Liver Dialysis

Liver failure is associated with a high mortality. Treatment for such patients is liver transplantation if the candidate is considered. However, even if the patient is a suitable candidate for liver transplantation, the wait for a cadaveric organ may prove too long. These patients may therefore be candidates for the proposed liver dialysis machines to provide a bridge towards liver transplantation. The aim is to "buy time" either for the liver to recover or for a cadaveric organ to become available.

Yoga Instructor, Yoga Teacher, Meditation Classes, Naturopathy Treatments, Yoga Therapy Classes in Delhi and Noida

Location : Delhi & NCR » Delhi » East Delhi » Patparganj

Nature Cure Clinic

(Therapeutic Yoga, Dynamic Yoga, Classic/Classical Yoga)

• Yoga

1. For patients
2. For obesity
3. For general health

• Meditation
• Yog Nidra
  

• Naturopathy consultation
  

• Therapeutic Treatments
  

• Acupressure

Related to : Therapeutic , Dynamic, Nature, Cure, Clinic, Yoga, For patients, For obesity, For General Health, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Naturopathy Consultation, Therapeutic Treatments, Acupressure, Anshu Gupta, Naturopathy Treatments, Yoga Therapy Classes in Delhi and Noida.

Contact : Dr Anshu Gupta

Mobile : 9811685420
Address : Patparganj
Website : Ulcerative Colitis & J Pouch Surgery Guide
Health and Medical Information

US surgeon offers free service in Jharkhand

17 Jun 2009, 2206 hrs IST,

RANCHI: The president-elect of the International College of surgeons (USA) and chairman of the Critical Care Task Force for the American Society of Transplant surgeons, Dinesh Ranjan, has offered to provide free medical service to the people of Jharkhand.

An alumnus of the Rajendra Medical College and Hospital (now Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences RIMS), Ranjan addressed a gathering of the RMCH-RIMS alumni here on Tuesday.

After deliberating extensively on liver transplant techniques, a field in which he attained expertise after moving out to the USA in 1979, Ranjan said that liver transplant, considered one of the most sophisticated organ transplant techniques, is still in a primary stage in India.

Ranjan has conducted over 1000 liver transplants in the University of Kentucky and helped set up transplant facilities in Albama and Egypt. He acknowledged his association with this tribal-dominated state of the country. "In India, liver transplantation is practised in metros like Delhi and Mumbai. Since it is difficult for people to bear the cost of transplantation and lodging in metros, it would be convenient for patients if such a facility is available here," he said. Ranjan called upon the local medical fraternity to come up with a project here. He offered free medical service to such a facility on behalf of his team. He said even the state government could utilize his expertise and experience. "Recently, I facilitated set-up of transplantation facilities in Albama and Egypt. I would be happy to do this for my own state," he said. Speaking on the success of liver transplant and the intricacies involved in it, Ranjan said that the survival rate is more than 90 per cent in the first year of surgery and the risk gradually diminishes with time. "Liver is the only organ in the human body that grows to its normal size even if half of the portion is removed. This unique aspect of the liver encouraged surgeons to try liver transplants. The results, so far, have been highly encouraging," he said. As against over 16000 liver transplantation carried out all over the world annually, more than 5000 transplantation is done in the USA. Ranjan said that live donor transplantation and cadaveric transplantation are two different aspects in which surgeons have to be very cautious while dealing with the live donors. "Our expertise comes into play when we operate upon a healthy person and take a part of his liver for transplanting it into another patient and ensuring at the same time that the healthy person's condition remains fit," he said. Speaking about the medical expenses on liver transplantation, Ranjan said that the process is cheaper in India and involves an expenditure of around Rs 15-20 lakh. He said the same process is carried out in the USA at an expense of around $200,000. Via: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

World Health Day – 2009

World Health Day, celebrated each year on 7th April, is the anniversary of the foundation of World Health Organization (WHO). The day is a worldwide opportunity to focus on key public health issues that affect the international community and is usually marked by the launch of a long-term advocacy programme. This year focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies.

Following an emergency or disaster, people rely on hospitals and health facilities to respond, swiftly and efficiently, as the lifeline for survival and the backbone of support. The tragedy is compounded when a hospital collapses or its functions disrupted. The theme of 2009 “Save lives; make hospitals safe in emergencies” draws attention to the importance of investing in well-built health infrastructure that is able to withstand disaster and remain operational to help people in immediate need. This years World Health Day will be launched in Beijing as China recovers from a massive earthquake which last year killed more than 87,000 people and destroyed or damaged over 11,000 hospitals and clinics.

Natural calamities like cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and famine, etc. and internal emergencies like wars, disease outbreaks, radiological incidents and chemical spills – are all rising. Though only 11% of the people exposed to natural hazards live in developing countries, they account for more than 53% of global deaths due to such cause suggesting that there is a great potential to reduce human death toll in these regions.

It is important to keep hospitals and health facilities safe, as they are more than just buildings. They save lives and protect health round-the-clock and safeguard social stability in times of crises. They are vital asset at the heart of a community, the place where often life starts and ends.

WHO is advocating a series of best practices that can be implemented, in any resource setting, to make hospitals safe during emergencies. Apart from safe siting and resilient construction, good planning and carrying out emergency exercises in advance can help maintain critical functions. Proven measures range from early warning systems to a simple hospital safety assessment, from protecting equipment and supplies to preparing staff to manage mass casualties and infection control measures.

Essentials for making health facilities safer

• Develop and implement national policies and programmes to make health facilities safe in emergencies.
  
• Select a safe site for the health facility.
  
• Design and construct safe health facilities.
  
• Assess the safety of existing health facilities.
  
• Protect health workers, equipment, medicines and supplies.
  
• Ensure that health facilities receive essential services.
  
• Develop partnerships between health facilities and the community.
  
• Develop an emergency risk management programme for individual health facilities.

Countries need to develop an emergency response plan for each health facility, test and update response plans with drills and exercises, train the health workers to respond to emergencies and evaluate and learn lessons from past emergencies and disasters.

As the Director General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan says, "We must never forget: hospitals and health facilities represent a significant investment. Keeping them safe in emergencies protects that investment, while also protecting the health and safety of people."

16-month baby girl becomes India's youngest cadaver donor

NEW DELHI: After losing their 16-month-old daughter Abhilasha, to a serious liver ailment, her parents couldn't just let her die. Wanting her spirit to live on in others, they donated her organs, making her India's youngest cadaver donor.

The little girl from Bhopal suffered from a serious liver condition known as Biliary Atresia since birth. Just three months old, she underwent a complicated procedure in Bangalore to correct the disconnect between her liver and intestine. Her doctors then referred her to the Apollo Hospital here to undergo a liver transplant.

"Abhilasha and her parents came to us from Bhopal for a liver transplant but a CT scan of her brain revealed that she was suffering with Hydrocephalus -- meaning that the fluid was rising in her brain. We couldn't perform the transplant," Anupam Sibal, Abhilasha's doctor and medical director of Apollo Hospitals, told reporters.

"Her neurological condition had to be resolved before a liver transplant could be offered. But sadly, due to her worsening liver function and deterioration in her neurological condition, she could not undergo a transplant," Sibal said.

After Abhilasha was declared brain dead on Feb 28, her parents decided to donate her organs.

The hospital had arranged for condolence ceremony on Monday, "saluting the spirit of Abhilasha and her parents".

"It was a difficult decision. But we knew she was gone and were not hesitant. With this donation, she has carried on...taking the essence of life beyond death," Vineeta, who was to be Abhilasha's liver donor herself, said.

Abhilasha's father Rajendra said in her "small life" she had managed to achieve a "big" deal.

"Being a father, I am deeply saddened. But am happy and content knowing what she achieved. She made it possible for others to live a happier life. We have kept her soul alive," said Rajendra, cradling Abhilasha's 3-year-old sister Ashlesha in his lap.

Abhilasha's two kidneys, her corneas and her skin tissues were used to help others, doctors said.

Apollo hospitals group's founding chairman Pratap C Reddy hailed the decision of Abhilasha's parents.

"They have taken a very courageous step. In this country, we need to see more such acts of courage. There is an acute shortage of donors and awareness is lax," Reddy said.

Ever since the Human Organ Transplant Act was passed in 1994 in the country, making it possible to receive transplants from brain dead donors, there has been little progress in the country's cadaver programme.

This Reddy attributed to the lack of awareness and discussion on the donor issues.

"Despite improved technology like ventilators and emergency measures to preserve crucial body organs since 2004, there have been just 1,000 cadaver donations in India. While in the US in just last year, there have been 22,000 cadaver donations," Reddy said.

New Treatment For Liver, Colon Cancer Patients

Doctors use a catheter to deliver tiny beads, called microspheres, which are coated with radiation, directly to a patient's tumor.

Some 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with liver or advanced colon cancer every year, but many of them aren't candidates for surgery or radiation. But one local hospital is using a novel new treatment, developed by a Massachusetts company, to help those patients live longer.

Annette Papa survived her battle with breast cancer 25 years ago.

So when she was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer three years ago, she never gave up hope of finding a way to beat it. "I always wondered whey they couldn't just do the area. That's what I wanted -- my prayers were answered."

Dr. Stephan Wicky is using a new radiation therapy developed by Sirtex of Wilmington, Massachusetts.

He uses a catheter to deliver tiny beads, called microspheres, which are coated with radiation, directly to a patient's tumor.

"The advantage of the catheter-directed therapy, we can deliver very locally an extremely high dose to treat these lesions," said Dr. Stephan Wicky, Mass. General Hospital.

Without this treatment, most patients like Annette are only expected to survive six months, but this new therapy is dramatically improving survival rates with minimal side effects.

Doctors say it has stopped Annette's tumor from growing.

"I can honestly say I thank God for this procedure, it's has no effect to me right now at all, I have lived my life and taken care of my children and grandchildren," said Annette.

"With this therapy, we have seen patients survive one, two three years," explained Dr. Wicky. "The other advantage we can downsize the tumor and more patients are a candidate for surgery."

Doctors are also testing this new therapy on patients with breast, ovarian and endocrine cancers and other diseases that can spread to the liver.

If you'd like more information, visit www.sirtex.com.

World kidney Day

Kidney Disease is common, harmful & treatable

World Kidney Day

When?

· The second Thursday in March every year

· Thursday 12 March 2009 this year

Why?

· To raise awareness of the
importance of healthy kidneys

Who?

· People with kidney disease

· Relatives and friends of people
with kidney disease

· People at risk of kidney disease

· Healthcare professionals

· Researchers

· Health policy makers &
healthcare commissioners

· Governments

Where?

· Everywhere!

Our Kidneys are amazing!

Download a concise guide to help you keep your kidneys healthy

Languages available

English	Bengali	Gujarati
Hindi	Urdu	Vietnamese

Are your Kidneys Healthy?
To check your Risk click here

Kidney disease is often ‘silent’, causing few symptoms, especially in the early stages. If left unchecked the disease can progress or lead to kidney failure. It can severely impact on quality of life and ultimately can cost lives. Very often it comes along with other health threatening conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

If kidney disease is detected early, appropriate treatment can delay or even stop chronic kidney disease. It is easy to detect early signs of kidney problems by using simple tests performed by your GP.

Download copies of the Healthy Kidneys Flyer
A4 Format A3 Format

World Kidney Day on 12 March 2009

AMAZING KIDNEYS ARE YOURS HEALTHY?

World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The campaign is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of March in more than 100 countries on 6 continents.

World Kidney Day will be held on 12 March 2009.

"Keep the pressure down"

The 2009 campaign highlights the importance of high blood pressure as one of the key symptoms and causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Every year millions die prematurely of kidney failure or heart attacks and strokes linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD). WKD encourages everyone to learn more about their amazing kidneys and to raise awareness of the fact that that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable

Take the test and see if you are at risk

Tick the box next to the questions, if your answer to them is yes.

Do you have high blood pressure?
Do you suffer from diabetes?
Are you overweight?
Do you smoke?


Do you have a family history of kidney disease?
Do you suffer from other kidney diseases?

Via: http://www.worldkidneyday.org/

Unique liver transplant in Delhi

Twenty specialists helped in 16-hour operation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Shourya Verma, with Dr. A. S. Soin (left), and Siya Thakur, with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital’s chief paediatric hepatologist Dr. Neelam Mohan, during a press conference in the Capital on Thursday to announce the country’s first-ever domino liver transplant.

NEW DELHI: Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here have performed a domino liver transplant, a unique procedure in which two life-saving liver transplants are performed using one donor liver.

While 22-month-old Shourya was cured of maple syrup urine diseases (MSUD) by a transplant performed using 20 per cent of his aunt’s liver, his own liver was in turn transplanted into two-year-old Siya, who was battling terminal liver failure due to rare condition called langerhan’s cell histiocytosis. It is due to the sequential nature of the transplants that the domino transplant is so named.

Hospital chairman B.K. Rao said: “Twenty specialists helped in performing this marathon 16-hour-long operation on January 31. Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease and MSUD is one such disease.”

MSUD is caused by lack of an enzyme and a patient with MSUD who receives a liver transplant is able to make enough of the enzyme in the new liver to overcome the shortage elsewhere in the body. In turn, an MSUD patient’s liver which is otherwise entirely normal, can be transplanted into another person without passing on the disease, because that patient’s other cells still make the enzyme lacking in the liver.

For the surgery, the team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was divided into three units and it prepared the donor liver, Shourya’s own liver and Siya’s diseased liver for removal sequentially in three separate operating theatres. First the donor liver and then Shourya’s own liver were removed and prepared on the bench for transplantation by re-constructing the vital blood vessels with complex vein grafts. Shourya was transplanted first and then his liver was transplanted into Siya.

India’s first domino liver transplant saves lives of two kids

1. Doctors remove 20 per cent of Mukta's liver. This portion is transplanted into Shourya, who suffered from Maple Syrup Urine Disease.
2. Shourya's liver in turn given to Siya. The girl was battling terminal liver failure due to a rare condition called Langerhan's Cell Histiocytoma (LCH).
3. Siya is India's first and the world's youngest recipient of a domino liver transplant. She is also the first kid to be cured of LCH with a transplant.

While 22- month- old Shourya Verma was cured of the Maple Syrup Urine Disease ( MSUD) — a metabolic disease — by a transplant performed using 20 per cent of his aunt Mukta’s liver, his own liver was, in turn, transplanted into two- year- old Siya Thakur. Siya was battling terminal liver failure due to a rare condition called Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytoma ( LCH).

The unique transplant has also made Shourya India’s first

and the world’s youngest recipient of a living donor liver transplant for MSUD, and Siya the country’s first and the world’s youngest recipient of a domino liver transplant. Siya is also the first child to be cured of LCH with a transplant.

A team of 20 surgeons and anaesthetists led by Dr A. S. Soin, the chief liver transplant surgeon and director of liver transplantation, performed the surgery on January 31. The surgery took more than 16 hours.

Siya’s mother Swati Thakur said: “ My child has got a new lease of life. She was diagnosed with the disease when she was 19 months old. She was suffering from a cancer, which has a different type of protocol. It was a big challenge for us but we derived strength from God and our family.

It’s good to see her eat food of her choice,” she said.

Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease. MSUD is one such disease and Shourya was suffering from it since birth.

In this disease, toxic levels of branched chain amino acids called leucine, isoleucine and valine build up due to the lack of the detoxifying dehydrogenase enzyme. Soon after birth, such children develop metabolic crises with vomiting, poor feeding, weight loss, convulsions and coma.

“ Before the operation, Shourya suffered from such attacks until his parents Niti and Prashant Verma moved to the US and put him permanently on the MSUD diet. Apart from the difficulties in procuring the diet and measuring amino acid levels in India, it was too restrictive on Shourya’s life. His family then decided to go ahead with a liver transplant and his aunt Mukta was found to be a suitable donor,” said Dr Neelam Mohan, the chief pediatric hepatologist.

High levels of acids in the urine result in a smell of burnt sugar, hence the name Maple Syrup.

To survive, patients need a special diet that is low in protein and devoid of amino acids, along with regular monitoring of leucine levels.

MSUD is caused by lack of an enzyme in the body, so the patient who receives a liver transplant is able to make enough of the enzyme in the new liver to overcome the shortage elsewhere in the body. In turn, an MSUD patient’s liver — which is otherwise normal — can be transplanted into someone else without passing on the disease because that patient’s other cells still make the enzyme lacking in the liver.

“ The domino procedure requires careful planning for several weeks.

This surgery was crucial as it had never been performed on such small children. For the surgery, we divided ourselves into three teams and prepared Mukta’s liver, Shourya’s liver and Siya’s diseased liver for removal sequentially in three separate operation theatres,” said Dr Soin.

“ First the donor liver and then Shourya’s liver were removed and prepared for transplantation by re- constructing the vital blood vessels with complex vein grafts.

Shourya was given Mukta’s liver first, and then his liver was transplanted into Siya. Both transplants kicked in immediately and the children are making excellent progress,” Dr Soin added.

The biggest challenge was to control amino acids, glucose and sodium levels in blood before and during surgery until the new liver started working.

“ We specially arranged to measure the amino acid levels at our hospital and Shourya’s father Prashant arranged special oral and intravenous MSUD diets. But the boy won’t need any of that now. It is such a joy to see Shourya on normal diet for the first time in his life,” Dr Mohan said.

Siya underwent many chemotherapy sessions to contain the LCH disease. Though the disease went into remission, her liver was damaged irreversibly, due to which she needed a life- saving transplant.

The two- year- old girl had become very weak due to the side- effects of chemotherapy and making her fit for the transplant was a challenge. “ Swati wanted to give a part of her liver but Shourya’s liver could be successfully used in this unique domino operation,” added Dr Mohan.

World's youngest domino liver transplant in Delhi hospital

New Delhi | Thursday, Feb 19 2009 IST

In what is claimed to be the first of the world's youngest domino liver transplant, a unique procedure in which two life-saving liver transplants are performed using just one donor liver, two children aged 22 months and two years old and a 37-year-old woman underwent the surgery in a hospital here.

While Shourya, a boy, was cured of Maple Syrup Urine Disease(MSUD) by a transplant performed using 20 per cent of the liver of his aunty, Mukta, 37, his own liver was, in turn, tranplanted into another two-year-old girl Siya, who was battling terminal liver failure due to a rare condition called Langerhan's Cell Histiocytosis(LCH), in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in central Delhi.

It is due to the sequential nature of the transplants that the domino transplants are so named.

Addressing a news conference here today, Dr A S Soin, the Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon and Director of Liver Transplantation of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, ''Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else with passing on the disease. MUSD is one such disease.

The surgery, which was also India's first, was performed by 20 specialists on January 31 and it lasted 16 hours.

He claimed this made Shourya the country's first and the world's youngest recipient of a living donor liver transplant for MSUD and Siya the country's first and the world's youngest recipient of a domino liver transplant.

Asked if they had any chance of developing complications in the near future after the surgery, Chief Paediatric Hepatologist Neelam Mohan said they would both be normal in three months and ''we would be closely monitoring them to check if whether the disease relapses or not''.

Shourya, Dr Mohan added, was suffering from MSUD since birth and in this disease toxic level os branched chain amino acids -- leucine, isoleucine and valine build up due to the lack of the detoxifying dehydrogenase enzyme.

She said in cases of MSUD disease soon after the birth children develop metabloic crises with vomiting, poor feeding, weight loss, convulsions and coma. The high levels of acids in the urine result in a smell of burnt sugar, hence the name Maple Syrup. ''To survive, they need a special diet low in protein and devoid of these amino acids, along with regular monitoring of leucine levels.'' Shorya's parents, Prashant and Neeti, moved to the US and put him permanently on the MUSD diet which costs around Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per month. MSUD threatened to damage the nervous system of Shorya. His aunty, Mukta, was found to be a suitable donor and after the transplant said, ''it is such a joy to see the child on a normal diet for the first time in his life''.

Siya was suffering from LCH that affects many organs but especially the liver and resulted in its failure. She had several courses of chemotherapy to contain the disease. Although her disease went into remission her liver had been irreversibly damaged due to which she needed a life-saving transplant.

While Siya's mother was willing to give a part of her liver for the transplant, she did not need to undergo surgery as Shourya's liver could be successfully used in this unique domono operation, Dr Mohan added.

ChronVac-C Reducing HCV Viral Load by up to 99 % in Phase I/II Study

Although it is early in the process and only involves a few subjects, interim trial results for ChronVac-C show extremely high percentages of Hepatitis C viral load reduction.

Hepatitis C Therapeutic DNA Vaccine Delivered by Inovio Biomedical's Electroporation Technology Reduces Viral Load by Up to 99.7%

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

Antivirals Combined Without Interferon: New Trial

Three companies unite to begin an innovative Hepatitis C trial, where two oral antiviral drugs will be combined in the absence of interferon.

Pharmasset Announces Initiation of Hepatitis Antiviral Combination Study

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Pharmasset, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, Roche and InterMune, a biotechnology company, have announced that the first patients have been dosed in an innovative clinical trial in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus.

The trial is said to be the first to investigate the combination of two oral antiviral molecules in the absence of interferon. The initial study will evaluate the safety and combined antiviral activity of R7227 (ITMN-191), a protease inhibitor, and R7128, a polymerase inhibitor, in 14 days of combination therapy in treatment-naive patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1.

This direct antiviral combination study represents an important first step in evaluating the therapeutic potential of an all-oral, interferon-free combination treatment for HCV, the three companies said.

Dan Welch, chairman, CEO and president of InterMune, said: "The goal is to develop a treatment regimen that is better tolerated, shorter in duration and delivers higher sustained viral response rates. We are pleased to participate in the first clinical exploration of an all-oral, direct antiviral regimen towards that goal."

Source: Datamonitor

---

URL for Article Source:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1599470/pharmasset_announces_
initiation_of_hepatitis_antiviral_combination_study/

FDA Approves Roche's Hep C Viral Load Measurements Test

Roche's COBAS® AmpliPrep / COBAS® TaqMan® Test brings improved ease, speed and accuracy to Hepatitis C viral load measurements, and was just approved by the FDA.

Roche Receives FDA Approval for Hepatitis C Viral Load Test on Its Fully Automated Real-Time PCR Platform

Improved laboratory efficiencies and standardization to personalize patient care

PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Roche Molecular Diagnostics today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the COBAS(R) AmpliPrep / COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HCV Test for use in the United States. The test uses Roche's proprietary real-time PCR technology to quantify the amount of Hepatitis C RNA in a patient's blood. Physicians use Hepatitis C viral load testing results to establish a baseline level of hepatitis C infection and to serially monitor viral load levels and treatment effectiveness in patients on therapy.

"This new Roche test enables laboratories to deliver reliable healthcare information with ease and allows physicians to more efficiently monitor their patients and improve treatment outcomes," said Daniel O'Day, President and CEO of Roche Molecular Diagnostics. "We are pleased to offer this new solution for laboratories and physicians to optimize their turnaround time, workflow and patient care with simultaneous processing of HIV and HCV patient samples."

The new test offers a broad dynamic range from high levels of virus in a patients blood to the "undetectable" low levels of viremia -- the goal of therapy. To ensure accurate quantification, the test has been calibrated to World Health Organization (WHO) traceable standards and can detect down to 18 IU/mL with 100% certainty. In a 1,281 patient clinical trial, the COBAS(R) AmpliPrep / COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HCV Test confirmed the importance of viral load testing to personalize Hepatitis C patient care by accurately predicting treatment response, from onset of therapy through end of treatment.

About the COBAS(R) AmpliPrep/COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) System
The COBAS(R) AmpliPrep / COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HCV Viral Load Test is designed for use on the first fully automated, FDA approved, real-time PCR platform, providing sample-in/results-out capability. The platform is flexible and customizable to meet the space and workflow needs of any laboratory. In the United States, more than 130 laboratories already utilize this fully automated platform for HIV testing.

The COBAS(R) AmpliPrep / COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HCV Test is the third Roche COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) real-time PCR test approved by the FDA in the last eighteen months. The COBAS(R) AmpliPrep / COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) System menu includes an FDA approved HIV viral load test, with continuous loading of samples in addition to parallel processing of HIV and HCV tests. In September 2008, Roche received FDA approval of the COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HBV Test to monitor Hepatitis B viral load in patients on therapy.

About Hepatitis C
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the U.S. approximately 8,000-10,000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver disease.

An estimated 3.2 million persons in the United States have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Most people do not know they are infected because they don't look or feel sick. However, approximately 75%-85% of people who become infected with hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection. (1)

Hepatitis C infections can range in severity from a mild or "acute" illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong or "chronic" illness. For most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C infection is a serious disease that can result in long-term health problems, including liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, or even death. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation in the United States.

Hepatitis C virus is passed from person to person when infected blood enters the body of someone who is not infected. Different ways people can be infected with the hepatitis C virus include sharing contaminated needles, high risk sex with an infected partner, and from an infected mother to her infant during pregnancy and childbirth.

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology. It is also active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory and metabolic disorders and diseases of the central nervous system. In 2007 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totaled 36.8 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 9.3 billion francs. Roche has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai, and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D in 2007. Worldwide, the Group employs about 80,000 people. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.roche.com.
All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected by law.

(1) U.S. Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov

For further information please contact:

Jessica E. Brillant
Molecular Diagnostics Communications
925.730.8503

Melinda Baker
Molecular Diagnostics Communications
925.730.8379

SOURCE Roche Molecular Diagnostics: http://www.roche.com

---

URL for Article Source:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Roche-Receives-
FDA-Approval-Hepatitis/story.aspx?guid=%7B2AC1DC1E-3AA3-41FF-
9252-1ECE7CF35FB9%7D

New Drug Finds Viral Hiding Spots

A new, experimental drug helps the immune system locate a virus by flagging cells that have turned inside out. Hepatitis C is among the viruses that could benefit from Bavituximab's unique strategy of exposing a virus in hiding.

Inside-out cells offer target for antiviral drugs

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - An experimental drug cured guinea pigs infected with a fatal hemorrhagic fever virus, raising hope for its use in a broad range of viral diseases including influenza, hepatitis C, HIV, Ebola and others, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.

"This is a whole new strategy for making antiviral drugs," said Dr. Philip Thorpe, professor of pharmacology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, whose research appears in the journal Nature Medicine.

Instead of attacking the virus directly, bavituximab, made by Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc (PPHM.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), takes advantage of a defense mechanism used by the virus to hide from the immune system, Thorpe said.

When cells are under attack by a virus, this stress causes a fat molecule called phosphatidylserine, which normally lines the inside of the cell, to flip to the outside. "It's like wearing your clothes inside out," Thorpe, a scientific adviser to Peregrine, said in a telephone interview.

Bavituximab, a genetically engineered antibody, seeks out and attaches itself to these turncoat cells, flagging them for the immune system, which can then mount an attack,

"When injected into the bloodstream, bavituximab circulates in the body until it finds these inside-out lipids and then binds to them," Thorpe said in a statement.

"In the case of virus infection, the binding raises a red flag to the body's immune system, forcing the deployment of defensive white blood cells to attack the infected cells."

Thorpe said conventional antiviral drugs try to exploit some property of the virus, but these drugs are often quickly defeated as the virus mutates.

By targeting an aspect of infected cells in the host, he thinks bavituximab is less likely to lose effectiveness, which commonly happens when a virus mutates.

In the study, Thorpe and his colleagues tested the compound on guinea pigs in an advanced stage of infection with a form of the Lassa fever virus, a disease that affects parts of West Africa.

Half of the animals treated with the drug alone were cured. When the researchers tested it in combination with the antiviral drug ribavirin, a drug that keeps a virus from replicating, 63 percent of the guinea pigs lived.

Thorpe said the findings suggest the drug might be effective on other types of hemorrhagic viruses, such as Ebola and Marburg. But this lipid flipping also occurs in cells infected with many other viral infections, including influenza, smallpox and rabies.

Peregrine is conducting early phase clinical trials of the drug in people with hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, which causes AIDS. And it has more advanced trials under way in cancer.

"We think it has tremendous potential," Steven King, president and chief executive of Peregrine, said in a telephone interview. Peregrine funded the research along with the National Institutes of Health. (Editing by Will Dunham and Todd Eastham)

© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved

URL for Article Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2149745020081123

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis is a serious liver disease that spreads easily and can be difficult to detect. Fortunately, there are vaccines available for hepatitis A and B and there are effective treatments available for hepatitis C. By educating ourselves about the risks and symptoms, we can work to reduce the number of infectedIndians

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection of the liver that was first identified only
in 1989. Few people realise that they are infected as the symptoms are non-specific (such as fatigue) and people tend to become aware when their disease is quite advanced. Transmission by blood products has been reduced to almost zero due to screening for the virus so today the most common route of transmission is use of unsterilised needles (such as those used in tattooing and
by intravenous drug users) and syringes.

Hepatitis C is the most infectious virus having 50 per cent chronicity and is responsible for large number of patients affected with cirrhosis. If not treated early may require liver transplant or may further develop to liver cancer.

If 100 people became infected with hepatitis C, approximately 25 people would be able to clear the virus without any medication within six months of being infected. The majority, however (the other 75 people), would develop ongoing (called "chronic") infection that will require medication to help get rid of it. Some people will unfortunately not know they are infected and will develop damage to their liver before the infection is diagnosed. Untreated, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer and some may require a liver transplant

As is the case with many other diseases, our first line of defense is prevention. Since many individuals may not know that they are carrying the disease, it is important that each of us take precautions to avoid spreading viruses. By washing our hands, fully cooking food and avoiding possibly contaminated water, we can protect ourselves and others against exposure.

For those who feel they may have become infected, it is important that they be checked as soon as possible. There are many treatments for hepatitis, but the effects of the disease can be permanently damaging if not treated early. While it is important to vaccinate newborns, adults who have not been vaccinated in a number of years may also need to receive vaccinations.

Hepatitis can affect all segments of society, regardless of age, sex, race or class, and I encourage all Indians to take action to prevent spreading this disease.

Hepatitis Awareness Month

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The liver is the largest gland in the body, located in the right, upper belly. The liver is a vital organ that produces many of the proteins of the body that are necessary for life.

Many illnesses and conditions can cause liver inflammation, such as virus and bacteria infections, drugs, alcohol, chemicals, and autoimmune diseases. When medical professionals speak of hepatitis, they are usually referring to liver inflammation caused by viruses. These specific hepatitis viruses have been labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, (not confirmed) and G. (As our knowledge of new viruses grows, it is likely this alphabetical list will become more lengthy.) While some viruses, such as mononucleosis and cytomegalovirus, can also cause liver inflammation, they do not primarily attack the liver.

What are the functions of the liver?

• The liver helps purify the blood by changing harmful chemicals into harmless substances. The source of these chemicals can be external, such as medications or alcohol, or internal, such as ammonia or bilirubin. Typically, these harmful substances are broken down into smaller substances that are excreted from the body into the urine or stool.



• The liver produces many important compounds, especially proteins, that are necessary for health. It produces albumin, the building block protein of the body, as well as the proteins that help blood to clot properly. The liver stores many of the sugars, fats and vitamins until they are needed elsewhere in the body.

The liver transforms smaller building block type substances into larger more complicated compounds needed elsewhere in the body. One of these types of functions is the building up and breaking down of cholesterol. When the liver is inflamed, it does not perform these functions for the body as efficiently, which brings about many of the symptoms associated with hepatitis.

For important information about hepatitis, please visit the following MedicineNet.com areas:

• Hepatitis B Center
• Hepatitis C Center
• Viral Hepatitis Center
• Hepatitis A and B Immunizations Center
• Immunizations (Vaccinations) Center

3-year-old’s rare liver disorder cured

Doctors from the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi have cured a three year old girl from a rare disease which prevented her from leading a normal life.

Fatima suffered from Crigler Najjar Syndrome (CNS), a rare and fatal liver disease.

Her only means of staying alive was phototherapy. Undressed she would be exposed to specific wavelengths oflight for 10-16 hours a day, every day.

Dr Subhash Gupta (liver transplant expert) and Dr Anupam Sibal (paediatrician) transplanted a part of Fatima’s father’s liver. That has brought the bilirubin level to normal heights.

“Very high levels of bilirubin can cause permanent brain damage. The main therapy for patients with this disease is phototherapy. Greater the surface area of the body that is exposed to light and greater the intensity of light falling on the skin, higher is the efficacy of phototherapy.

Fatima was living in agony, spending 10 to 14 hours every day under phototherapy since birth. This was severely restricting her lifestyle. Even travelling and vacations were a great problem.

Since the defect was with the liver, we decided to transplant part of the healthy liver of Fatima’s father into her. She will not require any more phototherapy. She will only have to be on medicines all her life, the dosages of which will lessen as she ages.

Both Fatima and her father are doing well. Her eyes and skin are no more yellow in colour.”
– Dr Gupta

Cured, Fatima has returned to her family in the Middle East and can start a normal life.

Via: http://www.goodnewsblog.com

High success rate for liver transplants at Delhi's Apollo

New Delhi: She came to Delhi from a Middle Eastern country with a rare disease and little hope of surviving. Three weeks later, this three-year-old girl left India with new hopes in her eyes, which had dramatically turned white from the deep yellow she was born with, fully cured and assured of living a normal life.

The girl, whose identity is being held back on family request, was born with a liver disorder leading to an enzyme deficiency.

According to Dr Anupam Sibal, medical director of Delhi's Apollo Hospital, the crigler najjar syndrome is found only in one child out of 0.162 million and if left untreated can even lead to death.

"She was in a very serious condition when she came to us," said Dr Sibal.

As it turned out, the problem was genetic. Three cousins from her mother's side had already died from this disease.

The only treatment in this case is a liver transplant. Her father was a willing donor since under the law only a family member can be a donor in cases of liver transplant.

Two teams of doctors, led by Dr Subhash Gupta carried out a difficult operation lasting over 12 hours to ensure this child could lead a normal life.

Delhi's Apollo Hospital has emerged as one of the most successful centres for liver transplant operations due to its high success rate which stands at 90 per cent and 100 per cent in cases of transplants done on children as well as being the most cost effective.

Compared to UK where a similar operation costs $150,000 (Dh551,000) and in US where it costs $300,000, the family had to pay the hospital less than $50,000. Apollo has undertaken 120 such operations in the past 18 months including 13 children, who have all returned home fully recovered.

"All liver transplant surgeries are rare considering there are just about 30-40 centres across the world which do about 100 transplants each every year," said Dr Gupta.

He took out 20 per cent of of her father's liver, although in some cases up to 60 per cent liver is taken out from the donor's body. Donor's liver grows back to its normal size within two weeks. The donor's liver was attached to the child's liver and all the tiny vessels were joined under a microscope, said D Gupta, adding that a few years ago such an operation was unimaginable.

Apollo Hospital has become as the most chosen for all liver transplants and at present five patients from the Middle East, including one from Dubai, are undergoing treatment here.

"She was unable to walk when she came to us. She had deep yellow eyes due to liver malfunction. By the time she left, she was able to walk and her parents had never seen her like before", Dr Sibal said.
Via: http://www.gulfnews.com/world/India

Sonia Gandhi arranges for Pakistani boy’s liver transplant

New Delhi, November 19, 2008

Dr Subhash Gupta gives new life to another pakistani child.

Mobeen Ahmad lives in Lahore and is in on his first visit to Delhi. He loved the Red Fort, almost as much as cricket, which he is happy he can continue playing.

The 14-year-old nearly died of cirrhosis of the liver last month. A liver transplant was his only hope, and a transplant in Delhi’s Apollo Hospital helped him live.

After doctors in Pakistan had given up all hopes of his survival, his father Iftikar Ahmad approached Indian Congress President Sonia Gandhi for help.

“For a cook with a meagre income and 10 mouths to feed, raising 15 lakhs for surgery was impossible. Through a newspaper advertisement, the grievance cell raised money for the boys’ treatment,” said Archana Dalmia, head of Sonia Gandhi grievance cell.

Doctors at Apollo Hospital helped by waiving their fee, bringing down the treatment cost.

“When we first saw the boy, he had a bloated belly, yellow eyes, stunted growth and swollen nails. His liver was completely damaged and he had severe malnourishment. Before operating on him, it was imperative to restore his energy levels,” said Anupam Sibal, paediatric gastroentologist at Apollo.

A team led by liver transplant surgeon Dr Subhash Gupta did the surgery on October 21. His elder brother Bismil, 20, donated 40 per cent of his liver for the transplant. “Both the boys have recovered well and are ready to travel,” said Sibal.

Iftikar cannot contain his joy. “I have seen my boy sick since birth. Thanks to Srimati Gandhi who paid for the surgery and our travel costs, my son can realize his dreams of becoming a cricketer,” he said.

Via: http://www.hindustantimes.com