November HBV Journal Review available onlineþ at the HBV Adovocate Web Site

[Guest guest]

The November issue of the Hepatitis B Journal review, which presents the

latest on hepatitis B research and treatment published in medical and

scientific journals, is available at

http://www.hbvadvocate.org/news/HBJ7.11.htm.

This issue focused on " occult " hepatitis B, which occurs when someone

has HBV DNA in their bloodstream, but lacks the hepatitis B surface

antigen. Increasingly, researchers are finding many people who thought

they had cleared their infection (clearing surface antigen and developing

surface antibodies) actually have occult HBV and may be capable of

infecting others. Here are the topics covered in this issue:

Researchers Assess the Causes, Impact, and Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B

-Occult infection may increase liver damage:

-High rates of occult HBV in HCV- and HIV-infected patients:

-Unclear what causes occult HBV:

-Occult HBV accelerates liver damage:

-Increased risk of liver cancer:

-Transplanted organs with HBV core antibody transmit HBV:

-Chemotherapy can reactivate infection when occult HBV is present:

Three-Year Study Shows Tenofovir Highly Effective in HBeAg-Positive and

–Negative Patients

Tenofovir Alone or Combined with Emtricitabine Equally Effective in

Adefovir- and Lamivudine-Resistant Patients

Moderate Coffee Consumption Reduces Liver Cancer Risk

Quality of Hepatitis B Treatment in Canada Depends on Patient’s

DrugInsurance

Rising AFP Levels Indicate Cirrhosis and Risk of Liver Cancer

Genotype C Mutation Linked to Higher Liver Cancer Risk

Accelerated Hepatitis B Vaccination in Drug Users Moderately Effective

Taking Antiviral Medications As Prescribed Important to Prevent Resistance

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Courtesy of C. Kukka