February
2001
HUGE THANK YOUs to George, who is stepping down, and to Terri, who is now our new Facilitator! Thanks also to all the other volunteers who keep this group working!! Also, it's time for us to clean up the mailing list and gather funds for publishing in 2001. Use the envelope mailed to you to simply check off that we have your correct address(es) and instructions for distributing this newsletter. And, if right now you can afford to, please send payment as described in the box on the bottom right.
Dr. Rossaro -- Feb 21
Assoc Prof of Medicine,
Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Theme Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 announcements
6:45 - 8:00 Dr. Rossaro, New Treatments for HCV
8:00 - 8:30 (or earlier) questions/answers 'til we adjourn
UC Davis Med Center. Chief of Hepatology, with largest practice in Hepatitis C and liver transplantation. Co-author of Nw Eng Journ of Med (Nov '98) article that resulted in FDA approval of combination therapy. Involved in projects with Long Acting Interferon and Ribavirin since '98..

Upcoming Agendas:

Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of every month at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center), 2800 L St (kitty corner across from the 2-story parking structure that is located at 28th & L Streets which is across 28th Street 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.
Mar 21 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
Apr 18 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
May 16 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
More News

The Jan 01 HCV Advocate reported:
...According to C.Mazoff, PhD, "HCV is not a liver disease. Those who see it as a systemic disorder see a system under attack by a virus that multiplies very quickly producing viral loads much higher than in HIV. They see an overworked and confused immune system trying to cope with a virus that mutates rapidly to avoid detection. They see a virus that directly inflames muscle, nerve, joint and heart tissue; that triggers all sorts of immune irregularities. Is it any wonder then that many persons with hepatitis C not undergoing treatment, nevertheless experience symptoms similar to those on Interferon: sweats, aches, blurred vision, dry mouth, fever, memory loss, confusion, irritability and so on...."
...At the 51st American Assoc for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) meeting, Dr. S.Zeuzem presented results of "transcription mediated amplification" (TMA) tests that found that 36% of patient samples that were negative using the PCR assay were positive by the new TMA test. All of these patients relapsed after treatment was stopped. Implications of these early results are for varying the length of time that patients are kept on treatment (longer to avoid relapse).
The Feb 01 HCV Advocate reported that
...The spontaneous recovery rate for HCV may be much higher, probably 26% to 45%, than the current consensus 15% rate.
..."Zadaxin" will enter Phase 3 clinical trials for treatment of hepatitis C with Pegasys (Roche's pegylated interferon).
...The FDA has approved the first pegylated interferon for once-weekly monotherapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It is Scherings's Peg-Intron.
...Tests for hereditary hemochromatosis (HCC; iron overload) should be done after 8 hours of fasting and after 3 days of restricted Vitamin C intake. One in 8 Americans carry the gene. People of Scotch, Irish, British, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian and Mediterranean descent are at higher risk.
...Avocado was the best of the 22 fruits tested at protecting the liver (in rats) from damage. The runners up were watermelon, grapefruit, lychee, figs, kiwi, cherries, japanese plums and papaya.

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: Leslie Davison, (916) 443-0534
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Jaime Erhardt (916) 734-8696



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