover Peg-Intron and Rebetol, Schering will supply a full
48-week treatment of the drugs for free. Eligibility ranges between 200% to 300%
of the Federal Poverty Level
(Currently $17,720 and $26,580 annual income for an individual, respectively) ,
depending on where you live. Call 1-800-521-7157 to enroll.
Everyone, regardless of the ability to pay, must still register with Schering's
"Access Assurance Program" in order to get Peg-Intron. However, the previous
supply shortage has now been resolved and there is no longer a
waiting list to get the drug. Schering plans to phase this program out as soon
as they are certain there will be no supply problems. The phone # for Access
Assurance is 1-800-437-2608, or go to www.access-assurance.com.
Roche's "Pegassist" 12-week free sample program - Roche will be providing
physicians with samples of Pegasys for the first 12 weeks of therapy. These
samples will be provided at the request of a physician for the first 15,000
patients who apply prior to December 31, 2002. Pegasys is available by
prescription with no registration requirements. Call 1-877-pegasys or go to
www.Pegasys.com.
After the first 12-week supply, patients who make less than 300% of the Federal
Poverty Level ($26,580 annual income for an individual) and have no other
medical coverage, or if their state's Medicaid does not yet cover
Pegasys, are eligible for Roche's Patients' Assistance Program by calling
Pegasys' reimbursement Hotline 1-800-387-1258. Roche claims no one on Medicaid
will be turned down if their state has not yet added Pegasys to the Medicaid
formulary.
Compounded ribavirin - is still available for patients, healthcare providers,
and payers to consider. Compounding pharmacies throughout the country provide
ribavirin at about $150-$225 a month for an 800 - 1,200 mg daily dose. If you
don't have a local pharmacy that can make compounded ribavirin, there are
some that can send the drug to you by mail order.

Liver disease in Egypt: Hepatitis C superseded schistosomiasis as a result of
iatrogenic and biological factors.
Strickland GT.
International Health Division, Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine,
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
In Egypt, schistosomiasis was traditionally the most important public health
problem and infection with Schistosoma mansoni the major cause of liver disease.
From the 1950s until the 1980s, the Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) undertook
large control campaigns using intravenous tartar emetic, the standard treatment
for schistosomiasis, as community-wide therapy. This commendable effort to
control a major health problem unfortunately established a very large reservoir
of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the country. By the mid-1980s, the effective oral
drug, praziquantel, replaced tartar emetic as treatment for schistosomiasis in
the entire country. This both reduced schistosomal transmission and disease and
interrupted the "occult" HCV epidemic. It was evident when diagnostic serology
became available in the 1990s that HCV had replaced schistosomiasis as the
predominant cause of chronic liver disease. Epidemiological studies reported a
high prevalence and incidence of HCV, particularly within families in rural
areas endemic for schistosomiasis. Clinical studies showed 70% to 90% of
patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma had HCV
infections. Co-infections with schistosomiasis caused more severe liver disease
than infection with HCV alone. Schistosomiasis was reported to cause an
imbalance in HCV-specific T-cell responses leading to increased viral load, a
higher probability of HCV chronicity, and more rapid progression of
complications in co-infected persons. As complications of HCV usually occur
after 20 years of infection, the peak impact of the Egyptian outbreak has not
yet occurred. Efforts have been initiated by the Egyptian MOH to prevent new
infections and complications of HCV in the estimated 6 million infected persons.
(HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:915-922.).
PMID: 16628669 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6628669&dopt=Abstract

Hi Mykal,
Well, pard, you are keepin your chin up. And also still have a sense of
humor. My thoughts and prayers are with you Johnny O
In a message dated 11/02/2002 12:52:41 PM Pacific Standard Time,
Nevernilla@... writes:

HEY I love both Dogs and Cats and really just about everything (I do have
trouble warming up to insects though) and would rather ONLY look at reptiles,
just today I was at a new friends house who had a BIG pitbull and she was one of
the sweetest dogs I ever met, he also had a descented skunk and he (the skunk )
was very sweet and friendly, smart too.

I will let every one know for sure Pam just as soon as I do,what ever happens Im
sure it will not be as bad as the kidney infection/stone, the only thing that
could be worse than that would be for bush to get a second term. LOL...Mykal

Well it has been my experience that after Pam or anyone else quits smoking she
will only want to help others find a way to quit and after a while of being
laughed at, told to mind her own buisness,ridiculed,had smoke blown in her face
on purpose, and other wise put down and hated she will become obnoxiously
preachy just like the rest of us just to get back at a bunch of people who try
to make it her fault that they can't quit LOL we are all only products of our
environment...perplexed in...Ar...NO...San Fransisco LOL

Ophthalmologic side effects during alpha-interferon therapy for viral hepatitis.
d'Alteroche L, Majzoub S, Lecuyer AI, Delplace MP, Bacq Y.
Service d'Hepato-Gastroenterologie, Hopital Trousseau, 37044 Tours cedex,
France. l.dalteroche@...
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ophthalmologic side effects have been reported during
interferon therapy, particularly retinal lesions and neurovisual impairment. The
aim of this prospective study was to assess the nature and the frequency of such
lesions during alpha-interferon therapy for viral hepatitis. METHODS: Between
1995 and 2003, 156 patients treated with standard or pegylated alpha-interferon,
with or without ribavirin, had a regular ophthalmologic examination before and
during treatment. No patient had signs of retinopathy before treatment.
Cotton-wool spots were found in 31 patients and retinal hemorrhage in nine
patients during treatment (24% of patients). These lesions remained asymptomatic
and disappeared in all patients. A previous history of arterial hypertension (RR
4.60, 95% CI 1.95-10.85), age above 45 years (RR 2.80, 95% CI 1.36-5.85), and
use of pegylated alpha-interferon (RR 2.75, 95% CI 1.41-5.38) were significantly
associated with retinopathy. Neurovisual impairment was present in 31 patients
(20%) before treatment and in 74 patients (47%) during treatment. CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, this study showed that signs of retinopathy and neurovisual
impairment were common in patients receiving alpha-interferon therapy but were
rarely symptomatic. It suggests that alpha-interferon may usually be continued
in asymptomatic patients as long as there is careful fundoscopic examination.
PMID: 16223542 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6223542&dopt=Abstract

Dear Dana, well like you said our loving govt. (remember this is another dose of
reagun's kinder gentler america ) has let it go too far and my coagulation
factor is so low that they have to do an alternative kind of test, medicaid is
still refusing to pay for any of my bills, that regional regulation office guy
was just a fckn bandaid. You better keep your private ins. cause like I was told
in the first place the govt. will drag their feet and spew red tape till I am
dead and gone. But when I was workin my ass to the bone and making sacrifices at
the grocery store to pay for all this stuff Im now being ripped off for, they
had a whole mouth full of promises then.

you know another thing is the world water reserves are not shrinking they are
being fouled so that a small group of people can live like kings and make far
too much money

Duration of peginterferon therapy in acute hepatitis C: A randomized trial.
Kamal SM, Moustafa KN, Chen J, Fehr J, Moneim AA, Khalifa KE, El Gohary LA, Ramy
AH, Madwar MA, Rasenack J, Afdhal NH.
Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Center, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection cannot be predicted,
and chronic evolution of the disease occurs in a majority of cases. To assess
the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2b administered for 8, 12, or 24
weeks in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection a total of 161 patients
were identified with acute hepatitis C virus infection. Of these, 30 patients
refused treatment but were retained in the study as a nonrandomized comparison
group. Of the 131 patients who consented to treatment, 29 patients spontaneously
resolved, leaving 102 patients randomly assigned to peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5
mug/kg) for 8 weeks (group A; n = 34), 12 weeks (group B; n = 34), and 24 weeks
(group C; n = 34). The primary end point was sustained virologic response. An
intent-to-treat analysis was used for efficacy and safety end points. Sustained
virologic response was achieved in 23/34 (67.6%), 28/34 (82.4%), and 31/34
(91.2%) of patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively; all had undetectable
hepatitis C virus RNA 48 weeks after the end of therapy. Treatment for 8 or 12
weeks was effective in genotypes 2, 3, and 4, whereas genotype 1 required 24
weeks of therapy. The 8- and 12-week regimens were associated with fewer adverse
events compared with the 24-week regimen. In conclusion, peginterferon alpha-2b
effectively induces high sustained virologic response rates in patients with
acute hepatitis C virus infection, thus preventing development of chronic
hepatitis C. Duration of treatment should be further optimized based on genotype
and rapid virologic response at week 4. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:923-931.).
PMID: 16628640 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6628640&dopt=Abstract

My dearest Michael,
I am hoping and praying that the results come out good! I hate the fact that
the only way people can get help, is by letting things get so much worse before
they actually do anything about it!! Our health care and Government really Sux
for this! All I can do is be so very upset and angry when I hear such things so
many times. I can't stand it!!!
Have you heard when the biopsy is going to be done? Anything else? Please keep
us Posted................Big Hugs....................Dana
nevernilla <Nevernilla@...
bad news really till I get the biopsy results back I guess, just kind of nervous
till then,I dont want this biopsy but they tell me it is the only way to tell if
that tumor in my liver is malignant or benign so I got to have it but on the
good side I should get moved up the transplant list faster, good and bad ya
know?

Effectiveness of a Screening Program for Hepatitis C.
Cheung RC, Cunningham BA, Cooper AD.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
(154C), 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, California, 94304, USA.
We sought to determine the outcomes of a screening program for hepatitis C virus
(HCV) infection. Of 536 veterans initially screened between July 2000 and June
2001 for risk factors and then tested positive for antibody for HCV, only 260
(48.5%) kept their initial appointments for further evaluation; 51 were not
viremic and only 19 (9.1%) were treatment eligible. Of the 276 who did not keep
their initial appointments, 92 were subsequently evaluated over the next 2 years
and 23 (25%) were treatment eligible, along with another 15 from the first
group. Thus, with appropriate intervention and long-term follow-up, there were
57 treatment candidates. In conclusion, most veterans who tested positive either
failed to keep their appointment or were ineligible for treatment when first
evaluated. Over the following 2 years, some were lost to follow-up, many
continued to have contraindication(s) to antiviral therapy, and relatively few
were treatment candidates.
PMID: 16642419 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6642419&dopt=Abstract

Great TC!
Now we will have to worry about our Veggies getting Viruses from contaminated
syringes!!! LMAO..................Dana

Great Pam!
Now me and all my Puppies are going to have Stokes Too????????
LMAO............Dana
PeachStatePam <figment@...
Italian Study Confirms Loud Snoring, Stroke Link
By Rosella Lorenzi
FLORENCE (Reuters Health) - An Italian study provides further evidence that
snoring not only annoys a person's bed partner; it may also be a risk factor for
stroke.

Italian Study Confirms Loud Snoring, Stroke Link
By Rosella Lorenzi
FLORENCE (Reuters Health) - An Italian study provides further evidence that
snoring not only annoys a person's bed partner; it may also be a risk factor for
stroke.
The research, presented at the national meeting of the Italian Association of
Sleep Medicine, which ended on Wednesday in Perugia, is the largest case-control
study to evaluate the link between stroke and snoring.
Carried out by Professor Virgilio Gallai of Perugia University's Neuroscience
Department, it involved 416 patents, half of whom had suffered a stroke. The
study found that 40.5% of stroke patients were habitual, heavy snorers, compared
to 29.8% of the healthy control group.
"The results indicate that snoring is not only a nuisance. It is a sleeping
disorder that increases a person's risk for stroke," Gallai told Reuters Health.
He remarked that only a few stroke patients had sleep apnea, a sleep disturbance
in which a person stops breathing for short periods.
"This is important as it shows that not only sleep apnea, but also snoring, the
kind that can be heard in the next room, can reduce the amount of oxygen that
reaches the brain, putting people at risk of strokes. It means snoring will now
have to be treated more seriously," Gallai said.
Last Updated: 2002-10-16 17:00:25 -0400 (Reuters Health)
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This is funny (above). Do you think men are really that simple
Bill...ummm...without doing any male bashing my answere is
YES oops..I meant HELL YES..nice to see ya posting Bill..how's the new
laptop doing?
Bayla..getting ready to run the country AGAIN with my decked out
Hepatitis C truck! Wonder how many peps are not gonna be happy when I
pull into their driveway!

Fish Oil May Help Relieve Stubborn Depression
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Daily supplements of an omega-3 fatty acid--found in
fish and fish oil--may help alleviate the symptoms of depression in patients who
do not respond to standard antidepressant medications, new research findings
suggest.
Dr. Malcolm Peet of the Swallownest Court Hospital in Sheffield, England and his
colleague found that depressed patients who received a daily dose of 1 gram of
an omega-3 fatty acid for 12 weeks experienced a decrease in their symptoms,
such as sadness, anxiety and sleeping problems.
The only side effect of the treatment appeared to be gastrointestinal problems,
which Peet and his co-author Dr. David F. Horrobin of Laxdale Research, Ltd. in
Stirling, Scotland, deemed "mild."
All of the patients had tried other medications before enrolling in the current
study, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac
and medications from an older family of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Both types of drug are considered standard treatments for depression.
This is not the first study to suggest that omega-3 fatty acids, such as the
form of eicosapenaenoic acid (EPA) used in this report, may help patients with
psychiatric disorders. Previous researchers have suggested that the balance of
omega-3 fatty acids in the brain may become skewed in people with depression,
and earlier studies have shown that fish oil supplements can help alleviate the
symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, or manic depression.
In addition, researchers have found that people who are depressed, as well as
those diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases and other conditions associated
with depression, have relatively low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their
blood.
In the current study, reported in the October issue of the Archives of General
Psychiatry, Peet and Horrobin asked 70 depressed patients who had not benefited
from previous treatments to take a daily dose of either 1 gram, 2 grams or 4
grams of EPA, or an inactive drug. The treatment lasted 12 weeks.
The investigators found that people given the 1 gram daily EPA dose experienced
improvements--relative to those given the inactive drug--in all of the measured
aspects of depression, including sadness, anxiety, low libido and suicidal
tendencies. In fact, 69% of the patients treated with the 1-gram daily dose
achieved a 50% reduction in their symptoms of depression, a result seen in only
25% of the patients given an inactive drug.
"The effect of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate (the form of EPA used) applies to all
major components of the depressive syndrome and is seen equally in the patient
and physician assessments," the authors write.
Peet and Horrobin did not note any improvements in the patients given higher
doses of the fatty acid relative to the placebo group, which they suggested may
be due to the small number of people who were given either 2 grams or 4 grams
per day.
"Although there appeared to be a trend toward significant efficacy at the 4-gram
per day dosage, larger studies would be required to elucidate possible
beneficial effects of the higher dosages," they write.
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry 2002;59:913-919.
Last Updated: 2002-10-17 10:00:24 -0400 (Reuters Health)
http://www.realage.com/HB25/HB25.asp?wci=HArticle&cid=13724&sid=1051
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Hey Mykal,
I do remember reading that one reason for the ultrasound guided biopsy
and/or the jugular vein one was that it was easier to avoid hitting an
artery and therefore reduces bleeding.
you hang in, bud Johnny O
In a message dated 11/01/2002 10:37:42 PM Pacific Standard Time,

Program Helps Hepatitis C Patients Comply With Interferon Therapy Regimen
BOSTON, Nov. 1 2002 /PRNewswire/ -- A new cognitive behavioral therapy strategy
developed by Schering-Plough improves compliance among patients with hepatitis C
(HCV) who are receiving the pegylated interferon-based combination therapy
Peg-Intron(R) and Rebetol(R) (ribavirin), according to a Northwestern University
study.
Steven L. Flamm, M.D., associate professor of medicine and of surgery at The
Feinberg School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study, will
present his group's findings at the 53rd annual meeting of the American
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).
In his oral presentation, Flamm showed that HCV patients enrolled in an
aggressive side-effect management program, including the Schering-Plough patient
assistance program 'Be In Charge', are less likely to stop taking Peg-Intron and
Rebetol combination therapy in the first 12 weeks of therapy than patients who
receive only routine supportive care by their physicians.
Study results also indicated that pegylated interferon-based combination therapy
significantly improves physical and mental health-related quality of life at
weeks 4 and 8 of the regimen.
"The next advancement in treatment may be some years down the road. Right now we
need to maximize the current standard of care to get better results for
patients," Flamm said. "This study suggests that a proactive support program can
actually contribute to the success of therapy and may, therefore, lead to
increased cures for this often deadly infection."
Be In Charge' is designed to assist patients in managing side effects associated
with HCV therapy through the use of educational materials and telephone support
by nurses. To date, the program has enrolled more than 55,000 HCV patients.
Some 4 million Americans are infected with HCV and approximately 70 percent of
infected patients go on to develop chronic liver disease, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HCV infection contributes to the
deaths of an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Americans each year and this toll is
expected to triple by the year-end of 2010. The CDC has reported that
HCV-associated end-stage liver disease is the most frequent indication for liver
transplantation among adults.
It is predicted that direct U.S. medical costs to treat HCV-related disease will
exceed $13 billion for the years 2010 through 2019, according to a recent study.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Crown at
(312) 503-8928 or at e-crown@...
Broadcast Media: Tamara Kerrill at
(847) 491-4888 or tlk@...
SOURCE Northwestern University
CO: Northwestern University
ST: Massachusetts
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wonder if it would absorb right into the head and make me a little smarter
lol
Peace and Love,
Pam
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer

not off this site tc....... it is a public one ;-) but those people at
that *other* site better start posting roflol because you are probably
right ;-) LOL
Peace and Love,
Pam
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer

Damn it Mykal, I can't remember right now,but yes I have heard of it
awhile back. I don't want to say anything which may be totally wrong
on my part. If you want there is another list which I am still on,
but hardly ever read any more out of John Hopkins, which is very up
on all this stuff. Let me know and I will try and tell you how to
join.

(((((Mykal))))) Sending good thoughts and positive vibes your way ;-)
Please let us know when you find out!
Peace and Love,
Pam
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and
cats." - Albert Schweitzer

http://www.startechhealth.com/liver.html
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HEPATITIS C VIRUS DYNAMICS DURING THERAPY WITH PEGINTERFERON ALFA-2A
(PEGASYS(r)) COMPARED TO PEGINTERFERON ALFA-2B (PEGINTRON(r)) IN NAIVE PATIENTS
WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C
(Poster Session, Saturday, November 2, 2002, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm)
Raffaele Bruno, IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Pavia-University of Pavia, Pavia,
Italy; Maurizia Debiaggi, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Valentina Ciappina,
Elena Maffezzini, Savino Patruno, Paolo Sacchi, Gaetano Filice, IRCCS S. Matteo
Hospital Pavia-University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Background: The second phase slope of HCV during IFN treatment is known as the
best predictor of sustained viral response. Comparison of viral kinetics using
pegylated interferons (PEG-IFN) has not yet been studied.
Aim: The objective of this randomized open label trial is to evaluate early
viral kinetics of HCV replication during the first 12 weeks of treatment with
different PEG-IFNs in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
Patients & Methods: A total of 22 untreated patients, with biopsy-proven CHC,
HCV-RNA positive, and persistently elevated ALT levels have been randomized to
receive 180mcg once-weekly of PEG-IFN alfa-2a (Pegasys(r); n=10) or 1.0 mcg/kg
once-weekly of PEG-IFN alfa-2b (PegIntron(r); n=12). Ribavirin was given at
dosage of 1000-1200 mg/day. Patients with genotype 1 were 6/12 among
PegIntron(r) group and 7/10 among Pegasys(r) group. HCV-RNA levels were measured
using AMPLICOR(r) HCV v.2.0 (lower limit of sensitivity <50 IU/mL) at baseline,
24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 hours (h) during the first week, and then after 4 and 12
weeks of treatment. The statistical analysis was performed by using an ANOVA
Between-Within (B-W) two-factor mixed design.
Results: Mean baseline HCV-RNA load (log10 IU/mL) was similar in both groups
(Pegasys(r): 5,75 vs PegIntron(r): 5,64; P=n.s.). No significant statistical
differences between the two groups were recorded after 1 week and 4 weeks
therapy [(1 week: Pegasys(r): 4,88 vs PegIntron(r): 4,95; P=n.s); (4 weeks:
Pegasys(r): 3,32 vs PegIntron(r): 3,64; P=n.S.)]. After 12 weeks the mean viral
load value was significantly lower in Pegasys group (Pegasys(r): 2,81 vs
PegIntron(r): 3,87; P<0,01) see Graph. 1.
Conclusions: Although the trend in viral decay was similar between the groups in
the first four weeks of treatment, PEG-IFN alfa-2a (Pegasys(r)) induced a more
significant viral clearance when compared to PEG-IFN alfa-2b (PegIntron(r))
after 12 weeks of therapy. This finding may reflect a different drug exposure of
the two drugs.
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This is the new web site for the Roche Pegasys.....it isn't set up yet, but
we can all be notified right to our email boxes as new information comes out
about Roche Pegasys. I just signed up. This is the addy.
http://www.pegasys.com/
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I don't know who this is...... and I haven't kept up at all with this
childishness...... this is the ONLY email digest I have seen in weeks........but
when someone wishes me an early painful death........someone who I have NEVER
interacted with or heard of at all or exhanged emails with.......you have my
permission to ban him. That is the rudest crappiest nastiest thing I have seen
on the internet in a long time. The whole lot of them can return to
hepatitiscsupportgroup (catchy name..... no support....... absentee owner and
moderator.......just the right place for them 700 members, 600 bouncing, and
no one talks but them) and here I NICELY answered a letter from one of them
that I thought was sincere..................
I have Hep Awareness Day in Florida on Thursday, In Atlanta on Sun and Monday,
running a non profit and FIVE live support groups............. I do NOT have
time or patience for childishness and idiocy........ please go and start your
OWN unmoderated group and talk about whatever you want! I have never banned
anyone but spammers before........ but this has just gone a bit too far!
The quote is "Pam hates me?" Who the hell are you? I don't even know you so
why would I have an opinion of you. A bit egotistical me thinks?
PEACE
P

Hey Mykal
I think you have me confused with someone else (maybe Dennis)Because
I never had a Biopsy! So they found a tumor. Yikes, actually don't
start reading all kinds of bad stuff into this new information. By
the way how did they find a tumor? from the biopsy! or from an Ultra-
Sound.
I have about 10 pearls(little round formations in my lungs) but they
don't mean anything, so try and just not let this get to ya. I know
it's hard but it is most important to try and stay positive.O-
keey

I am on my way to a dinner---men and kids only.....no ladies....dang
it.........oh well..next time......... anyway, I came across this message
again and it is one of my favorites, so I will type it here. I was meant to
see it again now and it hits me "right between the eyes". You may or may
not have read it before..........
Looking At Life by Ralph Marston
If you take comfort in complaining about your life, you'll find plenty
to complain about. The more you feel sorry for yourself, the more reasons
you'll have to feel sorry for yourself. But why in the world would you want
to get caught in that terrible downward spiral? It will bring you nothing of
value.
Sure, life is unfair. But rather than using that as an excuse to give
up, see it as a challenge to keep going. If your life was totally fair and
predictable, full of nothing but empty pleasures, you'd grow hopelessly bored
with it within a week or two. Nothing can compare to the joy that comes when
you truly make a positive difference in spite of the obstacles you face. It
doesn't matter what life has handed you. What really matters is what you do
with it.
Life is unfair, and because it is unfair you are presented with a grand
opportunity. You can find joy and delight and fulfillment anyway. The
hardships you must transcend only serfve to make the real, genuine experience
of living that much more valuable. Today is a beautiful, wonderful day that
is like no other. Rather than searching for something to complain about,
look for something to do with it that will make it great.

Hi pam , thanks for yur response and thanks for your genuine concern as well,
well its like they say ; life gives us lemons, to make lemonade, sometimes i
make it too sour though lol :( anyway in the realm of things hi to all and want
to say Iam amazed bye all ive learned in this site, also welcome to the newbies,
and just hang in there, we are in this together, any ? anyone has is never a
silly one, we are all here to support and care, and i love this place, for
reading info, best place yet Ive been to get some high quality information, and
pam ya sure add to this place with your little cat sayings, lol. i love cats so
its fun for me. Love ya all and keep the peace going even when it seems the
chips are down, we WILL see better treatment down the road, I just know it, and
for those of us whom cant do tx, like me, well we can still sign petitions, and
iam gonna. hey thanks again pam and keep well.
PeachStatePam <figment@...
your insight ;-) This DID seem to turn
out to be a *hot topic* and I am so glad it did get people *talking* We DO
learn from one another! Good to hear you are trying to keep a positive
attitude........ I think that is THE most important thing for all of us ;-)
Take care of yourself Barb and please shout if you have any questions!
TTYL
Peace and Love,
Pam
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is
infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine

This was taken from another list......... I cannot access NewScientist site as I
don't get the magazine. Link to Innogenetics at bottom of page.

Interferon gamma-1b for the treatment of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
infection.
Muir AJ, Sylvestre PB, Rockey DC.
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Given that the complications of hepatitis C are due to fibrosis, we hypothesized
that the antifibrotic effects of interferon gamma on stellate cells would lead
to beneficial effects in patients with hepatitis C. Thus, we evaluated the
safety and efficacy of interferon gamma-1b in patients with hepatitis C. A
cohort of 20 patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed or were intolerant to
previous interferon-alpha-based regimens received 200 mug of interferon gamma-1b
subcutaneously three times weekly for 24 weeks. Liver biopsy was performed prior
to and at the end of treatment. Biopsies were evaluated by a single blinded
pathologist using the Knodell system modified by Ishak, and fibrosis was also
quantitated by morphometric analysis. The study population was 75% male and 70%
Caucasian. Mean age was 47.9 +/- 7.5 years. Eighteen of 20 patients completed
therapy. One patient discontinued therapy because of constitutional symptoms.
One patient discontinued therapy because of elevated aminotransferases greater
than twice baseline. No serious adverse events occurred. Morphometric analysis
revealed that six patients (30%) had
Four of 20 (20%) patients had improvement in Ishak fibrosis scores after
treatment. In conclusion, interferon gamma therapy is safe and well tolerated in
patients with chronic hepatitis C. Although we did not detect an overall
reduction in fibrosis, interferon gamma-1b treatment led to a reduction in
fibrosis in selected patients. These data provide a basis for further study of
interferon gamma-1b in patients with chronic fibrosing liver disease.
PMID: 16637863 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6637863&dopt=Abstract

Thank aLLan...its his writing big guy..how are ya Deli_Llama?
~Bayla~
SVRnWaiting
Every person is the creation of himself,
the image of his own thinking and believing.

Vertex Mid-Stage Study Shows Treatment Lowers Hepatitis C Virus to Undetectable
Levels
February 7, 2006 - 09:23:03
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - Biotech company Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Tuesday
said a mid-stage clinical trial has shown its hepatitis C treatment lowered
virus levels to undetectable levels.
The Phase II trial enrolled 12 hepatitis C patients and dosed them with Vertex'
VX-950 treatment for 28 days. At the end of the dosing period, all 12 patients
had undetectable levels of the hepatitis C virus.
The company said it also completed three-month studies on the treatment in
animals. Vertex plans to submit the Phase II data and the animal studies to the
Food and Drug Administration sometime during the first quarter.
http://www.moneysense.ca/news/company_news/shownews.jsp?content=D8FKAQMG1_ap

Hey TC........ so someone is going to grow needles?? That will be a prickly
garden ;-)
Peace and Love,
Pam
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is
infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine

Morning Nancy, ((((((Nancy)))))))))
Sure is the truth. If the docs had to take all the meds themselves
before they could rx them, their methods might just be different. Anyway, it
provides a challenge to the seeker. :) Problem with bipolarity and major
depression treatment is kinda like hep c treatment, in that there are only
certain odds that certain meds will work effectively. And once again, the
more aware the patient is of meds, sides, etc, the better off he/she is.
Anyway, are you doing any fishing down Florida way? jc just curious
lol
later,
Johnny O<---fisherman
In a message dated 11/01/2002 6:38:34 AM Pacific Standard Time,
NancyE1954@... writes:

Cheez, if that really works, those of us on Medicaid could just all come
and pack in down at my place during the summer in FLA....No a/c...just turn
the fans off and keep passing gallons of water out, eh? A month or so ago
it was still hitting 90 degrees in the middle of the nite (and, with the
humidity factor...felt like over 100...according to Weather.com)...Course
everybody would have to deal with watching me walk around in my underwear
all the time...LOL

is that what i have?? placebo anxiety? sure explains alot!!! LOL I have
never heard that term before but I am betting i would be just like
you....... i have had SO many side effects from so many *common* type meds
that i am practically to an anxiety attack whenever i have to take a new
pill........... anyway, you are right........ the amounts i am taking are
minimal but i do know that i feel alot better on them as far as the
depression and the leg pains. I also *enhance* the neurontin with flaxseed
oil. I was quite shocked when my shrink handed me a printout about the
benefits of flaxseed oil. So many docs don't believe in the *natural*
things. Anyway, i am getting ready to up the wellbutrin and decrease the
neurontin as i am going to try to stop it as the transplant doc suggested i
try to get off everything...... the sooner the better.......... so on it
goes ;-)
Peace and Love,
Pam
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is
infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine

The flaxseed oil being used for omega fatty acids--right? This is
supposed to "coat" the nerve cell in the brain and help one to think and
function better. I am thinkin about switching from the gelcap of fish oil I
take each day to flaxseeed or oil for same purpose. My thoughts and prayers
are for you in your efforts to improve your health and liver condition. :)
(((((((((pam))))))))))) Johnny O
In a message dated 10/31/2002 11:23:21 PM Pacific Standard Time,
figment@... writes:

PLEASE CIRCULATE TO HCV AND HIV GROUPS AND LISTS SIGN-ON LETTER IS COPIED BELOW
AS WELL AS IN ATTACHMENT
INTRODUCTION
Please note the attached community letter that will be sent to Hoffman-La Roche
regarding the excessive price they had set for their new and improved version of
interferon called Pegasys. Pegasys alone will cost nearly $14,000 for a year's
treatment. In addition, it must be used in combination with an antiviral drug,
ribavirin. Currently, ribavirin must be purchased separately
from Schering Plough at a cost of an additional $14,000 to $21,000 (depending on
dosage). Thus, the total cost of 1 year's treatment for HCV, using Pegasys plus
ribavirin, would range from $28,000 to $35,000 wholesale (figures are
approximate). Hoffman-La Roche is offering the first 12 weeks of Pegasys free,
but this offer extends only until the end of the 2002 calendar year.
At these prices, the great majority of people in need of treatment for HCV will
be unable to access it. For those who have only HCV without HIV, there are no
such things as ADAP and Ryan White funding, and it is unclear whether Medicaid
will be able to put the drug on the formulary for reimbursement. For those with
both HCV and HIV, the price all but makes it impossible to
cover the drug under the ADAP program or Ryan White funded programs. In short,
only those with high quality private insurance have much chance of getting
access to treatment.
We feel it is critical that community groups express their strongest possible
concern about these prices. One good way to do this will be by signing on this
letter, which already has the endorsement of many prominent
HCV and HIV activist groups. Please read the letter and, as quickly as possible,
send confirmation and how you or your organization wishes to be listed. Sign-on
confirmations should be sent to Ryan Clary at Project
Inform, using this address: tan@.... Ryan has graciously agreed to
manage the sign-on process. Sign-on confirmation should be sent by 5 PM, Pacific
Time, Friday November 1.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter, and thanks to all
who helped in getting this letter out.
Martin Delaney, Project Inform and the Fair Pricing Coalition Brian Klein,
Hepatitis C Action and Advocacy Coalition
PS. Apologies in advance to anyone who had already agreed to sign-on but whose
name or organization is not currently listed on the letter. We may have lost
track of an email or two along the way.

This article is to big to send and it has pictures etc. So I've included
the link to the article and a little bit of the article here.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/442364_print
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I am hoping that is enough to be effective on both accounts.............50
mg of wellbutrin is mucho minimal.......hmmm and doc told me when I cut
down to 800mg of neurontin from 1200 that he doubted it would be very
effective as a mood stabilizer---said several of his patients were taking
3000 plus.........hmmm. He also told me that neurontin is not considered a
"mainline" mood stabilizer like the old depakote, tegretol, and, of course,
lithium. I agree that the smaller the doseage, or more "elegant" as we say,
the less chance of liver damage. I am all for the smallest effective
doseage you can take, Pam. Because I seem to feel most side effects easily,
my doc says I have "placebo anxiety". In other words, I would show side
effects to a sugar pill. LOL He and I have a good laugh over that one. I
say to him ... you try all these med cocktails.........jff...........just for
fun. :) hugs Johnny O
In a message dated 10/31/2002 9:32:30 PM Pacific Standard Time,
figment@... writes:

damn, peachstatepam, your a busy one.........lol
don't stop sending.........love ya...sheila
--- PeachStatePam <figment@...

Prometheus Laboratories Introduces Non-Invasive Test for the Detection of Liver
Fibrosis
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty
pharmaceutical company, announced today that it is introducing a new
non-invasive approach to help detect liver fibrosis in patients with chronic
hepatitis C. The test will be introduced at the American Association for the
Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) meeting to be held in Boston on November 1-5,
2002.
The new non-invasive liver fibrosis test, called FIBROSpect(SM), measures three
biological markers associated with the development of liver fibrosis.
The markers are used to help physicians differentiate patients who have no or
mild liver fibrosis from patients who have significant liver fibrosis. This
information may assist physicians in making diagnostic triage and treatment
decisions for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Presently, the "gold standard"
used to determine the extent of liver fibrosis in patients is a needle biopsy.
Liver biopsies are invasive, costly and can be associated with a number of
painful or severe complications.
"We believe that the introduction of FIBROSpect is an important and exciting
step in the evolution of liver disease assessment and management," stated James
A. Schoeneck, Prometheus' President and Chief Executive Officer. "FIBROSpect may
help physicians determine the necessity for a liver biopsy, thereby reducing the
potential for procedural complications."
"The addition of FIBROSpect to our diagnostic product line reinforces our
commitment of bringing innovative diagnostic tests to physicians that we believe
will be valuable in managing their patients' care," commented Doug Jermasek,
Vice President of Marketing at Prometheus. "FIBROSpect is the first
commercially available, non-invasive sero-diagnostic test panel of its
kind."
According to the most recent estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 3.9 million people are currently infected with hepatitis C in the
U.S., with 2.7 million being chronically infected. Chronic hepatitis C varies
in its course and outcome. At one end of the spectrum are patients who have no
sign of liver disease and the overall prognosis may be good. At the other end
of the spectrum are patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis, who
may ultimately develop end-stage liver disease. The major hepatological
consequence of liver disease is the progression to
fibrosis and cirrhosis (scarring), which can lead to liver cancer or the need
for a liver transplant.
Prometheus Laboratories Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to
developing new ways to help physicians personalize patient care. The
Company's focus is on treating diseases and disorders associated with the
gastrointestinal tract, as well as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis. The strategy includes the marketing and delivery of
proprietary, high-value diagnostic testing services that complement the
Company's pharmaceutical products. By integrating these therapeutic, diagnostic
and treatment monitoring services, Prometheus can address the full continuum of
care, thereby providing physicians with a comprehensive solution to treat
chronic diseases. Prometheus' corporate offices are located in San Diego,
California. Additional information about Prometheus Laboratories can be found
at www.prometheuslabs.com.
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, and Prometheus
cautions that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future
performance. The Company may not achieve or maintain market acceptance for a
variety of reasons. There can be no assurance that the Company can successfully
commercialize or penetrate the market for its products.
SOURCE Prometheus Laboratories Inc.
CO: Prometheus Laboratories Inc.
ST: California, Massachusetts
SU: TDS PDT
http://www.prnewswire.com
10/31/2002 09:20 EST
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May 2002
Minneapolis biotech upstart gets drilldown at MEF
By Jeff Meredith
At an April meeting of the Midwest Entrepreneurs' Forum, First Circle
Medical, Inc. was literally put in the hot seat. The Minneapolis-based company,
which discovered that raising body temperature under certain conditions can kill
viruses, like its target HCV, Viral Hepatitis-C, presented its business plan for
constructive criticism from the group.
The healing power of heat has long been believed by physicians and
scientists, but hyperthermia treatment has had few clinical and commercial
successes. Companies tried this method to treat AIDS without success in the past
and commercial failures during the 1980s added to skepticism that hyperthermia
could be used as a viable treatment.
However, First Circle president and CEO Drew McCartney was well prepared
for what he would encounter from the public forum. The former corporate senior
vice president of marketing and business development at Battelle Memorial
Institute and former VP of corporate sales and marketing at Baxter International
mapped out the company's successes in Europe, where First Circle is in its first
six months of clinical trials; US trials are hoped for in May. The company has
already raised $6 million in first round funding, and hopes to raise $9-10
million in its Series B round.
First Circle has developed a proprietary process called Extracorporeal
Whole Body Hyperthermia where body temperature is raised to help kill Hepatitis
C. Hyperthermia aims to raise core body temperature to no more than 107.5
degrees Fahrenheit, which is safe as long as patients receive replacement body
fluids.
First Circle's extracorporeal device, which functions like a dialysis
machine, heats and reinfuses a patient's blood to raise body temperature. At a
company site in Europe, an efficacy study has shown a reduction in viral load-in
some patients, 30 weeks of treatment have lead to the virus being nearly
undetectable. On the heels of this success, the company could soon have centers
opening up across Italy administering its treatment.
While McCartney was at ease navigating charts of data, panelist Dr. Brian
Scullion of William Blair Capital Partners noted that venture capitalists are
more swayed by the communication of opportunity than the validity of one's
science.
"I'm not going to talk about the merits of your science and technology.
And in fact, I think you'll rarely have an opportunity to talk about the merits
of your science and technology unless you sell people first on the opportunity,
which tends to go to issues more around market size," said Scullion.
Scullion focused on the marketability of First Circle's business plan-and
at least in these terms, VCs should be interested. Over 200 million people
worldwide have Hepatitis C, and four million in the United States. But that
number is deceptively low because many do not show symptoms-fatigue, jaundice,
nausea, abdominal pain-until 10 to 15 years after being infected. To date, the
only effective treatment for Hepatitis C is alpha interferon, which leads to
viral clearance for just 15 percent of patients. The most prevalent strains of
Hepatitis C in the US -genotypes 1a and 1b- are also the ones most resistant to
interferon.
Cynthia Helphingstine, an MEF panelist and founder of the Biotron Group, a
Highland Park-based healthcare and biotech consulting firm, was encouraged by
First Medical's focus on Hepatitis C and how the company avoided entering the
'crowded' hyperthermia cancer treatment space. She told McCartney that she
would've liked to have heard more about reimbursement issues and approaching
Medicare. And to put risk in investors' eyes aside, she said McCartney should've
addressed the possibility of a vaccine.
Carol D. Winslow, a principal and co-founder at Channel Medical Partners,
a Skokie venture capital firm that invests in medical technology, reminded the
MEF audience that "hyperthermia is an area where there have been some failures,
there is a lot of controversy or skepticism. So when you walk in the room,
you're going to face that." She said venture capitalists would be curious as to
why First Medical aimed its hyperthermia treatment at a virus as difficult as
Hepatitis C, and speaking more broadly, emphasized the importance of financial
incentives for management.
"As venture investors, we want management very levered to the success of
the company. We often go into situations and they're not levered enough," said
Winslow. "They may not have enough stock options. Their base salary versus bonus
may not be appropriately structured."
Scullion discussed the need for authority figures-possibly even
celebrities (not a suggestion, but former BayWatch star Pamela Anderson recently
announced she has Hepatitis C)-who can endorse the need for First Medical's
treatment. McCartney would've already delivered that if not for a Powerpoint
blip, and he quickly brought up a slide highlighting comments made by C. Everett
Koop, MD, the former US Surgeon General. A major advocate of hyperthermia, Koop
joined the company's board of directors in 1996, but left to avoid a potential
conflict of interest after he started DrKoop.com.
"Now if I said this, you would have been eating out of my hand," quipped
McCartney after making his way through the Koop slide.
Scullion also highlighted one of the many problems biotech companies face
in raising money.
"A group of supposed experts who have spent far too little time reviewing
your business plan pass judgment on it. Not only do they pass judgment on it,
but they usually pass judgment on a subject that they have far less knowledge
about than you do," said Scullion. "That is the reality of raising money."
http://www.i-street.com/magazinearchive/yr2002/mn05/biotech.asp
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Hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal ALT levels: biological
peculiarities and update of the natural history of liver disease at 10 years.
Persico M, Perrotta S, Persico E, Terracciano L, Folgori A, Ruggeri L, Nicosia
A, Vecchione R, Mura VL, Masarone M, Torella R.
Internal Medicine and Hepatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples,
Italy.
Some chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients exhibit persistently normal alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) levels (PNAL). Patients with PNAL experience
significantly milder disease. In order to understand the differences between CHC
patients with elevated ALT levels compared with those with PNAL better, we
compared epidemiological, immunological and histological findings, in
particular, the value of proliferating hepatocyte activity (PCNA) between the
two groups of patients. We studied 40 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers
with increased ALT who underwent liver biopsy for histological diagnosis and
determination of clinical prognosis, and 24 PNAL patients under follow-up for 10
years. Immunological response to different HCV genomic epitopes was tested in
both the control group and in PNAL subjects. PCNA values from liver specimens of
all patients as well as liver biopsies of PNAL patients at time points 0 and 5
years were calculated according to Hall et al.Age, sex and body mass index (BMI)
were not significantly different between the two groups. The median liver
histology stage was significantly higher in HCV carriers vs the PNAL group (2.5,
range = 2-6 vs 1.5, range = 1-2; P < 0.01). Among PNAL patients, histological
stage was not statistically different at the three time points considered.
Interferon (IFN)-gamma production was comparable in the two groups. PCNA was
significantly higher in the group with elevated ALT levels vs the PNAL group
(8%, range = 4-15%vs 5% range = 3-8%; P < 0.05) and no statistically significant
differences were found in PNAL patients at time points 0, 5 and 10 years. This
study confirms that progression to cirrhosis is slow or absent in PNAL patients
after 10 years of follow-up. Accordingly, the hepatic proliferative activity
index is low and seems to be stable over time.
PMID: 16637858 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6637858&dopt=Abstract

Hey johnny o ;-) I fluctuate between 600 and 800mg. of neurontin
(depending on what the company sent throught the patient assistance program
as my pill size got messed up) and right now i am halving my Wellbutrin so I
only take 50mg. in the am. I am going to increase it to 100mg. am and pm
and hopefully get that *no smoking cigs taste bad effect* so that I can get
off these things........... anyway, just wanted you to know that almost
every pill i take i break in half........ i have had so many weird reactions
to so many pills that i just don't take a chance............ and it is a
little easier on my liver ;-) take care and halloween hugs back to you
and to everyone ;-)
Peace and Love,
Pam
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is
infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine

lol
In a message dated 10/31/2002 4:24:54 PM Pacific Standard Time,
spiria_spirit@... writes:

Most common hepatitis C virus grown in lab
From staff reports
The Daily News
Published February 7, 2006
GALVESTON - Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
have successfully grown the most common and damaging form of the hepatitis C
virus in human liver cell cultures.
Researchers believe the achievement - the first laboratory cultivation of a
"genotype 1" hepatitis C virus - will significantly assist antiviral drug and
vaccine discovery programs.
They say such efforts are critically important in devising better methods for
managing a disease that chronically infects about 200 million people worldwide.
Researchers say the most effective treatment for hepatitis C, interferon-based
therapy, eradicates the virus less than half the time and causes debilitating
side effects.
For many years, scientists say, hepatitis C research was handicapped by the
inability to produce infectious hepatitis C virus in the laboratory.
Scientists group hepatitis C viruses into six major genetic categories called
"genotypes." Other laboratories have recently achieved successful culture of
"genotype 2a" viruses that are less common and more readily treated by
interferon. However, laboratory growth of a genotype 1 virus has been an elusive
goal long sought by many laboratories.
"More than 50 percent of hepatitis C patients are infected with genotype 1
viruses, which are much less likely to respond to interferon," said Stanley M.
Lemon, director of UTMB's Center for Hepatitis Research and senior author of a
paper describing the work, which will be published online by the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences this week. "A cell-culture infectious variant
of genotype 1 virus has been urgently needed, and that's what we've developed."
Lemon's group, including assistant professor Min-Kyung Yi and postdoctoral
fellow Rodrigo Villanueva, started with a genotype 1 hepatitis C virus known to
be highly infectious in chimpanzees.
"First, we identified five mutations that enhanced the ability of this virus to
replicate within cultured human liver cells, and then we were able to
demonstrate that a virus containing these critical mutations could make virus
particles that could infect other cells," said Yi, the lead author. "This is an
exciting finding."
For reasons still to be explained, the mutated genotype 1 hepatitis C virus
infects cultured cells less efficiently than genotype 2a viruses used in
previous studies. However, the UTMB researchers say the genotype 1 virus they
developed is sufficiently infectious to enable the testing of drugs that act at
any step of the viral life cycle.
The scientists also were able to determine that serum taken from people known to
be infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C neutralized the genotype 1 virus in
culture, showing a close similarity in immune recognition of the cell-culture
virus and a common variety circulating in the general population. Genotype 2a
virus was not neutralized by these serum samples, however, indicating a
significant immunological difference between the two hepatitis C genotypes and
suggesting an absence of strong cross-genotype immunity.
"This cell culture system should be very useful in helping us understand how the
virus gets into cells, which could lead to the development of entry inhibitor
drugs like those developed for HIV," Lemon said. "It's already giving us a
better understanding of hepatitis C virus biology."
http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=da3f1fe24894982d

Issues in designing and interpreting clinical trials of treatments for chronic
hepatitis C.
O'brien C.
Divisions of GI and Liver Transplantation, Center for Liver Diseases, University
of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Summary. Many of the major advances in treating patients for chronic hepatitis C
have been made based on the results of randomized, double-blind, controlled
clinical trials. However, given the large number of hepatitis C medications in
development, physicians need to understand the unique elements and types of
clinical trials in order to make accurate comparisons of differing drug efficacy
claims. Clinicians also need to be aware of the various factors that can
influence the outcomes and interpretations of these trials, irrespective of the
intervention under study. For example, similar trials conducted in the United
States and Europe may have different outcomes simply because the study
populations differ. Thus, both trial design and patient population are important
considerations in the design and analysis of clinical trials for patients with
chronic hepatitis C.
PMID: 16630042 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6630042&dopt=Abstract
Assessing evidence from clinical trials in chronic hepatitis C.
Bacon BR.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Louis University Liver
Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Summary. Hepatitis C is a global problem with significantly associated morbidity
and mortality. Although some recent therapeutic advances have shown rates of
sustained virologic remission of 50% or higher, combination therapy with
interferon and ribavirin is often not well tolerated and is giving rise to a
growing number of nonresponders. As a result, a large number of experimental
drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C are in development. As the
clinical trial reports are made available, physicians need to become familiar
with issues related to the design of these studies and to develop strategies to
interpret the evidence they yield. The articles in this supplement describe the
issues in clinical trial design and the evaluation of evidence from clinical
trials in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
PMID: 16630041 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1\
6630041&dopt=Abstract

I had a good night with the trick or treaters last night, but I was
surprised with how many of the kids don't dress up anymore. The
little beggars just want candy, but don't want to dress up. What
nerve!
One little black girl about 10 or 11 came to the door and had what I
would call, a non-descript costume. I asked her what she was and she
said, "a dead white woman". hmmm....That got me thinking!
Hope you had or have a good time with your little beggars.
Jon

John O,
I think the real terms are: One Track Mind, Nympho, A typical male, hmm, can
think of others, but don't think we can say them on this site!!! LMAO
)))(((......((()))...........Dana
ostra17@... wrote: There is another one of those "trigger" expressions
for me.....lol.....
"naked in the sun". I like to think I have other things on my mind than
sex, but sometimes I wonder. LOL My pdoc calls it the "lizard brain"
taking over. LOL J O
In a message dated 10/31/2002 5:13:18 AM Pacific Standard Time,
spiria_spirit@... writes:

may 4th at kovler transplant clinic , << he said to me
are you telling me your getting evaluated for the TP list? << my reply to him
and his return reply::
yes , but i'll never get one . too common of a blood type , too many younger ,
healthier , "more likely to survive the surgery" candidates , blood too thin ,
less than 40k platelets , stroke and age and heart episodes. i'll never get one
unless it was a partial , from a relative , and i'd never ask . my daughter has
enough probs , single mom of 3 , son isn't really my son , other two sons don't
even know me . no idea where birth mother is or if i have siblings . oh well ,
just hafta see how long i can make this one last . not scared of anything anyway
, when yer #'s up , it's up . never heard anyone able to stop it or come back
and bitch about it .
~Bayla~
SVRnWaiting
Every person is the creation of himself,
the image of his own thinking and believing.

Escovedo feels so good, he's ready to play
Musician says city feels like home
Friday, January 27, 2006
MARY COLURSO
[ ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; WorkPlay, 500 23rd St. South;
$25 at 380-4082 or www.workplay.com. ]
Worry creased a few extra lines in Alejandro Escovedo's face as he surveyed the
crowd at City Stages 2005.
It had been years since the Texas musician had performed at the Birmingham
festival, and Escovedo had been gravely ill in the meantime.
Sound equipment wasn't cooperating at the Momentum Telecom Stage on that June
evening, and time-consuming adjustments needed to be made before Escovedo and
his chamber orchestra could deliver their headlining set.
But Escovedo, 54, knew he could handle all of those things.
His health was better, after a serious bout with liver damage caused by
Hepatitis C.
He was playing well, as was his band, and Escovedo wanted to show the crowd he
wasn't about to leave this world anytime soon.
And the sound? Well, knobs could be twisted and levers tweaked to his
satisfaction.
"I was nervous because we were going on after Loretta Lynn," Escovedo admits. "I
thought everybody would split when she was finished."
But a significant portion of the audience stayed. They waited, and listened, and
applauded wildly.
"Everything came together," Escovedo says. "It was that kind of a night. We
didn't want to stop playing."
His roots-rock set, with its evocative Tex-Mex flavor, turned out to be one of
the highlights of the festival.
"There was a magical quality about it," says Guy McCullough, City Stages'
marketing director. "I thought it was just me, getting carried away, so I looked
around at the crowd. Everyone else seemed to be blown away."
Escovedo has a history with City Stages that stretches back through several
performances, many of which have emphasized a poignant string ensemble that
includes violin, cello and acoustic guitars.
He says the 2005 date - one of a very few scheduled last year - was partly
intended to show his gratitude to a city and a festival that has embraced him
warmly.
"It was good to be around friends again," Escovedo says. "There are certain
towns where it feels more like you're coming back to family."
Chances are that Escovedo will be welcomed again tonight and Saturday when he
offers two concerts at the WorkPlay theater. The 8 p.m. shows are benefits for
City Stages.
"I'm feeling very, very good right now," he says. "I haven't had a drink in
three years. I have a beautiful family and a beautiful place to live. My wife
and I are raising kids and chickens and guitars. We've written three songs
together."
Escovedo also has a new studio album on the horizon: "The Boxing Mirror," set
for release in May on the Back Porch label. Eleven or 12 tracks will be included
on the disc, recorded in California with producer John Cale.
"All of them are songs that kind of sum up what's happened over the past few
years," Escovedo says. "Cale was such a collaborator on this record. Both of us
wanted it to sound strong and happy and alive and confident. A new beginning,
all very fresh."
Cale, one of the primary forces behind the Velvet Underground, has made his name
as an eclectic solo artist and an influential force in the recording studio.
Some of his most acclaimed work has been with cutting-edge performers in the
industry, such as Patti Smith, Brian Eno, Morrissey, Nico and Iggy Pop. He's
notoriously hard to get and tough to please.
Escovedo says, with a laugh, that he's been trying to rip off Cale's music for
years.
"It was like having Sandy Koufax teach you how to pitch," Escovedo says. "It was
like that thing when you have a great teacher. They expect great things from
you, and you step up because of that."
The two were determined to make a creative statement on the disc, Escovedo says.
Because of the collaboration, he regards this CD as a departure from anything
he's done before.
One quality remained the same, however.
Escovedo's love of cinema usually causes him to regard his songs as small
movies. Cale understood that, he says, and immediately plugged in.
"He has a real sense of dramatics, which seems to fit perfectly with the way I
write," Escovedo says. "We were very focused. Each song has a real distinct
flavor."
A preview of some of them is possible this weekend in Birmingham, but Escovedo
is making no promises for set lists that haven't been composed yet.
"We'll juggle songs for sure," he says. "With the band that I have, I can try
anything."
On the record: A discography
"Gravity" 1992
"Thirteen Years" 1994
"The End/Losing Your Touch" 1994
"Hard Road" (with the True Believers) 1994
"With These Hands" 1996
"The Pawn Shop Years" (with Buick MacKane) 1997
"More Miles Than Money: Live 1994-1996" 1998
"Bourbonitis Blues" 1999
"A Man Under the Influence" 2001
"By the Hand of the Father" 2002
"Room of Songs" 2005
"The Boxing Mirror" coming May 2006
Mary Colurso covers pop music for The Birmingham News. E-mail her at
mcolurso@...
.
http://www.al.com/entertainment/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/113\
8357376106770.xml&coll=2

Johnny, I was told by a Doc of Natural Med. that Magnesium was also a mild
tranquilizer. I take it as the combo Magnesium, Calcium and Zinc (forget
right this minute why, but, there is a reason for combining them...work
better together...or one needs the other...or something like that...HATE
getting all educated on all this crap, only to have it leak out the other
side of my head!!! :-)
Love,
Nancy

Hey Barb, I just wanted to tell you that you shouldnt worry about things like
the spelling of the word Benzodiazapines since most of us heppers have trouble
finding Wal-Mart and dont even have the slightest idea what that word means let
alone how it is spelled! LOL! Its nice to know we have some people that are
educated here to watch out for those of us who are not competent to cross the
street alone though LOL Thanx...Mykal

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search.google.http.tcl&searchType=MS"
Pfizer Inc: New Studies Suggest Pfizers Pregabalin to be an ...</A
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Source: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Posted: February 6, 2006
Hepatitis C Recurs Rapidly After Liver Transplant
When a diseased liver is removed from a patient with Hepatitis C (HCV), serum
viral levels plummet. However, after receiving a healthy liver transplant, virus
levels rebound and can surpass pre-transplant levels within a few days,
according to a new study published in the February 2006 issue of Liver
Transplantation, the official journal of the American Association for the Study
of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the International Liver Transplantation Society
(ILTS). The journal is published on behalf of the societies by John Wiley &
Sons, Inc. and is available online via Wiley InterScience
(http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/livertransplantation).
Hepatitis C is the number one reason for liver transplantation, however, the
virus always recurs in the new liver. Since mathematical models have been useful
in the study of the viral dynamics of HIV and hepatitis B, researchers, led by
Kimberly A. Powers and Ruy M. Ribeiro of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in
New Mexico, sought to use a mathematical model to quantify the liver reinfection
dynamics of HCV.
The researchers, in collaboration with a surgical team lead by John McHutchison
now at Duke University Medical Center, followed six HCV-infected patients who
received cadaveric liver transplants. They collected blood samples before,
during and after transplantation to assess changing levels of HCV RNA which was
measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. They then
plugged the data into a mathematical model, correcting for fluid balance, and
analyzed the results using linear regression.
"In most patients," the authors report, "HCV RNA levels decreased rapidly during
and after transplantation and subsequently began to increase -- reaching above
pre-transplant levels in all but one patient -- within a few days of the
procedure." They found that when the diseased liver was removed, virus levels
dropped with an average half-life of 48 minutes. After the new liver was
implanted, they found that virus levels continued to drop for up to 23 hours,
then began to rise, doubling every 2 days.
Notably, in three patients, the virus levels plateaued before rising,
suggesting, say the authors "that a non-hepatic source supplied virions and
balanced their intrinsic clearance." The authors estimate, however, that
non-hepatic sources can only account for 4 percent of total viral production.
Ninety-six percent of it occurs in the liver.
The patterns of viremia decline and increase seen in this study are consistent
with previous studies, although this study indicates a much faster virion
half-life than previously suggested. The findings also support the notion that
HCV can replicate rapidly in the post-transplant immunosuppressed patient,
leading the authors to suggest that early antiviral therapy may delay or prevent
reinfection.
The study was limited by the small number of patients and the single compartment
model, which did not separately account for liver and extrahepatic sites of
viral replication. "Nevertheless," report the authors, "the rapid HCV RNA
decline in the anhepatic phase, followed by the postoperative increase observed
in several patients ... suggest that the liver is the primary site of viral
replication, with at most small contributions from extrahepatic sites."
In conclusion, the authors write, "Continued work towards elucidating
extrahepatic replication, the time-course of reinfection, the effects of
immunosuppressive therapy, and the relationships among viremia, infection and
liver damage will be beneficial in optimizing treatment for HCV patients
undergoing liver transplantation."
###
Article: "Kinetics of Hepatitis C Virus Reinfection After Liver
Transplantation," Kimberly A. Powers, Ruy M. Ribeiro, Keyur Patel, Stephen
Pianko, Lisa Nyberg, Paul Pockros, Andrew Conrad, John McHutchison, and Alan S.
Perelson, Liver Transplantation; February 2006; (DOI: 10.1002/lt.20572).
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060206105411.htm

I agree.........serzone is strange.......lots of sides. Also, another
interesting med "in vogue" right now is topomax. One wants to be sure to
study that one before taking it as well.
I am going to go a bit out on a limb here, but...........I have as a close
friend and pdoc, a doc who is noted as one of the most highly reputable
psychiatrist/neurologist's on the west coast, if not nationally. He is also
very humble and very, very intelligent. He has given me more "straight"
answers than all of the other half dozen pdocs I have seen in the last 15
years or so, put together. If you have any direly serious psych med
questions, let me know, and I will ask him for his input.
H and L, Johnny O
(hugs
and love) :)
In a message dated 10/31/2002 4:51:49 AM Pacific Standard Time,
spiria_spirit@... writes:

Thanks for the input, Barb. I would mention, tho, that I think the
benzos(xanax, klonopin, valium, etc. do not stay in the body all that long,
especially compared to antid's, etc. I remember when I used to take xanax
for years and took it three times a day, as it would wear off, regardless of
the doseage. This causes some folks who use it as a sleep aid to have to get
up in the middle of the night to take an additional dose.
Most of us who travel down the antid's/anti-anxiety meds path find many
unwanted side effects. Fortunately, many of the newer meds today have fewer
sides. However, this led me to start checking out natural methods of
treatment. As you know, docs have a varied opinion of these. Some call
anything natural "snake oil", but many simply say they are not educated in
the use of natural supplements, but warn of the possible side effects of some
of them. I have considered searching out a quality naturpath(sp) in this
scenario. The best book I have found on the subject of natural paths to take
for depression is "Depression Free For Life--An All Natural 5 Step Plan to
Reclaim Your Zest For Life" by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
Cousens graduated from med school at Columbia with residency in
psychiatry. What impressed me with this book is that he goes into detail
explaining 5htp, SamE, St. John's wart, amino acids, etc. as well as
explaining effects and sides of meds and different combos. He also indicates
when different natural applications ought to be used. Like most books, this
one sits in my library and seldom is read. LOL But I do pick up "bits and
pieces". Must be the ADD in me. LOL Anyway, the book has some merit, in my
opinion.
I am off to find something special and different in this day. Oh, by
the way......
Happy Halloween
Johnny O
In a message dated 10/30/2002 10:32:01 PM Pacific Standard Time,
barb_schesso@... writes:

SO, if I understand this right, if I can get somebody to come down here and
shine a bright light on the back of my knees at dawn, I'll wake up earlier,
yes? What if I need to sleep longer tho...after the sun is already shining
in on my knees? AND...if I go out and stand with my back to the sun during
the day those times when I get so tired...I'll not have to go crawl back in
bed? Hmmmm, I think I'll need to experiment with this to see how it
works...But FIRST, I will need a volunteer...to hold the light :-)
Love,
Nancy

Managing Opioid Addiction with Buprenorphine
PAUL A. DONAHER, M.D., Galena, Maryland
CHRISTOPHER WELSH, M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore,
Maryland
Legislation has enabled physicians to treat opioid-dependent patients with an
office-based maintenance program using buprenorphine, a partial mu-opioid
receptor agonist. Clinical studies indicate buprenorphine effectively manages
opioid addiction. Buprenorphine is more effective than placebo for managing
opioid addiction but may not be superior to methadone if high doses are needed.
It is comparable to lower doses of methadone, however. Treatment phases include
induction, stabilization, and maintenance. Buprenorphine therapy should be
initiated at the onset of withdrawal symptoms and adjusted to address withdrawal
symptoms and cravings. Advantages of buprenorphine include low abuse potential
and high availability for office use. Disadvantages include high cost and
possible lack of effectiveness in patients who require high methadone doses.
Most family physicians are required to complete eight hours of training before
they can prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction. (Am Fam Physician
2006;73:1573-8, 1580. Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Family Physicians.)
An estimated 898,000 adults in the United States are opioid dependent.1 Treating
opioid dependence as a chronic disorder improves outcomes,2 and opioid
maintenance is the most effective way to decrease illicit use in patients who
are addicted to opioids.3 Methadone has been the treatment of choice in the
United States; however, methadone maintenance programs typically have stringent
entrance criteria, long waiting lists, and primarily are located in urban areas.
Only 14 percent of patients who are addicted to opioids are treated in
traditional methadone clinics.4 Research from the 1970s demonstrated that the
analgesic buprenorphine (Subutex), a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, may
effectively treat patients with heroin addiction.5
The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 enabled physicians to provide
office-based treatment for opioid addiction.6 This act allows physicians to
prescribe Schedule III, IV, or V "narcotic" medications that are approved by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with narcotic-use
disorders. In 2002, the FDA approved buprenorphine and combination
buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) to manage opioid dependence
(Table 1). Both forms are Schedule III medications.
Pharmacology
Buprenorphine primarily affects the mu- opioid receptor, where it acts as a
partial agonist; therefore, receptor activation increases as the dose increases
until it reaches a plateau. Full opioid agonists, such as methadone and heroin,
continue to create greater receptor activation as the dose increases, without
reaching a plateau. An antagonist (e.g., naloxone [Narcan]) will not produce
receptor activation regardless of dosing.
Because of this partial activation, chronic opioid users are less likely to
abuse buprenorphine. The drug has a high affinity for and a slow dissociation
from mu-opioid receptors and can block other opioids temporarily. Because of
this high affinity, buprenorphine also displaces opioids from the mu receptor,
causing withdrawal in patients who have used opioids recently. Buprenorphine is
absorbed through gastrointestinal and mucosal membranes; but, the oral
formulation has poor bioavailability because of extensive metabolism in the
gastrointestinal tract. Sublingual buprenorphine has a bioavailability ranging
from 30 to 50 percent of the intravenous dose7,8 and a maximal plasma
concentration that is reached within one hour.
Buprenorphine is metabolized primarily in the liver via the cytochrome P450. The
majority of buprenorphine and its metabolites are excreted in the feces-less
than 30 percent are eliminated in the urine.9 The mean plasma elimination
half-life is 37 hours.10
Clinical Trials
One systematic review11 showed that buprenorphine was more effective than
placebo for opioid maintenance. In a double-blind, randomized study12 that
examined the effectiveness of buprenorphine, 150 patients were randomized to
receive 2 mg of buprenorphine daily, 8 mg of buprenorphine daily, or placebo.
After six days, participants could request a change in treatment groups. After
two weeks, the patients treated with buprenorphine remained on the initial
dosage longer, made fewer requests for group changes, used less illicit opioids,
and reported better management of withdrawal symptoms compared with placebo.
Three other studies13-15 compared buprenorphine (alone and with naloxone) with
placebo. The studies showed that buprenorphine increased program retention,
decreased illicit opioid use, and decreased reported cravings compared with
placebo. A systematic review16 confirmed that buprenorphine is more effective in
treatment retention than placebo; however, higher doses are needed to suppress
heroin use compared with placebo.
Multiple clinical trials h