| Issue
Number 19, July 28, 2004 |
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| Contents of this Issue |
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ABBREVIATIONS: ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; CDC, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention; DVH, Division of Viral Hepatitis; HAV,
hepatitis A virus; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; IAC,
Immunization Action Coalition; IDU, injection drug user; MMWR, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report; MSM, men who have sex with men; STD, sexually
transmitted disease; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; WHO, World Health
Organization.
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July 28, 2004
PHYSICIAN'S GUIDE TO CHRONIC HEPATITIS B TREATMENT AVAILABLE ONLINE
"HBV: A Silent Killer," a physician's guide developed by the Asian Liver
Center's Jade Ribbon Campaign, can be downloaded from CDC's Division of Viral
Hepatitis website.
Of the 350-400 million people with chronic HBV infection, 75% reside in Asia. In
the United States, the incidence of hepatitis B and liver cancer constitutes the
greatest health disparity that exists between Asians and Pacific Islanders
(APIs) and the general U.S. population. One in 10 APIs is chronically infected
with hepatitis B compared with 1 in 1,000 in the general population.
Without treatment or monitoring, one in four infected persons will die from
liver cancer or liver failure. Dr. Samuel So, Director of the Asian Liver Center
writes, "Hepatitis B takes a life every 30 seconds. Most of these lives are
Asian."
The guide provides straightforward information on preventing, diagnosing, and
managing chronic HBV infection; screening for liver cancer, and eliminating HBV
myths.
To download this valuable resource, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/hbv_silent_killer.pdf
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July 28, 2004
GLMA DEVELOPS NEW HEPATITIS PREVENTION MATERIALS FOR MSM
The Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) has developed a new brochure and
matching poster to prevent vaccine-preventable hepatitis (VPH) in men who have
sex with men (MSM). These glossy, full-colored materials are stylish and
eye-catching.
The lead-in message states "Vaccine-preventable hepatitis (VPH) is... joint
pain, nausea, fever, loss of appetite, liver cancer, death, extreme tiredness,
headache, yellow skin, dark urine, yellow eyes, bloated stomach... vaccine
preventable." The brochure clearly explains the risk factors for hepatitis A and
hepatitis B, and the vaccination options.
The MSM educational materials are available from GLMA free of charge by sending
an email to info@glma.org or calling
GLMA at (415) 255-4547. Brochures are packaged in sets of ten; posters
individually. Please provide a complete mailing address and phone number.
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July 28, 2004
HBF OFFERS AN ONLINE CME COURSE FOR PHYSICIANS
The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) is offering a CME course for physicians.
"Current Issues in Hepatitis B" was written by Tram T. Tran, MD, Assistant
Medical Director of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation at Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine, and by
Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Chief of
Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Saint Louis
University School of Medicine.
The online course discusses clinical issues in the diagnosis and management of
hepatitis B, including the management of the increasingly recognized hepatitis B
e-antigen negative (HBeAg-) chronic hepatitis, viral resistance patterns, and
new therapeutic strategies and medications.
The course offers .75 hours of category 1 credit and will be available online
through Medscape until June 2005.
To access the "Current Issues in Hepatitis B" course, go to:
http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/3167 Registration is required, but
there is no charge.
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July 28, 2004
"ANSWER TO CANCER" RACE TO BE HELD AUGUST 8
The second annual Answer to Cancer walk/race will be held on August 8, 2004, in
Willamette Valley, Oregon. The Answer to Cancer race was founded by Adrian
Elkins, a 20-year-old student who was diagnosed with liver cancer in October
2002. Adrian died only eight days after the first Answer to Cancer race, which
raised $24,000 for liver cancer research and education.
To read more about the Answer to Cancer Foundation, including how to support
this year's race effort, go to:
http://www.answertocancer.org
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July 28, 2004
SUMMER ISSUE OF HBF'S "B INFORMED" NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Summer 2004 issue of "B Informed," the newsletter of the Hepatitis B
Foundation (HBF) is available online. This issue includes articles on children
and hepatitis B treatment, the differences between HBV treatment options, a
story about dating while chronically infected with HBV, paying for treatment,
and information about drug research and clinical trials.
The current issue of "B Informed" can be accessed at
http://www.hepb.org/pdf/hepbnews40.pdf
Archived issues can be read or downloaded at no charge from the HBF website at
http://www.hepb.org/2-00-02-38.hepb
To receive "B Informed" through the U.S. mail, please send your name and full
address to info@hepb.org and HBF will
add your name to their confidential mailing list.
The HBF website offers many other resources, including the continually updated "HBF
Drug Watch." To access the home page go to:
http://www.hepb.org
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July 28, 2004
NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON VHPB WEBSITE
The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) website has been updated and
includes three new resources.
"Viral Hepatitis," Volume 12 , Number 3, includes material presented at the VHPB
meeting "Prevention of Viral Hepatitis in Germany and the Nordic Countries:
Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward," held October 13-14, 2003, in Berlin,
Germany.
"Strengthening Immunisation Systems and Introduction of Hepatitis B Vaccine in
Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States" summarizes a
meeting of international partners in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 25-28, 2004. Meeting
participants included representatives from CDC, the Children's Vaccine program
at PATH, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF, VHPB
and WHO.
Finally, many presentations from the March VHPB meeting, "Hepatitis B Vaccine:
Long-Term Efficacy, Booster Policy, and Impact of HBV Mutants on Hepatitis B
Vaccination Programmes" are available online.
You can access all these resources from the VHPB website at
http://www.vhpb.org
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