December
2001
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archive if you sponsor an edition of this newsletter ($150)
Christmas Potluck -- December 19

I Will Survive will provide beverages, disposable cups, plates and utensils. Along with your concerns, strengths and ideas to share, bring your favorite
potluck dish with serving utensils or, better yet, "finger foods".
Location: SCC Classrm 3&4 (see "Our Meetings" below right)

Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 announcements
6:45 - 8:00 potluck, give and receive support
8:00 - 8:30 (or earlier) questions/answers
Upcoming Agendas:


Jan16 - Daniel MacKenzie, biomeridain therapy
Feb 20 Representative from Roche
More News

Our Meetings: Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of every month; at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center) classrooms 3&4 , 2800 L St (kitty corner across from the 2-story parking structure at 28th & L St. and across L St. from Sutter Hospital)
Contact Us: Phone number: (916) 491-4942
Our Web Site> www.sacmall.net/transplant/hepc.html
Email: dck@innercite.com (include "I Will Survive" in subject line or your message might be delected before being read).

* Time to Renew your subscription to I Will Survive. Members who could not contribute last year want to thank those of you whose paid subscriptions made it possible for them to receive our newsletter. Hopefully, some more of you will be able to provide support for 2001.

If you want to be included on our mailing/emailing list and you can afford to include a check, make it to Eve Cragen, Treasurer I Will Survive, P.O. Bx 2180, Loomis, CA 95650, for:
$24 if you want the Newsletter by U.S. mail
$15 if you get the Newsletter from the website (if you wish, each month we'll email a link to you)
$ 0 if, right now, you can't afford to pay dues. In which case "I Will Survive" will mail monthly Newsletters to you. Please contribute to the "Donations" Box at the meetings as you are able.

From the Dec 2001 HCV Advocate:
...Some topics from the 2001 American Assoc for the Study of Liver Disease Conference:
1) Among liver transplants, Ever or Former smokers experience a 2.5 times greater risk of developing an arterial complication within a 6 month post-transplant period than non-smokers.
2) A study conducted among French women suggested that menopause may accelerate the progression of liver fibrosis.
3) A 900 patient European study conducted at 13-centers suggests that the prediction of extent of fibrosis by liver biopsy can be matched by using serum markers that include: platelets, creatinine, and 8 other markers.
4) 56 peg IFN + ribavirin patients studied in Canada were examined for transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) and a cytokine (mediator of inflammation) as a fibrosis predictor. Results were found to correlate well the histological fibrosis markers from biopsy and inflammation score.
5) Phase 1 studies on Levovirin demonstrated similar immunomodulatory activity as ribavirin without the toxicities.
From the Nov/Dec 2001 Hep C Connections:
...It's estimated that up to 30% of people have significant problems with worry and anxiety most of the time...it's these perfectionists and chronic worriers who tend to feel the most stressed out during the holidays. Action Plan: delegate chores (some prodding may be required of family members whom you may have spoiled over the years); do things ahead of time; set priorities (write down what must be done and what could be skipped if necessary); if you are (or have) visiting relatives, the visitors could take a long day trip (help your hosts to clean up a bit before taking off but the key thing is that hosts need their space, too), visitors can stay at a motel (even for just a night) to relieve being cramped together too long; learn to worry less by consulting self-help books, or a cognitive-behavioral or other therapist.
...Phase 2 clinical trials are underway of Heptazyme (which is specifically engineered to target the hepatitis C virus).
...The real strength of The Hepatitis C Help Book, (Gish and Doner) is the detail it offers on how Chinese herbal medicine deals with HCV. And it's extremely helpful to have this information side by side with such well-written, relevant and up-to-date commentary on the Western approach to treating hepatits C.
If you have no money or insurance call:
Sacramento Clinical Trials
Schering's Commitment to Care 1-800-521-7157
Infergen's Safety Net Program 1-888-508-8088
Roche's Patient Assistance 1-800-443-6676
Dr. Gish, et al, call: Pacific Hepatology, (916) 443-0503
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Katherine Suggett (916) 734-8696



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