<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><link>http://www.healio.com/rss</link><copyright>(c) 2015, Slack Incorporated. All rights reserved.</copyright><updated>2/14/2015 9:29:51 AM</updated><ttl>5</ttl><title>Healio.com HEPATOLOGY RSS Feed</title><description>The latest news and articles from the Healio.com, leading publication on the web.</description><item><title>White-test helps to reduce incidence of biliary leakage after hepatic resection</title><description>The use of the White-test reduced biliary leakage after liver resection, according to study findings published in Annals of Hepatology. “The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis of White-test application during hepatic surgery to detect biliary leakage and thus reduce the incidence of post-hepatectomy biliary leakage are relevant for a better outcome in hepatobiliary surgery,” the researchers wrote. “Biliary leakage, with reported rate of up to 30% after major hepatectomy, special indications or complicated segmentectomies and atypical resections is one of the major contributor to morbidity in hepatobiliary surgery.” </description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/practice-management/news/online/{e864d799-3e83-4cf5-bc90-bf0d67f8860c}/white-test-helps-to-reduce-incidence-of-biliary-leakage-after-hepatic-resection</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 14:13:55 GMT</pubDate><guid>{E864D799-3E83-4CF5-BC90-BF0D67F8860C}</guid></item><item><title>Depression not linked to insulin resistance in patients with diabetes, HCV</title><description>Depression was not associated with peripheral insulin resistance among a cohort of patients with diabetes and hepatitis C virus infection, according to a study data published in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis.Researchers enrolled 74 patients with diabetes (non-type 2) and HCV (mean age, 48 years) in the cross-sectional study and evaluated data after extensive comprehensive, clinical, histologic and metabolic testing to determine whether insulin resistance was associated with depression. Insulin was appraised through an insulin resistance test that measured steady-state plasma glucose and logistic regression analyses was used to evaluate predictors associated with depression, according to the research. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/{d4c30b26-047b-4dec-a22c-b58b2dd01568}/depression-not-linked-to-insulin-resistance-in-patients-with-diabetes-hcv</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 09:42:03 GMT</pubDate><guid>{D4C30B26-047B-4DEC-A22C-B58B2DD01568}</guid></item><item><title>Positive delivery of health messages more effective among general public</title><description>Knowing how an audience thinks can help health care practitioners predict when health messages will gain adherence and compliance among the general public, according to a study published in Nutrition Reviews. Brian Wansink and Lizzy Pope of the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Mathematics at Cornell University said positive, gain-framed messages describing the benefits of a decision may work better than loss-framed messages that tell people they have something to lose.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/internal-medicine/practice-management/news/online/{78e69aab-161f-4021-83b7-17ef21218e45}/positive-delivery-of-health-messages-more-effective-among-general-public</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{78E69AAB-161F-4021-83B7-17EF21218E45}</guid></item><item><title>AbbVie submits NDA in Japan for DAA regimen for HCV</title><description>AbbVie has submitted a new drug application to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to approve its two direct-acting antiviral regimen of paritaprevir/ritonavir with ombitasvir to treat hepatitis C virus infection genotype 1, according to a press release from the manufacturer.The investigational two direct-acting antiviral treatment, which is ribavirin- and interferon-free, consists of a fixed-dose combination of 150 mg of paritaprevir and 100 mg of ritonavir with 25 mg of ombitasvir (AbbVie), dosed once daily, according to the release.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/{126850a2-7b7d-41ed-9780-32dbb4b984f3}/abbvie-submits-nda-in-japan-for-daa-regimen-for-hcv</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 15:38:06 GMT</pubDate><guid>{126850A2-7B7D-41ED-9780-32DBB4B984F3}</guid></item><item><title>Radiotherapy effective for spinal metastases from HCC</title><description>Radiotherapy was effective in palliation for treating spinal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma, according to study data from a retrospective analysis. Researchers analyzed data from 192 patients with HCC who underwent palliative radiotherapy at Severance Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, between April 1992 and February 2012. The goal was to determine any factors that predicted survival in these patients after palliative radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 4.2 months. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/oncology/news/online/{340329ad-8b4c-4d9c-a946-0a1deee17fb6}/radiotherapy-effective-for-spinal-metastases-from-hcc</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 11:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{340329AD-8B4C-4D9C-A946-0A1DEEE17FB6}</guid></item><item><title>Children's Hospital at Montefiore opens pediatric NAFLD unit</title><description>The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore has opened a clinical site to treat children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a press release from the medical center. “Fatty liver disease has traditionally been thought of as an adult problem, but we have seen children as young as 4 years old with fat on their livers,” Bryan Rudolph, MD, attending physician, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and assistant professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said in the release. “Parents need to know that children are also susceptible to obesity-related complications such as fatty liver disease.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/autoimmune-cholestatic-biliary-diseases/news/online/{3e6bd5c7-2be8-4873-9862-ba73616583c1}/childrens-hospital-at-montefiore-opens-pediatric-nafld-unit</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:07:56 GMT</pubDate><guid>{3E6BD5C7-2BE8-4873-9862-BA73616583C1}</guid></item><item><title>FDA rescinds breakthrough therapy designation for daclatasvir</title><description>The FDA has rescinded breakthrough therapy designation status from Bristol-Myers Squibb for daclatasvir for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, according to a statement from the manufacturer.“The FDA has informed Bristol-Myers Squibb that, due to the evolving HCV treatment landscape, the agency intends to rescind the breakthrough therapy designation for certain genotype 1 hepatitis C regimens related to daclatasvir,” the statement from Bristol-Myers Squibb said. “This will not impact our current submission/resubmission timetable of the new drug application for daclatasvir in combination with other antiviral agents for the treatment of hepatitis C.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/{7763c466-0dd1-4960-90a0-5c69cc96d996}/fda-rescinds-breakthrough-therapy-designation-for-daclatasvir</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:56:08 GMT</pubDate><guid>{7763C466-0DD1-4960-90A0-5C69CC96D996}</guid></item><item><title>Substance abuse, comorbidities affect black patients' eligibility for HCV treatment</title><description>Medical comorbidities and active or recent substance abuse were independent factors of ineligibility for treatment in black patients with hepatitis C virus, according to study data. “Safety net populations suffer disproportionately from health disparities. … In the San Francisco safety net liver specialty clinic, only 8% of African American patients with chronic HCV received treatment compared to 26% of non-African Americans over a 4-year period,” the researchers wrote. “The aim of this study was to evaluate reasons for HCV non-treatment, as well as factors associated with treatment ineligibility, in the underserved population of African Americans within the San Francisco safety net health care system.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/{2f0f762f-70e1-4714-a614-135ba3da29d3}/substance-abuse-comorbidities-affect-black-patients-eligibility-for-hcv-treatment</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:37:13 GMT</pubDate><guid>{2F0F762F-70E1-4714-A614-135BA3DA29D3}</guid></item><item><title>Portal vein thrombosis did not influence liver disease progression in cirrhosis</title><description>Portal vein thrombosis that developed in patients with cirrhosis did not lead to progression of liver disease, according to study data. Researchers analyzed data from 1,243 adults with cirrhosis (863 with Child’s A, 380 with Child’s B) without portal vein thrombosis (PVT) enrolled in various liver units throughout France and Belgium between June 2000 and March 2006. Patients underwent ultrasound screening for hepatocellular carcinoma to determine any risk factors for PVT. Follow-up was 47 months. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/portal-hypertension/news/online/{6d0f6da5-110c-48e7-a8ba-5af2df3491a2}/portal-vein-thrombosis-did-not-influence-liver-disease-progression-in-cirrhosis</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:59:30 GMT</pubDate><guid>{6D0F6DA5-110C-48E7-A8BA-5AF2DF3491A2}</guid></item><item><title>GI experts offer recommendations for Cellvizio</title><description>Cellvizio, a probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy system, should be routinely implemented to improve diagnostic evaluation and management strategies for Barrett’s esophagus, biliary strictures, colorectal lesions and inflammatory bowel diseases, and training practices should be standardized, according to consensus recommendations written by international experts. Cellvizio (Mauna Kea Technologies) “has taken a very important role in the evaluation of a growing number of gastrointestinal pathologies,” Jean-Paul Galmiche, MD, from the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at University Hospital in Nantes, France, said in a press release. “In order to standardize its use around the world, it was necessary to start developing a first set of recommendations for some key indications of the technology.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/interventional-endoscopy/news/online/{9a0025b7-2d2d-479e-a81e-298c55e6b0e4}/gi-experts-offer-recommendations-for-cellvizio</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:53:56 GMT</pubDate><guid>{9A0025B7-2D2D-479E-A81E-298C55E6B0E4}</guid></item><item><title>Kidney rejection apparent in SLK recipients</title><description>Kidney rejection was common and not immune to the liver among patients who underwent simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation, or SLK, according to study data published in the Journal of Hepatology.  “The assumption that the liver graft automatically confers full protection immunity toward other grafts is now well supported by literature,” the researchers wrote. “Clarity on the incidence, types and impact of rejection in SLK are needed, given the increasing number of kidneys being utilized for SLK. As our institution is located in a high MELD region and performs a significant number of SLK procedures, we had the ability to report these SLK outcomes and test these assumptions.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/transplantation/news/online/{cb0bd881-5546-464a-aef1-f5b6a84d33bb}/kidney-rejection-apparent-in-slk-recipients</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2015 10:43:31 GMT</pubDate><guid>{CB0BD881-5546-464A-AEF1-F5B6A84D33BB}</guid></item><item><title>ACH-3102/sofosbuvir yielded high SVR rates in patients with HCV</title><description>In an ongoing, phase 2 clinical trial, 100% of patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection achieved a sustained virologic response after 6 weeks when treated with a combination regimen of ACH-3102, a NS5A inhibitor, and sofosbuvir, according to a press release from the drug maker. “The profile of ACH-3102 represents an important and exciting treatment option to shorten treatment duration for patients infected with HCV,” investigator Edward Gane, MD, and deputy director and hepatologist at the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit of Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand, said in the release.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/{0092c2ac-4a89-4c9d-965c-97346bb71832}/ach-3102sofosbuvir-yielded-high-svr-rates-in-patients-with-hcv</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:37:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{0092C2AC-4A89-4C9D-965C-97346BB71832}</guid></item><item><title>RG-101 monotherapy reduced viral loads in patients with HCV</title><description>Many treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus infection had reduced mean viral loads after monotherapy with RG-101, an anti-miR targeting miR-122, for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, according to a press release. RG-101 (Regulus Therapeutics) was given in a single dose of 4 mg/kg to 14 patients with HCV; 12 treatment-naive and two who experienced relapse after previous treatment. Two other patients received placebo. By day 29, all 14 patients showed a mean viral load reduction of 4.8 log₁₀ (range –5.8 to –3). After 57 days, nine of 14 patients had HCV RNA levels below the limit of quantification, according to the release.  </description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/{c56d1319-e2a8-42d5-ae9b-003057d138e6}/rg-101-monotherapy-reduced-viral-loads-in-patients-with-hcv</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2015 11:26:29 GMT</pubDate><guid>{C56D1319-E2A8-42D5-AE9B-003057D138E6}</guid></item><item><title>Childhood dietary intervention prevented metabolic syndrome in adolescence</title><description>Ongoing dietary counseling aimed at reducing saturated fats during infancy and early childhood was effective against the development of metabolic syndrome in adolescence.Researchers for the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project conducted a longitudinal, prospective, randomized atherosclerosis-prevention trial that included the families of 1,062 healthy infants seen at clinics in Turku, Finland, from February 1990 to June 1992. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/cardiology/pediatric-cardiology/news/online/{6355e73e-c3f7-4fbe-a4d0-0cdb6417f84e}/childhood-dietary-intervention-prevented-metabolic-syndrome-in-adolescence</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:54:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{6355E73E-C3F7-4FBE-A4D0-0CDB6417F84E}</guid></item><item><title>Routine screening for HBV should be standard practice, experts say</title><description>In the light of an FDA boxed warning for reactivation of hepatitis B virus with two drugs, researchers reviewed studies and suggested the problem is larger than those two drugs or their classes of immunosuppressant or chemotherapy medications. They recommended routine screening for HBV in patients set to receive any medications in question.“While the FDA urged clinicians to screen patients for HBV prior to starting treatments with ofatumumab and rituximab to prevent the reoccurrence of the virus, this may be just the tip of the iceberg,” Adrian Di Bisceglie, MD, from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Our research suggests that the issue of HBV reactivation may be an under-appreciated clinical challenge that extends well beyond the use of just two anti-CD20 medications.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/chronic-hepatitis/news/online/{1d9c272b-ff9f-4af6-91fa-92943c4c4c60}/routine-screening-for-hbv-should-be-standard-practice-experts-say</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2015 15:53:10 GMT</pubDate><guid>{1D9C272B-FF9F-4AF6-91FA-92943C4C4C60}</guid></item><item><title>Medicare Administrative Contractor issues proposed co-management guidelines</title><description>In September 2014, Novitas Solutions, a Medicare Administrative Contractor, issued a Proposed/Draft Local Coverage Determination for Co-management of Surgical Procedures (DL27481). The LCD specifically noted the following:This policy addresses the indications and limitations of the co-management of surgical procedures that have a 10-day or 90-day global care period. It also provides guidelines for proper documentation. Management of the surgical procedures is the primary responsibility of the operating surgeon.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/cardiology/practice-management/news/online/{b97cf430-b826-4baa-a546-ff1f7cf223ac}/medicare-administrative-contractor-issues-proposed-co-management-guidelines</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2015 09:50:14 GMT</pubDate><guid>{B97CF430-B826-4BAA-A546-FF1F7CF223AC}</guid></item><item><title>FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg resigns</title><description>Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, resigned this week after six years as FDA Commissioner, an agency spokesperson confirmed with Healio. Stephen M. Ostroff, MD, has been appointed acting commissioner, according to a letter penned by Hamburg to FDA employees.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/psychiatry/practice-management/news/online/{378e76cd-c871-49e7-85d1-38c6cc1a95fc}/fda-commissioner-margaret-hamburg-resigns</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2015 14:06:11 GMT</pubDate><guid>{378E76CD-C871-49E7-85D1-38C6CC1A95FC}</guid></item><item><title>Magnitude MRI accurate biomarker for liver PDFF, steatosis in children with NAFLD</title><description>In the MRI Rosetta Stone Project, the use of magnitude-based MRI accurately measured liver proton density fat fraction, or PDFF, and steatosis grade in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to study results recently published in Hepatology. “Currently, diagnosis of NAFLD requires a liver biopsy, which is not always available or performed,” researcher Jeffrey B. Schwimmer, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics at University of California, San Diego Medical Center, and director of the Fatty Liver Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, said in a press release. “This leads to both misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses, hampering patient care and progress in clinical research. Thus, a noninvasive method for diagnosing and/or evaluating NAFLD has the potential to impact millions of children.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/autoimmune-cholestatic-biliary-diseases/news/online/{b9399334-4e2b-4761-a252-507dba879be3}/magnitude-mri-accurate-biomarker-for-liver-pdff-steatosis-in-children-with-nafld</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:15:41 GMT</pubDate><guid>{B9399334-4E2B-4761-A252-507DBA879BE3}</guid></item><item><title>Chimerix receives extended patent life for potential HBV analog</title><description>Chimerix Inc., a licensing partner of ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for an extended patent life on its “Nucleoside Phosphonate Salts” patent, which includes CMX157, an analog intended for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection, according to a press release.    CMX157 is a novel lipid acyclic nucleoside phosphonate that delivers high intracellular concentrations of Viread (tenofovir diphosphate, ContraVir), an antiviral agent, currently being developed for the treatment of HBV. It decreases levels of tenofovir, lowering systemic exposure and reduces the potential for renal side effects, according to the ContraVir website. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/chronic-hepatitis/news/online/{cc364d5b-ce26-495e-bfff-ab2ee09eae27}/chimerix-receives-extended-patent-life-for-potential-hbv-analog</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2015 09:35:59 GMT</pubDate><guid>{CC364D5B-CE26-495E-BFFF-AB2EE09EAE27}</guid></item><item><title>Medicaid reimbursements under ACA improved appointment availability</title><description>Increases in Medicaid reimbursement offered to primary care providers under the Affordable Care Act improved appointment availability for Medicaid recipients without increasing wait times, according to recent findings. “Lower payments have been cited as a critical barrier to access for primary care among Medicaid enrollees and are associated with lower provider availability for Medicaid patients,” researcher Daniel Polsky, PhD, executive director of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/pediatrics/practice-management/news/online/{fd90d791-d91a-49e4-861e-1e428f63c8b7}/medicaid-reimbursements-under-aca-improved-appointment-availability</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:15:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{FD90D791-D91A-49E4-861E-1E428F63C8B7}</guid></item></channel></rss>