ANTIOXIDANTS, FREE RADICALS & HEPATITIS C


WHAT ARE FREE RADICALS?

Free radicals are explained in the book "Prescription for Natural
Healing", by James Balch as follows: "A free radical is an atom or
group of atoms that contains at least one unpaired electron. Electrons
are negatively charged particles that usually occur in pairs, forming
a chemically stable arrangement. If an electron is unpaired, another
atom or molecule can easily bond with it, causing a chemical reaction.
Because they join so readily with other compounds, free radicals can
effect dramatic changes within the body, and they can cause a lot of
damage...

The presence of a dangerous number of free radicals can alter the way
in which the cells code genetic material. Changes in protein structure
can occur as a result of errors in protein synthesis. The body's
immune system may then see this altered protein as a foreign substance
and then destroy it. The formation of mutated proteins can eventually
damage the immune system and then lead to cancer and other diseases.
In addition to damaging genetic material, free radicals can destroy
the protective cell membranes.

WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS?

By destroying free radicals, antioxidants help to detoxify and protect
the body. We can minimize free radical damage by taking supplements of
key nutrients. There is a group of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that
are classified as antioxidants.
Antioxidants can be obtained from food sources such as fresh fruits
and vegetables, it is difficult to get enough of them to be effective
in protecting against the cellular damage caused by a virus such as
hepatitis.

Since antioxidants protect against cellular damage it is no wonder
they are used in health regimens prescribed for hepatitis, since
hepatitis can do massive free radical damage to the liver!

WHAT ROLE DO ANTIOXIDANTS PLAY IN THE TREATMENT OF HCV?

A US study confirmed that oxidative stress (from free radical damage)
occurs in patients with chronic hepatitis and that the levels of the
free radicals correlated with the activity of the hepatitis.
Antioxidant supplements are believed by many to protect against the
free radicals generated by the hepatitis C virus.

There are clinical studies from Italy that suggest that glutathione, a
very important liver antioxidant, influences hepatitis C in the
following ways:
* impairs the replication of HCV
* improvement in liver enzyme levels
* improve liver cell damage
* make interferon anti-viral therapy more effective
(To see a more detailed description of these clinical studies please
see www.thione.com)
The information provided by some clinical studies done in Spain and
Italy suggest that there is an important relationship between
antioxidants and chronic liver disease, specifically hepatitis C.

Many sources believe that antioxidants are important in the management
of patients with viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C. In a
study, published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology:Volume
39(8)September 2005 pp 737-742, it was shown that in one of the tested
parameters (eg, liver enzymes, HCV RNA levels, or liver biopsy score),
a combination of antioxidants induced a favorable response in 48% of
the patients. Normalization of liver enzymes occurred in 44% of
patients who had elevated pretreatment ALT levels. ALT levels remained
normal throughout follow-up period in 72.7%. A decrease in viral load
(one log or more) was observed in 25% of the patients. Histologic
improvement (2-point reduction in the HAI score) was noted in 36.1% of
the patients. The SF-36 score improved in 58% of the patients
throughout the course of the trial. Treatment was well tolerated by
all patients. No major adverse reactions were noted.

Taking a look at the treatment programs used by "survivors" of HCV
(Naomi Judd, among many others) one will see that antioxidants were
invariably used in their health regimens

taken from:
http://www.healthyhepper.com/antioxidants.htm

explore more information of hepatitis c at:
http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm

I created this cool friends network and added you to my friends network. Hit-up
now:
http://emonium.zoomshare.com/files/girlfriend.htm

Shockingly one in 12 people worldwide are living with either chronic
hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C . While this is far higher than the
prevalence of HIV or any cancer, awareness is inexplicably low and the
majority of those infected are unaware.
http://www.aminumber12.org/AmInumber12.aspx

You can get involved with raising awareness through lots of venues.
Here's one:
http://www.aminumber12.org/GetInvolved.aspx

Best Wishes,
Scarlet
http://www.healthyhepper.com

World Hepatitis Day Creative Competition-
Entry Deadline April 17, 2009

The World Hepatitis Alliance is calling on creative people around the
globe to take part in the first World Hepatitis Day creative competition.

The competition has two categories, and has been launched to encourage
new and imaginative ways to get people talking about hepatitis B and
C. Using words, images, our voices and ideas we can all help raise
awareness of hepatitis B and C and we need your help!

While 500 million people around the world are living with hepatitis B
or C, most people don't even know they are infected or are aware of
the potential risk factors. Enter this creative competition (see below
for nomination form) and help make a world of difference in raising
awareness about two viruses that kill 1.5 million people a year.
Who can enter?

The competition is open to all patient groups and individuals,
amateurs and professionals of all ages. This is your opportunity to
show the world your ideas and skills - so fire up your creative minds
and help spread the word about hepatitis.

Please note: creative submissions must not be associated with any
commercial interests or product promotion.
What to enter?

Entries can take the form of any creative media including posters,
videos, the written word, artwork, photography, music or web-based
media. They can be in any language (although non-English entries must
be accompanied by an English translation to help the judging process).
Entries must fall into one or both of the following categories:

* Category 1. World Hepatitis Day
This category is designed to raise awareness about World
Hepatitis Day itself (Tuesday May 19th 2009). Themes could include
(but are not limited to):
o Hepatitis is a global health problem that needs to be
tackled collaboratively
o World Hepatitis Day is a patient-led initiative with 200
patient groups from 50 countries supporting it
o Encouraging people to participate in World Hepatitis Day
* Category 2. "Am I Number 12?"

This category is designed to raise awareness about the fact that
one in twelve people around the world is living with chronic viral
hepatitis B or C, and the vast majority are unaware they are infected.
Themes could include (but are not limited to):
o 500 million people (one in 12 people worldwide) are living
with either chronic viral hepatitis B or hepatitis C
o Hepatitis B and C do not discriminate (more than 1/3 of
the people on the planet have been exposed to one of the two viruses)
– we must all help beat the stigma associated with chronic viral
hepatitis
o Am I one of those infected, but unaware? – Get tested and
find out


Judging criteria

An independent panel of international judges, including physicians and
patient group representatives, have been recruited to judge the World
Hepatitis Day creative competition. The judges will be looking for
creativity and originality, but also the effectiveness of each entry
in communicating the themes of "World Hepatitis Day" and / or "Am I
Number 12?" Further information about the judging panel will be
included in the coming weeks.
Winners

Shortlisted entries will be featured as part of a `Hall of Fame' on
www.worldhepatitisday.org in the run-up to World Hepatitis Day 2009.
The winning entries will be announced on Friday 15th May, and will be
shared with patient groups around the globe ahead of the 2010 World
Hepatitis Day campaign. Winners will also receive the first annual `Am
I Number 12?' recognition award.

How to enter

* Entries accompanied by a completed nomination form (see below)
can be sent to worldhepday@...
* Entries will be accepted until 5pm GMT on Friday April 17th, 2009
* All entries must be the original work of the applicant and must
not violate another party's copyright. Joint applications will be
accepted and collaborators must give their consent and co-sign the
nomination form
* Participants can enter more than one category and more than one
item, provided that a separate nomination form is attached to each entry
* Applicants who have received any financial or in-kind
sponsorship in relation to their entry must declare all details of
that agreement
* To assist the judging process, any non-English text used in
entries must be translated into English. Please attach the translated
text to your entry.

For more information on the rules and regulations please refer to
http://www.aminumber12.org/Competition.aspx

Best Wishes,
Scarlet
http://www.healthyhepper.com
Hepatitis C Alternative Medicine Treatment Information

* Hep C treatment interview
* Healthy eating tips
* Caring for someone with Hep C
* World Hepatitis Day plans
* Upcoming HCQ events, services, grants available
http://hepqld.asn.au/content/view/146/1/


       Make Yahoo!7 your homepage and win a trip to the Quiksilver Pro. Find out
more

I added a Find a Cure Button to my website on the home page in the
left column at http://www.healthyhepper.com
It links you to a page that will get HEALS (Hepatitis Education And
Liver Support) of the South a minimum of a $25 donation for each
survey you complete.  So the survey will be a double hitter for
hepatitis awareness education and support and to help find a cure for
Hepatitis C!
Best Wishes,
Scarlet

Best Wishes,
Scarlet
http://www.healthyhepper.com

Artificial Livers Coming Soon

By Riya Chauhan

Washington, February 7: Treatment for liver damage may soon reach a
new level
with the development of a system made up of human liver cells,
designed to mimic
the function of the organ.
The decades-long quest for a suitable replacement of a dying liver
recently saw
a sudden boost as scientists began testing on the world's first artificial
liver.

The device, called Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD), is a 4-inch
plastic disk filled with "immortalized" lab-cultured human liver cells to
perform the complicated functions of a the master organ.

The cells are grown around a series of hollow fibers and the patients'
plasmadefine is passed through them. Toxins in the plasma are filtered
through
the fiber membrane, and they get metabolized by the liver cells.

The cells are also made to synthesize essential proteins, enzymes,
blood-clotting factors, all of which are sent back into the plasma.
The cellular
components of blood are added to this filtered plasma and it is
returned to the
patient.

Liver, unlike other vital organs of the body, has a remarkable
capability to
regenerate if allowed enough recovery time. Transplant is only carried
out when
the damage is beyond the liver's capacity to regenerate.

ELAD helps buy time for the liver to recover on its own and
consequently helps
delay, or avoid, the transplant.

"If we could buy some time while the liver is recovering, that
potentially would
be a great advance," says Dr. Lena Napolitano of the University of
Michigan, who
is among the team of scientists testing the ELAD.

Clearly, the device cannot replace the liver but it "comes closer to
replacing
the amount of liver" people need, said Dr. Robert Brown of New
York-Presbyterian
Hospital and Columbia University.

People with progressive hepatitis or cirrhosis may benefit the most
from the
device.

Previous attempts in this direction had also met with early success
but they had
to be discarded eventually.

This is still a very early stage; a lot needs to be explored in the
field to
combat the liver failures effectively. Nearly 28,000 people die from liver
disease in the United States each year, and fewer than 6,000 get liver
transplants.

The FDA wants to know if three to 10 days of ELAD liver support
improves 30-day
survival over the patients who receive the standard supportive care
available
today.

Vital Therapies Inc., the manufacturer of the device, claims that 85
percent of
the first 49 patients studied in China, had better short-term survival
compared
with half of patients given regular care.

The device carried a $30,000 price tag; the doctors also need to
evaluate if the
benefits of ELAD make up for the huge cost.

http://www.themedguru.com/articles/artificial_livers_coming_soon-86120508.html

Celebrities diagnosed with Hep C have decided to go public in order to
raise awareness about hepatitis C and to encourage more people to get
tested for the disease.  Here is a link to the large list of celebs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_hepatitis_C

Best Wishes,
Scarlet
http://www.healthyhepper.com

Best Wishes,
Scarlet
http://www.healthyhepper.com

ChronVac-C Reducing HCV Viral Load Up to 99%

Clinical Data Presented at Annual Scientific Meeting of the American
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

SAN DIEGO, Nov 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Inovio Biomedical
Corporation (INO 0.22, +0.04, +20.2%), a leader in enabling the
development of DNA vaccines using electroporation-based DNA delivery,
announced today that its partner, Tripep AB, reported positive
additional interim results from its ongoing phase I/II clinical study
of its therapeutic DNA vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV). This
vaccine is being delivered using Inovio's electroporation-based DNA
delivery system. In the third and highest dose cohort of the study,
two of three subjects demonstrated reductions in viral load of 93% and
99.7%. Previously reported middle dose cohort results demonstrated an
87% and 98% reduction in HCV in two of three subjects, while no
anti-viral effect was observed in the low dose cohort. No safety
issues have been noted to date in the trial. These data suggest a
potential dose response of the vaccine and support the inclusion of
three additional subjects in the high dose cohort.

These data were presented by Dr. Matti Sanllberg of Tripep at the
recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases meeting
held in San Francisco.

Avtar Dhillon, MD, Inovio's president and CEO, stated: "We continue to
be encouraged by the data flowing out of the ChronVac-C study. This
promising DNA vaccine candidate, in which Inovio has an ownership
position, is one of the more advanced clinical vaccine candidates in
the HCV field. ChronVac-C was designed to play a role as a first-line
therapy or as an adjunct to existing therapies."

About ChronVac-C

ChronVac-C(R) is a therapeutic DNA-based vaccine given to individuals
already infected with the hepatitis C virus with the aim of clearing
the infection from the liver by boosting the body's immune response
against the virus. Inovio's electroporation technology is being used
to deliver the vaccine and is intended to enhance the potency of the
DNA vaccine. This clinical study is being conducted at the Infectious
Disease Clinic and Center for Gastroenterology at the Karolinska
University Hospital in Huddinge and Solna, respectively, in Sweden.
The intended enrollment of 12 patients is being divided into four
groups, three with increasing doses of ChronVac-C and the fourth at
the maximum tolerable dose. Each patient receives four vaccinations
one month apart. After the last vaccination, patients are followed for
another six months. The study's main purpose is to assess safety. It
is also testing whether the treatment boosts the immune response
(immunogenicity) to HCV and its effect on virus replication in the liver.

About Inovio Biomedical Corporation

Inovio Biomedical is focused on developing DNA vaccines for cancers
and infectious diseases using its novel method for DNA delivery --
electroporation -- which uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to
increase cellular uptake of useful biopharmaceuticals. Initial human
data has shown that Inovio's electroporation-based DNA delivery
technology can significantly increase gene expression and immune
responses from DNA vaccines. Immunotherapy partners include Merck,
Wyeth, Vical, University of Southampton, Moffitt Cancer Center, the
U.S. Army, National Cancer Institute, and International Aids Vaccine
Initiative. Inovio's technology is protected by an extensive patent
portfolio covering in vivo electroporation. The company has entered
into a definitive merger agreement with VGX Pharmaceuticals. More
information is available at www.inovio.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
relating to our plans to develop our electroporation drug and gene
delivery technology. Actual events or results may differ from our
expectations as a result of a number of factors, including the
uncertainties inherent in clinical trials and product development
programs (including, but not limited to, the fact that pre-clinical
and clinical results referenced in this release may not be indicative
of results achievable in other trials or for other indications and
that results from one study may not necessarily be reflected or
supported by the results of other similar studies), the availability
of funding to support continuing research and studies in an effort to
prove safety and efficacy of Inovio's technology as a delivery
mechanism, the availability or potential availability of alternative
therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by Inovio or its
collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or
cost-effective than any therapy or treatment that Inovio and its
collaborators hope to develop, evaluation of potential opportunities,
issues involving patents and whether they or licenses to them will
provide Inovio with meaningful protection from others using the
covered technologies, whether such proprietary rights are enforceable
or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or
can withstand claims of invalidity and whether Inovio can finance or
devote other significant resources that may be necessary to prosecute,
protect or defend them, the level of corporate expenditures,
assessments of our technology by potential corporate or other partners
or collaborators, capital market conditions, and other factors set
forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007, our 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and
other regulatory filings from time to time. There can be no assurance
that any product in our product pipeline will be successfully
developed or manufactured, that final results of clinical studies will
be supportive of regulatory approvals required to market licensed
products, or that any of the forward-looking information provided
herein will be proved accurate.

SOURCE: Inovio Biomedical Corporation
---

URL for Article Source:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Hepatitis-C-Therapeutic
-DNA-Vaccine/story.aspx?guid=%7B50998DF9-516F-4207-84D6-1948D
197794D%7D

Best Wishes,
Scarlet
http://www.healthyhepper.com

Treatment Approved for Kids With Hepatitis C

By LINDA A. JOHNSON

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The first high-tech, long-acting treatment for
hepatitis C in children, a two-drug combination from Schering-Plough
Corp., has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Schering-Plough said Friday that FDA had approved sales of a treatment
combining its antiviral pill, Rebetol, with its PEG-Intron, an
advanced, genetically engineered version of the immune system protein
interferon, for children age 3 to 17 infected with the hepatitis C virus.

An estimated 130,000 American children are infected with hepatitis C,
with most of them acquiring it from an infected mother while in the
womb. Some adolescents are infected with the liver-destroying virus
through illegal drug use that involves sharing contaminated needles or
by getting tattoos or body piercings at establishments with poor hygiene.

Many adults and even some children don't know they are infected
because hepatitis C can display no obvious symptoms for years, but it
often is spotted when a patient has blood testing for something else.

Earlier versions of interferon drugs, which are widely used in adults
to treat chronic hepatitis C, had to be injected three times a week.
PEG-Intron, available for several years now, has a technology called
pegylation that allows the drug to circulate in the bloodstream much
longer.

"This treatment is a little more effective than (the older one) and
only involves one shot a week," said Dr. Jean P. Molleston, a
pediatric hepatitis C expert at Indiana University School of Medicine
who has participated in industry-funded research.

She said FDA approval is important because while some hepatitis
specialists have prescribed the pegylated interferon to children and
adolescents off label — without official approval, which is legal —
many more doctors will feel comfortable doing so now, given the
potentially serious side effects of the drugs.

Until now, only Schering-Plough's older interferon drug, Intron A, was
officially approved for children in this country. The new approval
includes a liquid version of ribavirin for younger children.

Patient testing that led to the approval showed the virus was cleared
from 55 percent of the children with the most difficult-to-treat
strains of hepatitis C, most of whom had a strain called genotype 1,
the type carried by about 70 percent of U.S. hepatitis C patients.
Children in that arm of the study were treated for just under a year.
In children with less-common, less-resistant strains, 96 percent had
the virus cleared from their blood; they were treated for six months.

The study, which included a total of 107 children, was funded by
Schering-Plough, which is based in Kenilworth, N.J.

While 55 percent seems disappointing, Molleston noted that the first
interferon drugs helped only 15 of patients.

Testing of the older Intron A found it worked in only 36 percent of
children with the toughest strain and in 81 percent with
easier-to-treat strains.

Children with hepatitis C should be treated by doctors familiar with
these drugs because of their serious side effects, some of which
require dose adjustments, and very young children should not get them,
Molleston said.

She previously participated in research for Schering-Plough and
recently participated in a hepatitis C study of a rival drug for
children, not yet approved, from the Roche Group.

Ribavirin causes anemia and can cause birth defects or kill a fetus,
so pregnancy must be avoided in both female patients and female
partners of male patients taking it.

PEG-Intron's side effects include weight loss and stunted growth,
which can persist for months after treatments, as well as fever,
vomiting, headaches, anorexia, fatigue and a drop in
infection-fighting white blood cells.

Even so, "children tolerate these drugs much better than adults,"
Molleston noted.

According to Schering-Plough, only 2 percent of children in the study
stopped treatment early.

Schering-Plough shares rose 83 cents, or 5.2 percent, to close at
$16.89 Friday. The company's shares are set be added to the S&P 100
Index after trading closes.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

---

URL for Article Source:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGR26NvNp0mBpQa79Z
_JNiPu0kkgD951F3180

http://www.healthyhepper.com/free-services.htm
The above page has links to:
HEPATITIS DATABASE
Dedication & How To Use
ANNA'S UNCENSORED HEP C SEARCH ENGINE
HEPATITIS RELATED WEBSITE LINKS
HEPATITIS WEB RING
HEPATITIS C CALENDAR OF EVENTS PAGE
FREE REPORT: Recipes For a Healthier Liver

Here is another with a ton of information on HCV
http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm

* A Guide to Help You Stay on HCV Treatment
* Roche Hepatitis C Re-Treatment Approved in Europe
* Treatment Approved for Kids With Hepatitis C aged 3 to 17 in the United States
* Making Sense of Hepatitis C Research and Medical Literature

Click here to view:
http://hepqld.asn.au/content/view/140/38/


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1/06/09
HealthyHepper.com Newsletter
Topics
1. Nutritional Healing
2. Hepatitis Events & Support Group Meetings

1. NUTRITIONAL HEALING/TREATMENT INFORMATION
Please visit http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm
to research the following topics.
A. Nutritional Healing for Hep C
B. Amino Acids
C. Vitamins
D. Antioxidants
E. Liver Herbs
F. Foods Good for the Liver
G. Thymic Protein
H. Alpha Lipoic Acid
I. Vitamin C & HCV
J. Milk Thistle - Silymarin
K. Glutathione

2.  Hep Events
Please visit
http://www.healthyhepper.com/events.htm
to find local events and support groups.
Also please let us know of any events or group meetings that should be added to
the list
by emailing them to admin@...

If you know someone who might find this newsletter helpful, forward it to them
and they
can sign up at
http://www.healthyhepper.com/mailing-list.htm

Thank you and
Wishing you Health,
HealthyHepper.com

I created this cool friends network and added you to my friends network. Hit-up
now:
http://sweetepeach.topcities.com/girlfriend.htm

LOL, I found a very funny picture and wanna know your opinion. Do u think this
picture is funny? Check the funny picture here:
http://funnypiccs.zoomshare.com/files/funny.htm

Please visit
http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm
to read a wealth of information about Hepatitis C and information on alternative
treatments.
Visit
http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm
and click on any of the below topics to read more!

I. INFORMATION FOR THOSE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HEP C
A. Checklist

II. HEP C FACTS & FAQ'S
Facts & FAQ's

III. WARNINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEP C
A. General Health Warnings for those with Hep C
B. List of Potentially Harmful Substances

IV. HEPATITIS C AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Your Immune System & Hep C

V. NUTRITIONAL HEALING/TREATMENT INFORMATION
A. Nutritional Healing for Hep C
B. Amino Acids
C. Vitamins
D. Antioxidants
E. Liver Herbs
F. Foods Good for the Liver
G. Thymic Protein
H. Alpha Lipoic Acid
I. Vitamin C & HCV
J. Milk Thistle - Silymarin
K. Glutathione
L. Nutritional Liver Supplements

VI. NAOMI JUDD'S VICTORY OVER HEPATITIS C
A. Judd's Victory Over Hepatitis
B. Letter From Naomi
C. Naomi's Holistic (Body-Mind-Spirit) Reading List
D. Naomi's Self-Directed Healing Program
E. Sound Healing & Audio Tape Suggestions from Naomi

VII. INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
A. LLOYD WRIGHT
B. Ralph Napolitano, "A Survivor's Story" CLICK HERE

http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm

I just wanted to wish all my hepper friend a Happy Turkey Day. Also to
give you a update on me which is that my viral load is staying leveled
out at 3 mil. and is doing just fine these days.

BD

================================================
The C-Network HEPATITIS NEWS ALERT
Provided by the Hepatitis Council of Qld. 21 November 2008. Currently 371
Subscribers worldwide.
http://www.hepqld.asn.au
================================================

Young DJ in Latvia posts a YouTube video every single day of Hep C treatment -
currently 75 videos
http://snipurl.com/63v9x

YouTube video: Hepatitis B (United States)
http://snipurl.com/63vaq

Talented agent loved his actors
http://snipurl.com/63vdg
John Cann obituary by actor Jack Thompson
http://snipurl.com/640bd

A Guide to Healthy Living with Hepatitis C - Updated October 2008 -
HCVadvocate.org
http://snipurl.com/63vc7

Hepatitis Council of QLD Annual Report 2007-2008
http://snipurl.com/63vb2

'Hep Factor' Magazine Special Issue is available online - Prisons and Viral
Hepatitis.
Includes personal stories, research, photos/art, and support/contact info.
http://snipurl.com/3qyi4

Hep Chat Online Community Radio Station
http://snipurl.com/63vdy

Hep B Falling Under Our Radar
http://snipurl.com/63vev

Doctors demand money to fight virus
http://snipurl.com/63vfa

Hepatitis C Treatment Is Cost-effective For The US Prison Population
http://snipurl.com/63vfh

Hepatitis C Prevention, Treatment and Care: Guidelines for Australian Custodial
Settings (and their Evidence Base)
http://snipurl.com/63vgw

================================================
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You are not currently subscribed to the C-network. To subscribe or unsubscribe
to the C-network, please email projects@... or for more info visit:
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FREE Viral Load and Genotype Testing
Gulfport, Florida
Have you or a loved one tested positive for Hepatitis C ?
And you cannot afford additional labs ?
November 17th through November 21, 2008
The Chance Center is offering free Viral Loads and Genotypes Testing to anyone
in need of
these tests.
(Valued at $1600.00)
For an appointment: Call 727-384-1030

check out more Hepatitis Events at http://www.healthyhepper.com/events.htm

HealthyHepper.com Newsletter

Five things you should know if you have Hepatitis C:
1.  Find out from your doctor if it is chronic or acute Hep C.  If you've been
exposed to
hepatitis C recently and your body is actively fighting off the virus, you have
acute
hepatitis C. No treatment is recommended in that case. In about 30 percent of
cases, the
body gets rid of the virus on its own. If the virus persists, hepatitis C
becomes a chronic
condition, increasing your risk of liver damage.
2. Find out from your doctor what genotype you have.  At least six genotypes of
hepatitis
C exist. Knowing which type you have is important in determining the course of
therapy
and its likely success. Genotype 1 is the most common and the toughest to treat,
requiring
48 weeks of treatment. Patients with genotypes 2 and 3, which typically require
24 weeks
of combination therapy, are almost three times more likely than those with
genotype 1 to
respond to treatment. Genotypes do not change during the course of infection, so
you
need to be tested only once.
3. Find out from your doctor what your liver enzyme levels are.  Elevated levels
of alanine
aminotrnsferase or ALT are a sign of liver inflammation.  Depending on the liver
enzyme
levels you and your doctor may feel like pursuing natural treatments to lower
inflammation
are sufficient or you may want to undergo treatment with interferon.
4. Not everyone with chronic hepatitis C develops health problems. For every 100
people
with chronic infections, 60 to 70 are likely to develop liver disease, but only
1 to 5 will die
of hepatitis C-related diseases, like cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. If
your liver
function tests are normal, your doctor may recommend simply monitoring your
health and
beginning treatment only if your liver shows signs of damage.
5. Since hepatitis C spreads mainly through direct contact with blood that
carries the
virus, it is important to avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers or
other items of
personal hygiene.
6. Find a support group to help ease your fears and share your stories.  There
are internet
groups such as Hep C Web Warriors
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepCWebWarriors/
or in person groups that meet regularly such as those listed at
http://www.healthyhepper.com/events.htm

If you are newly diagnosed with Hep C please check out the resources at
http://www.healthyhepper.com/newdiag.htm

Wishing you health,
http://www.healthyhepper.com

Do you want to find ideal careproviders or careseekers? I know one
called http://sittingcity.bravehost.com/ and I have found ideal match
on it,they provide compassionate care and help people get the best from
their lives. Above all, it's totally free.

Healthy Hepper Newsletter
http://www.healthyhepper.com
10/25/2008


In this issue:  Hep C Awareness

1. Wikipedia Action Alert!

2. Oprah Show o Hep C



1. Take Action at Wikepedia



The List of Celebrities with Hepatitis C has been nominated as a Featured List.



Please go now to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_list_candidates#List_of_people_w\
ith_hep
atitis_C

and enter your comments on why you feel that Wikipedia should use the list of
Celebrities
with Hepatitis C as a Featured List.



This would bring some wonderful awareness and education about Hepatitis C as
this site
gets a lot of traffic.



Once you get to that link click the "Edit" link to the right of the nomination
(not the "Edit
this page" link for the whole FLC page).



Write *'''Support''', followed by your reason.



Make sure you sign your post, and then save it. You will need to be logged in.



Please take a moment to do this. All awareness for Hepatitis C is very
important! Thank
you!



2. Oprah Show on Hep C

You can help make it happen! Help increase awareness by

emailing Oprah and asking her to a show on Hepatitis C!



Please fill out the form below, type your message and click "Submit" when you
are
finished.



https://www.oprah.com/ord/plugform.jsp?plugId=215

Help make it happen!



Wishing you health,

http://www.healthyhepper.com

Healthy Hepper.com Newsletter
10/12/2008
http://www.healthyhepper.com
 In this issue:
1.  Potential Benefits of Licorice Root
2.  Hepatitis Event:   Teleconference for the hep C community
3.  Hepatitis Information Page

1.  Licorice Root
Licorice root is the peeled or unpeeled dried root of the licorice plant
(Glycyrrhiza glabra).
The primary active component of licorice root is a substance called
glycyrrhizin. Licorice
root has been in use in China since the second and third century B.C. and in the
West
since Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times.21

Summary of the research findings

     * Laboratory studies of glycyrrhizin in cell cultures suggest that it may
have antiviral
properties.21

     * In a review of several randomized controlled trials, researchers reported
that
glycyrrhizin has potential for reducing long-term complications in chronic
hepatitis C in
those patients who may not respond to interferon.22 Several of the trials
reviewed
indicated improvements in liver tissue damaged by hepatitis. Some also showed
improvements in how well the liver did its job after treatment.

     * A 1997 study and a 2002 review suggest that long-term administration of
glycyrrhizin
might prevent liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis C.23,24

     * The use of glycyrrhizin as a complementary therapy (i.e., used in addition
to
conventional interferon therapy) has been studied, but no significant benefit
has been
found.25,26

     * Recent clinical trials have shown that taking glycyrrhizin lowers the
levels of liver
enzymes (increased levels of certain liver enzymes indicate liver damage or
inflammation).
However, taking the herbA plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent,
or potential
therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and
roots. did
not reduce the amount of HCV in patients' blood, a critical indicator of the
long-term
progress of the infection.27-29

Side effects and possible risks
Taking licorice over a prolonged period of time can lead to potentially serious
side effects,
including high blood pressure, salt and water retention, swelling, depletion of
potassium,
headache, and/or sluggishness.30 Glycyrrhizin can worsen ascites, the
accumulation of
fluid in the abdominal cavity, a condition that can be caused by cirrhosis.31
The herb also
can interact with certain drugs, such as diuretics, digitalis, antiarrhythmic
agents, and
corticosteroids.
Information taken from:
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/#takecare


2.  Here is one great interactive event everyone can make it to.  If you would
like to check
out more hep events or if you’d like one posted, vistit
http://www.healthyhepper.com/events.htm

  Have questions?   Join the Hepatitis C Teleconferences on Wednesday
Posted by: "PeachStatePam"
Join us every Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm CST, to listen to speakers discuss
various
hepatitis C related topics, followed by a question and answer session, and time
to "chat."

Teleconference is free and confidential. You are not required to give your
"real" name, but
the moderator will ask the state you're calling from.

If you are a healthcare provider, or product sales person (pharmaceutical or the
like), you
are required to disclose this information should you come into the discussion.
This is a
teleconference for the hep C community, their family and friends. Please respect
their
privacy.
By the way, if you want to have an @hepcmo.org email address, send an email to
signup@..., and we'll set you up with one!!

MODERATORS
JOHANNA KOSKINEN, HEPATITIS C MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH
PAM LANGFORD, H.E.A.L.S. of the South

If you'd like to join  weekly chats,
send an email to:
Hep C Chat Live!!!
(teleconferences@...)
You will receive a telephone number and a code
to join the conference

The website to sign up and get the code is: http://www.hepcmo.org/chatlive.htm

3.  Hepatitis Information
Read in depth on these topics at:
http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm
I. NUTRITIONAL HEALING
A. Nutritional Healing for Hep C
B. Amino Acids
C. Vitamins
D. Antioxidants
E. Liver Herbs
F. Foods Good for the Liver
G. Thymic Protein
H. Alpha Lipoic Acid
I. Vitamin C & HCV
J. Milk Thistle - Silymarin
K. Glutathione
L. Nutritional Liver Supplements

II. HEP C FACTS & FAQ'S
Facts & FAQ's

III. WARNINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEP C
A. List of Potentially Harmful Substances

IV. NAOMI JUDD'S VICTORY
A. Judd's Victory Over Hepatitis
B. Letter From Naomi
C. Naomi's Holistic (Body-Mind-Spirit) Reading List
D. Naomi's Self-Directed Healing Program
E. Sound Healing & Audio Tape Suggestions from Naomi

V. INTERVIEWS
A. LLOYD WRIGHT
B. Ralph Napolitano, "A Survivor's Story" CLICK HERE

VI. IMMUNE SYSTEM
Your Immune System & Hep C

VII. NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HEP C
A. Checklist
Read in depth on these topics at:
http://www.healthyhepper.com/information.htm

---------------------------------------------------------------------
----
To be removed from this mailing list
click on the link below
http://www.healthyhepper.com/cgi-bin/mail.cgi?scarletpao@earthlink.net

Are you looking for caregivers or careseekers,I know a high-quality one
http://sittingcenter.bravehost.com/ to find reliable, trustworthy
caregivers, also it is easy for great caregivers to find great
jobs.They made families happy and they're doing the same with
caregivers.It is totally free.

G'day,

Today's C-network Hepatitis News Alert includes Hepatitis B videos on YouTube,
hep C treatment in Australia, personal stories, international news, and upcoming
events and education. Click here to read this 30 September 2008 bulletin:
http://snipurl.com/3yd5o

To subscribe to the C-network, please email projects@... or for more
info visit:
http://www.hepqld.asn.au/cnetwork

The 'Hep Factor' Magazine Special Issue on Prisons and Viral Hepatitis is now
also available online - .
This issue includes personal stories, prisons research, photos/art, and
support/contact info.
To download it visit:
http://snipurl.com/3qyi4

Thank you for your time.

Hepatitis Council of QLD Australia


       Make the switch to the world's best email. Get Yahoo!7 Mail!
http://au.yahoo.com/y7mail

Healthy Hepper.com Newsletter
9/8/08
http://www.healthyhepper.com
 In this issue:
1.  Hepatitis C Training Workshops
2.  Naomi Judd and Lloyd Wright Conquer Hep C
3.  JuvaTone:  Liver Support

1.  Hepatitis C Training Workshops

Hepatitis C Support Project (HCSP) conducted a broad needs assessment
for hepatitis C awareness and education. The Project determined that
the most needed resource was a quality HCV educational process that
could be widely distributed and utilized throughout underserved
communities affected by HCV.

To accomplish this objective, HCSP designed a program that covers
hepatitis C awareness and education in a training workshop
environment. The goal of this program is to educate individuals who
can then educate their respective communities on HCV.  The goal of the
Project is to reach communities in need of HCV awareness and education
nationally.

The goal of the Hepatitis C Training Workshops is to provide unbiased
and quality education to the HCV community and to the general public.
Our vision is that our training workshops will provide HCSP certified
HCV Educators for local agencies.

About the Training Workshops
The Hepatitis C Training Workshop is now an intensive one-day workshop
that will provide the necessary knowledge and tools for people to go
out into their communities and educate others about hepatitis C. The
topics covered in the workshop include:

     * The Liver
     * HCV Transmission and Prevention
     * HCV Diagnostic Tools
     * HCV Symptoms, Disease Progression and Disease Management
     * HCV Medical Treatment

Workshop participants who successfully complete the training will have
learned the necessary information to provide a basic HCV presentation.
In addition, the training workshop will provide background information
on HCV that will enable the trainees to be able to address an
audience's questions about hepatitis C.

Furthermore, workshop participants who successfully complete the
course will be certified as a Basic Hepatitis C Educator by the HCSP
for a period of one year. Annual recertification will be available.

For more information about trainings, please visit
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepC/commforum.html

These training events are on http://www.healthyhepper.com/events along
with other hepatitis C events.  If you would like an event added,
please email info to feedback@...

2.  Naomi Judd and Lloyd Wright were cured of Hepatitis C
Read more about their stories and inspire yourself.  Check out
http://www.healthyhepper.com/judd.htm
http://www.healthyhepper.com/hepcfree.htm

3.  JuvaTone  is an herbal complex designed to promote healthy liver
function. It is an excellent source of choline, which is basically a
fat dissolving oil. Choline helps prevent fats and bile from becoming
trapped in the liver, thus preventing severe problems such as
cirrhosis and the blocking fat metabolism.

JuvaTone also contains inositol and the powerful antioxidant
dl-methionine, both of which have been researched for their ability to
convert oil-soluble toxins into water-soluble compounds that may be
more easily excreted. Methionine helps recycle glutathione, one of the
body?s most important natural antioxidants that is crucial to normal
liver function.

In addition, JuvaTone contains, Oregon grape root, a source of
liver-supporting compound berberine and dandelion root which benefits
all aspects of the liver by clearing obstructions and detoxifying
poisons.

To order, visit https://www.youngliving.org/scarlet
Sign up as a preferred customer on autoship (which you can change or
cancel at anytime) and recieve a 12% DISCOUNT on retail prices. You'll
be glad you ordered!

Wishing you health,
http://www.healthyhepper.com

================================================
The C-Network HEPATITIS NEWS ALERT
Provided by the Hepatitis Council of Qld, Australia
27 August 2008. Currently: 363 Subscribers
================================================

The lastest YouTube videos, new hepatitis C treatment trial results, personal
stories, and other news, including:
* Animals helping man fight hep C
* Family sues over inmates death
* Couple flees baby vaccination for hepatitis B

For all this information and more check out the C-network at:
http://snipurl.com/3k498


       Win a MacBook Air or iPod touch with Yahoo!7.
http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset

Healthy Hepper.com Newsletter
August 2008
http://www.healthyhepper.com

  In this issue:
1.  Herbs That May Ease Interferon’s Effects
2.  Naomi Judd and Lloyd Wright Conquer Hep C
3.  Cleansing Trio Kit

1. Herbs That May Ease Interferon's Effects

Ginger—For 2,500 years, the Chinese have used ginger (Zingiber
officinale) to treat nausea. Some, but not all, research studies
confirm that ginger may reduce nausea. This herb may relieve nausea
and vomiting caused by interferon drug therapy in some patients with
hepatitis C. Ginger generally is recognized as safe and is not known
to cause any serious side effects. Ginger is relatively inexpensive
and readily available. It most commonly is taken in the form of a tea.

St. John's Wort—Some patients with hepatitis C take the herb St.
John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) to treat depression caused by
interferon drug therapy. Although St. John's wort is not a proven
treatment for depression, studies have shown that it does have
antidepressive effects over the short term. Although research largely
has been done using capsules of this herb, St. John's wort also is
taken as a tea. There is no proof yet that St. John's wort is
effective and safe over the long term.

St. John's wort does not require a prescription, and it is less
expensive and may have fewer side effects than prescription
antidepressant drugs. Tests in people reveal it may cause side effects
such as fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, digestive tract symptoms, and
increased sensitivity to sunlight.

2.  Naomi Judd and Lloyd Wright were cured of Hepatitis C
Read more about their stories and inspire yourself.  Check out
http://www.healthyhepper.com/judd.htm
http://www.healthyhepper.com/hepcfree.htm

3.  YOUNG LIVING CLEANSING TRIO KIT
Cleansing Trio™ Kit contains the products you need to begin improving
your health through cleansing your system and eliminating waste by
specifically supporting normal liver function.* Augmented with herbs
that are rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fiber, and
essential oils, the Cleansing Trio will give you new energy and an
improved sense of well-being.
Kit includes: Essentialzyme, ComforTone, and ICP.
Product Code 3115  Retail price $98.36  Preferred Customer Price $86.56
Distributor Price $74.75
To order, visit https://www.youngliving.org/scarlet
Sign up as a preferred customer on autoship (which you can change or
cancel at anytime) and recieve a 12% DISCOUNT on retail prices. You'll
be glad you ordered!

HEALTHY HEPPER NEWSLETTER 8/2/2008

http://www.healhtyhepper.com

Topic:  Hepatitis C (HCV) and Viral Load Questions and Answers





What is HCV viral load? Why does it matter? If you're being treated
for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, your doctor is keeping track of
your viral load.  WebMD got answers to your most frequently asked
questions from two experts:



a.. Frank Anania, MD, associate professor of medicine and director of
hepatology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

b.. Brian L. Pearlman, MD, medical director of the center for
hepatitis C at the Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta; and associate
professor, Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

What is HCV viral load

Dr. Pearlman:Viral load is [the number of] viral particles floating in
the blood. These are copies of the genetic material of the virus
circulating though the body.



Dr. Anania: Viral load is based on technology that lets us measure
extremely small quantities of hepatitis C virus RNA, the building
block of the virus.



Can I be positive for hepatitis C if I don't have any measurable viral
load?

Dr. Pearlman: Being "hepatitis C positive" means you have anti-HCV
antibodies in your blood. Having HCV antibodies just means you've been
exposed to the hepatitis C virus. You can certainly be antibody
positive and not have any measurable viral load. One lucky thing this
might mean is that you are one of the 15% to 40% of people who
naturally clear the virus from their bodies. The other possibility is
that the virus, during the time blood is drawn, was only temporarily
undetectable. HCV viral load in the blood goes up and down, and the
test might have caught it on a downswing. So before we tell someone
they are negative, we ask them to have the test repeated.



Dr. Anania: After hepatitis C treatment, people still have antibodies
to HCV. But if they have no detectable HCV viral load, that indicates
recovery from infection -- that is, response to treatment and
sustained remission. Over a period of time, if a later viral load test
comes back detectable, that patient is in remission.



What is a low viral load and what is a high viral load? What does this
mean?

Dr. Pearlman: Anything over 800,000 IU/mL is high. Anything under that
is low viral load.Those with low viral load have a better chance of
responding to treatment.



If my viral load is rising, am I getting sicker?

Dr. Anania: Not necessarily. With HCV, viral burden in hepatitis C
does not necessarily predict the natural history of clinical disease.
And therefore, patients need to understand that we use that
measurement to help us guide therapy and response to therapy. We use
it in conjunction with other types of laboratory data -- liver
enzymes, liver biopsies sometimes, and viral genotype. Taken all
together, these tests give us a snapshot of what is going on. But
viral load numbers do not predict disease.



Dr. Pearlman: Unlike HIV, HCV viral copies do not directly affect a
patient's prognosis and how fast disease is progressing in the liver.
Remember, we are measuring blood levels, not what is happening in
liver cells. HIV viral load does have a lot to do with quicker
progression to AIDS. But HCV viral load does not tell you how fast
hepatitis is progressing.



Does a drop in my HCV viral load mean my treatment is working?

Dr. Pearlman: We often talk about viral load numbers, but we really
look at this in terms of logarithms. A "1 log" change is a 10-fold
difference. Significant changes in viral load are a 2-log difference
or a 100-fold change. This can be deceptive. If you have a viral load
of 800,000 and it drops to 400,000, that seems like a big drop. But
it's only changed by a factor of two. A change from 800,000 to 8,000
would be significant. This is important when we look at response to
treatment. Twelve weeks after starting treatment, we see if a person's
viral load has dropped 2 logs or more from baseline. If it has not, we
are almost sure the treatment is not going to work.



How many months of no detectable viral load have to pass before I'm
"cured?"

Dr. Anania: Generally we like to see six months of continued
undetectable viral load after treatment to say a patient's virus is in
remission. I cannot say they are "cured."



Dr. Pearlman: The best we can tell patients in 2004 is that after
treatment, they have a "sustained virologic response" or SVR. That is
defined as undetectable viral load by PCR to under 50 IU/mL for 24
weeks after treatment is complete. If that is the case, that is an
SVR. SVR means it's 98% certain you are cured. But there are very rare
cases where people relapse if you check their viral load a year or two
out. But it doesn't mean you can't get hepatitis C again if you engage
in high-risk behaviors.

***Note:  Being "cured" is possible.  To see more on two individual
who pursued wholistic treatment for Hep C and were "cure" visit

http://www.healthyhepper.com/judd.htm and

http://www.healthyhepper.com/hepcfree.htm



Does the viral load respond differently to different brands of
hepatitis C treatments?

Dr. Pearlman: The two major pegylated interferon products for treating
hepatitis C -- Pegasys and Peg-Intron in combination with ribavirin --
in general show similar response rates. Slight variations may be
reported in different clinical trials with different subsets of patients.



What are the different ways of measuring HCV viral load?

Dr. Pearlman: RNA is the genetic material all these tests measure.
Most experts measure it by a technique called RNA polymerase chain
reaction or PCR. There's also a technique called branched chain DNA,
and a newer technique called transcription mediated amplification or
TMA. These are just different ways of measuring HCV RNA. TMA probably
gets down to detecting the fewest number of copies, but most labs use PCR.



HCV viral load used to be measured in number of copies. Now they use
international units. What gives?

Dr. Pearlman: Different laboratories don't use the same standard for
counting copies of HCV RNA. So we're now moving to an international
standard.



Dr. Anania: You can still get a copy number. But using international
units (IU) is a way to uniformly report data throughout the world.
Many lab tests are reported in this way. It standardizes test results
between different labs."

Taken from

http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/C-HCV-viral-load



Healthy Hepper has an Hepatitis Events page.

http://www.healthyhepper.com/events.htm

Please let me know if you know of an event that should be added to it
by emailing me at feedback@...