Hepatitis C News and Research

Latest Hepatitis C News and Research

Liver cancer cells cause stromal cells to secrete protein that enhances tumor growth

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), frequently seen in patients with liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse or chronic viral hepatitis, is the most common form of liver cancer worldwide.

6 Jan 2021

Many health plans now must cover full cost of expensive HIV prevention drugs

Ted Howard started taking Truvada a few years ago because he wanted to protect himself against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. But the daily pill was so pricey he was seriously thinking about giving it up.

5 Jan 2021

Study: Frailty is a risk factor among women waiting for liver transplants

Women awaiting liver transplants in the United States are known to be about one-third more likely than men to become too ill to undergo surgery or die before receiving a liver.

4 Jan 2021

FDA-approved COVID-19 drug should be used cautiously, says UC researcher

While the world has its eyes on vaccines to stop the spread of coronavirus, therapeutics are still necessary to treat hospitalized patients. One of these treatments, remdesivir, is the first and only antiviral agent of its kind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved so far for COVID-19.

3 Jan 2021

Animal study suggests palmitoylation inhibitor reduces virulence of SARS-CoV-2

A new study preprint on the bioRxiv* server demonstrates the ability of a fatty acid synthase inhibitor to improve the survival of mice infected with murine hepatitis virus. In so doing, it adds to the sum of knowledge about the relationship of SARS-CoV-2 with cholesterol metabolism in the host cell.

24 Dec 2020

New portable shield prevents spread of saliva and aerosols generated during dental procedures

Dental treatments are performed at close proximity to the mouths and noses of the patients, and the procedures are often related to the generation of aerosols as well as handling of oral fluids and blood. This puts dentists at a high risk of exposure to COVID-19, and other critical infectious diseases.

21 Dec 2020

Research may lead to better treatment and vaccines for Ebola, COVID-19

In the midst of a global pandemic with COVID-19, it's hard to appreciate how lucky those outside of Africa have been to avoid the deadly Ebola virus disease.

21 Dec 2020

HDL nanoparticles prevent cholesterol movement at membrane receptor to inhibit entry of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in cell culture

As researchers strive to find safe therapeutics for COVID 19, a study suggests that preventing the movement of cholesterol may inhibit viral entry by up to 80%.

17 Dec 2020

Hepatitis C virus drugs synergize with remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 71.5 million people and claimed over 1.6 million lives globally since December 2019.

17 Dec 2020

Methylene blue and light inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on N95 respirators and masks, study finds

Researchers at the University of Washington show that methylene blue (MB) and light can decontaminate masks and respirators by inactivating three tested coronaviruses without compromising integrity. The method is effective, low-cost, and does not require specialized equipment, making it applicable in any setting.

16 Dec 2020

Drug may increase vaccine protection in older adults

A drug that boosts the removal of cellular debris in immune cells may increase the protective effects of vaccines in older adults, a study published today in eLife shows.

15 Dec 2020

Pediatricians want kids to be part of COVID vaccine trials

If clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines aren't expanded soon to include children, it's unlikely that even kids in their teens will be vaccinated in time for the next school year.

15 Dec 2020

Smartphone-based adherence program can optimize uptake of COVID-19 vaccine

The light at the end of the pandemic tunnel is getting brighter. This week, the first health care workers will receive the first doses of an FDA-approved coronavirus vaccine. Soon, so will other front-line workers in health care and beyond, and residents of long-term care facilities.

15 Dec 2020

Multisystem immune-related adverse events linked with improved survival from immunotherapy in NSCLC

The results of a large, retrospective study of patients who received a form of immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) revealed that patients may get more than one immune-related side effect, and identified a correlation between these multisystem immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and improved patient survival.

14 Dec 2020

Remdesivir likely to be highly effective treatment for COVID-19

The drug remdesivir is likely to be a highly effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study by a team of UK scientists.

14 Dec 2020

D614G mutation promotes lysosomal trafficking of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

In the current COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has led to millions of infections worldwide, with over 1.5 million deaths.

14 Dec 2020

Beta-blockers show anti-inflammatory effects in cirrhosis

Approximately 170,000 people die every year in Europe from the direct consequences of advanced chronic liver disease (cirrhosis).

10 Dec 2020

Study suggests vast majority of Seattle population remains susceptible to COVID-19

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study suggesting that a small proportion of people living in Seattle were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – by around late March/early April 2020.

9 Dec 2020

Depressed children, teenagers have higher risk of premature death and wide range of diseases

Depressed children and teenagers have an increased risk of suffering from premature death and a wide range of illnesses later in life.

9 Dec 2020

Amilorides reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in vitro

A new U.S. study published on the bioRxiv preprint server reports the use of an amiloride-based scaffold that targets a viral RNA structure known to be essential in viral replication in the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) of the virus. The researchers say this heralds the application of these molecules as chemical probes to explore viral biology and produce specific antivirals targeting RNA regions of the coronavirus genome.

8 Dec 2020