Tag Archives: hepatitis C

Scientists Develop Nanoparticle Which Completely Destroys Hepatitis C

Posted on July 24, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Estimates suggest over 250,000 people in the UK have been infected with hepatitis C, but eight out of 10 don’t know they have it because they have no symptoms. About 75% of these people go on to develop a chronic hepatitis.

Because it can take years, even decades, for symptoms to appear, many people (possibly 100,000 or more) remain unaware they have a problem. By the time they become ill and seek help, considerable damage has been done to the liver. This might have been prevented if the person had been diagnosed earlier.

Elsewhere in the world, hepatitis C is even more common – the World Health Organization estimates that three per cent of the world’s population (about 170 million people) have chronic hepatitis C and up to four million people are newly infected each year.

While there’s increasing progress towards finding a reliable vaccine, results can’t come soon enough. Now, researchers have developed a nanoparticle that effectively eradicates hepatitis C 100 per cent of the time.

Researchers from the University of Florida have developed what they call a “nanozyme”. Based around gold nanoparticles, these things have their surface coated with two biological agents. One is an enzyme that attacks and kills the mRNA which allows hep C to replicate, while the other is a short string of DNA which identities the disease and sends the enzyme off to kill it.

While current hep C treatments attack the same replication process, they only work on about 50 per cent of patients treated. In lab-based tests, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Univeristy of Florida researchers showed that their approach was 100 per cent effective in both cell cultures and mice. They observed no side effects in the mouse models, either.

While it’s great news, such a treatment is some way off becoming available to patients any time soon. All targeted drugs have to be extremely carefully tested, as there’s always a risk that they could also end up targeting healthy parts of the body by accident. Given the current problems posed by hepatitis C, though, that testing can’t happen soon enough.

Original Articles via BBC, Gizmodo, PNAS & IEEE Spectrum

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Pill Targeting Hepatitis C Launched

Posted on August 11, 2011 by | Comments Off

A new pill that directly targets hepatitis C for the first time has been launched in the UK.

A new pill that directly targets hepatitis C for the first time has been launched in the UK

In clinical trials, adding Victrelis to standard therapy increased the number of chronic patients freed from the virus up to threefold.

Hepatitis C is a blood-to-blood infection that attacks the liver. It is commonly spread by injecting drug users sharing needles, body piercing and tattoos.

The virus can also be transmitted by blood transfusions, but donor screening has prevented this happening in the UK since 1991. Sexual transmission is extremely uncommon.

The infection is known as the “silent epidemic” because it may take decades to produce any symptoms. Ultimately, the virus can cause serious liver damage or liver cancer.

Around 216,000 people in the UK are believed to be chronically infected with hepatitis C but many do not know it.

Until now, licensed treatments have relied on boosting the immune system to fight the infection.

Victrelis, one of a class of drugs called protease inhibitors, is different because it attacks the virus directly.

Charles Gore, chief executive of the the Hepatitis C Trust charity, said: “Hepatitis C is called the silent epidemic because hundreds of thousands of people carry the virus yet the great majority have no idea they are infected.

“It can take decades for symptoms of hepatitis C to emerge and when they do, damage to the liver may have already occurred. Raising awareness of the condition and getting more people tested are critical, but we also need effective treatments once it is diagnosed.”

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Via Belfast Telegraph

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An Overview of Hepatitus C in 10 Minutes [Video]

Posted on July 28, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Mayo Clinic Dr. Michael Charlton provides an overview of Hepatitis C, including information on diagnosis and treatment.

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NAT publish framework for tackling HIV in prisons

Posted on June 30, 2011 by | Comments Off

The National AIDS Trust has today published their new framework for tackling blood-borne viruses, including HIV, in prisons.

The report, entitled Tackling Blood Borne Viruses in Prison – A framework for best practice in the UK, is an update of the original framework published in 2007 which has had a significant impact on the way prisons approach blood-borne virus prevention, testing and care.

Prisoners in the UK are both disproportionately affected by and vulnerable to blood-borne viruses. The most recent figures available from the late nineties showed prisoners were 15 times more likely to be infected with HIV and over 20 times more likely to be infected with hepatitis C than the general population in the UK.

There are two key reasons for these elevated rates of infection.  Firstly, prior to imprisonment a significant number of prisoners have engaged in high-risk activity such as injecting drugs or sex work. Secondly, prisoners are known to share needles and have unprotected sex during inprisonment.

This unique and practical resource, developed in close consultation with Offender Health (based in the Department of Health), is an invaluable tool and designed for those who have responsibilities for the health and well-being of prisoners and prison staff in the UK.  These new guidelines are being launched at a time of significant change in both the health and prison landscape; from the transformation of healthcare commissioning in England to the provision of prison healthcare in Scotland moving to the NHS.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), comments:

“Tackling blood-borne viruses is an important public health concern, especially in prisons where the number of people living with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are elevated.  Following this clear and practical guidance will help reduce the number of new infections in prison, encourage early diagnosis through increased testing, and ensure prisoners with blood-borne viruses have access to high quality treatment and support.  The implementation of these measures will also ensure cost-effectiveness in the long-term.”

Prof Louis Appleby, National Clinical Director for Health and Criminal Justice, comments:

“Fighting back against infection from blood borne viruses in prisons benefits not only the prisoner, but also their families and our wider community. This is why I am pleased that Offender Health has supported NAT in developing this important framework.  By increasing knowledge and awareness among both staff and prisoners, we can help identify those at risk of infection and ensure those who need it get the treatment and support they require.”

via

You can download the full report ‘Tackling Blood Borne Viruses in Prison – A framework for best practice in the UK’ here.

Contained within their ‘Our Thinking’ section, The national AIDS Trust have a section with further links where you can find priories for change and further reading on the subject, located here.

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