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| 2008 Colorado Viral Hepatitis Conference
When: May 6th & 7th
Where: Denver (Holiday Inn Select, 455 South Colorado Boulevard)
Why: Increase knowledge about hepatitis C and other forms of viral hepatitis to best serve your infected or at-risk patients and clients
To Get more information contact:
Laura Ginnett at 720-917-3960 or via email at
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Colorado Hepatitis C Support Groups
(For individuals infected with hepatitis C and family members affected by hepatitis C.
Free and confidential. New members always welcome.)
Metro-Denver
Aurora - 900 Potomac, 1st Floor Staff Cafeteria ~ 1st Tues. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Consuelo (303) 367-2813
Englewood - 1000 Englewood Parkway ~ 4th Tues. ~ 7-8:30 p.m. ~ Jena` (303) 239-0336
Lakewood - 11500 W. 20th ~ 2nd Tues. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Betsy (303) 237-1150
HIV/HCV Co-Infection - 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., B-302 ~ 3rd Tues. ~ 5-6:30 p.m. ~ Jena` (303) 239-0336
VA (VA Patients Only) - 1055 Clemont, Room 2E-104 ~ 2nd Wed. ~ 12:30-1:30 p.m. ~ Jena` (303) 239-0336
Statewide
Boulder - 3303 N. Broadway, North Building ~ 2nd Wed. ~ 6-7:30 p.m. ~ Carrie (303) 678-6157
CO Springs - 825 E. Pikes Peak, 5th Floor Dining Room ~ 3rd Thurs. ~ 7-8:30 p.m. ~ David (719) 236-1416
Fort Collins - 2809 E. Harmony, 3rd Floor ~ Last Wed. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Jerry (970) 214-2912
Grand Junction - 510 29½ Road, Room 1060 ~ 1st Wed. ~ 5:15-6:45 p.m.
Pueblo - 3676 Parker Blvd., 2nd Floor Conf. Room ~ Last Mon. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Roni (719) 553-1862 |
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Greetings!
We hope you find this month's Hep C Connection newsletter very interesting! May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month. Join us in recognizing Hepatitis Awareness by entering the National Viral Hepatitis Poster Contest. Please read more about contest categories in the poster contest section of our newsletter. The deadline is April 18th. Additionally, the 2008 Colorado Viral Hepatitis Conference scheduled May 6th and 7th is quickly approaching. The cost is $25.00 to attend one day or $35.00 to attend both days. You will find the conference to be educational and it's a great opportunity to meet new folks. Please read more in the Viral Hepatitis Conference section of this months edition.
To comment or contribute interesting news and information about hepatitis, please send us a note at info@hepc-connection.org. The deadline for news postings is April 18th. We want to hear from you! |
| Doctors & Science |
| Hepatitis C Treatments in Current Clinical Development.
There are many compounds being studied to treat hepatitis C. A number of compounds for these targets are in early "test-tube" development or pre-clinical "animal" development phases. Most of these compounds, however, will never make it to trials in humans (clinical studies). In fact, only one in 1,000 compounds makes it to human testing. Of those drugs that make it to human testing only 1 in 5 will receive FDA marketing approval. Therefore, every effort has been made to focus this list only on treatments that are known to be in current or very near to active clinical development in human subjects. Click here to read the full article. |
| Doctors & Science 2 |
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Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis All May Promote Liver Disease Pogression in People with Chronic Hepatitis C
HIV and Hepatitis.com: e-NEWSLETTER
By Liz Highleyman
An estimated 25% or so of people with chronic hepatitis C go on to develop severe outcomes such as liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Numerous host, viral, and environmental factors contribute to this variable rate of disease progression, not all of which are fully understood.
In the April 2008 Journal of Hepatology, 3 hepatology experts reviewed environmental factors associated with accelerated liver fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C patients. They noted than these factors have been investigated in order to improve clinical outcomes, especially for "difficult-to-treat" patients who tend to respond poorly to interferon-based therapy.
Over the past decade, the authors wrote, "several studies have shown that a combination of HCV infection and high levels of alcohol abuse results in synergistic acceleration of liver fibrogenesis." In addition, they added, more recent data indicate that even light alcohol consumption may also worsen fibrosis progression.
Some studies have suggested that tobacco smoking may enhance histological activity in chronic hepatitis C patients, thereby promoting fibrosis progression, although this has been less extensively studied than alcohol. One recent study suggested that enhanced fibrosis associated with cigarette smoking may be due to cytokine changes triggered by low oxygen levels.
Finally, the authors continued, cannabis use is increasingly emerging as a novel factor linked to liver disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C. As previously reported, studies by co-author Christophe Hezode have shown that regular cannabis smoking is an independent predictor of both fibrosis and steatosis severity in HCV-infected patients.
In addition, they added, "experimental studies have shown that cannabinoid CB1 receptors enhance liver fibrogenesis and steatogenesis by distinct mechanisms, therefore strongly supporting epidemiological findings."
In conclusion, the authors wrote, "[P]atients should be informed of the deleterious impact of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use, and should be offered appropriate support to achieve abstinence."
Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, INSERM U841, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor-Albert Chenevier, Créteil F-94000, France; AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor-Albert Chenevier, Service d'Hépatologie et de Gastroentérologie, Créteil F-94000, France; Université Paris 12, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil F-94000, France.
3/28/08
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| Upcoming Viral Hepatitis Conference |
May 6th and 7th Hep C Connection will recognize world Hepatitis month with an educational conference
The 2008 Colorado Viral Hepatitis Conference is quickly approaching and promises to be a wonderful educational experience. The conference is on May 6th and 7th at the Holiday Inn Select in Denver. This two-day event is geared toward individuals that work with people that are infected, or at risk for infection of hepatitis C, but anybody is welcome to attend. The conference will feature presentations on new treatment and research, nutrition, mental health issues, co-infection with HIV, federal programs, state resources, and many, many more. The best part is that the cost of the conference is extremely reasonable - $25.00 to attend one day, $35.00 to attend both, and food is provided! If you have any questions or would like to receive registration information, please contact Laura Ginnett at (720) 917-3960 or lginnett@hepc-connection.org. We hope to see you there! |
| Yuk! Yuk! Yuk! with Kevin FitzgeraldArticle Headline |
On March 26th, Hep C Connection was pleased to have Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald perform at Yuk! Yuk! Yuk! Over one-hundred people went to Jazz @ Jack's in downtown Denver to hear hilarious comedy while supporting Hep C Connection. Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald even entertained the crowd with a tap dance to end the evening. Also there was a great silent auction which further raised money for our programs and services. We would like to thank all that attended, Dr. Fitzgerald, and event co-chairs Michael and Jennifer Hofmann.
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| Meet Hep C Connection's Staff Member |
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New Staff
Stewart Thomas
Hello, please let me take this opportunity to introduce myself to you! My name is Stewart Thomas, the new Medical and Marketing Liaison. I am very excited to join the team, volunteers and supporters of Hep C Connection! I have many years of experience working in community health, primarily with non-profits, and most recently with public health providing services to persons challenged both physically and emotionally as a result of HIV infection. My passion has been to work with persons, at the initial time of their diagnosis, to comprehend and embrace factors that enable personal growth to continue and to achieve individual goals. I have worked with the Denver HIV/STD Prevention Program at Denver Public Health coordinating social marketing campaigns offering awareness and resources for education and screening of HIV and others STDs. Most recently, I worked with the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership, where I assisted with marketing and education for the State of Colorado anti-tobacco activities.
With Hep C Connection, I will be responsible for keeping up with the latest medical information, testing and education, as well as marketing our programs. I have much to learn and can't do it without your help! Please drop me an e-mail at sthomas@hepc-connection.org or call me directly at (720) 917-3970. I look forward to getting to know you and continuing the great work and reputation Hep C Connection offers our community.
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| Share your story |
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Each month Hep C Connections will bring you a personal story of someone affected by the hepatitis C virus. These stories are intended to provide hope, insight and knowledge that only people who have lived with the virus have. If you would like to read more personal stories or submit your own click here. This month's story comes courtesy of Dudley.
Hepatitis C - A Silent Virus
Would you always know if you were infected with the hepatitis C virus? No! People who could be at risk may physically feel perfectly fine. Those with chronic hepatitis C frequently do not have any physical signs or symptoms for many years.
Far too often, people who use drugs now or years ago, even once, may be at risk for hepatitis C. Professionals who come in contact with blood can also be at-risk. Hepatitis C is a virus that affects your liver. Hepatitis C is passed through blood. The blood of an infected person has to get into the blood stream of an uninfected person.
Dudley, a Colorado resident, found out about his virus through a blood test required by his employer. Not everybody has this rare opportunity to find out. Hep C Connection offers free and confidential testing.
Find Out, Get Tested. Call (720) 917-3970 to schedule a confidential appointment.
Dudleys' Story -
"Found out about my little viral friend after a blood exposure when working. Its been about a month since the blood work came back. I work in EMS and it is policy to be tested for possible infections after blood or fluid exposures. Needless to say I was surprised to find out I was Hep C positive. The blood work from the testing clinic came back positive for C but showed normal liver function which helped my attitude. Not too upset about it but have tended to feel like typhoid Mary at times and it has put the brakes on any romantic interest for the future as I don't want to share this with anyone until it gets cleared up. Which I hope it does with treatment. Anyway, went to my primary Doc and she drew blood for viral load testing and recommended to see a more specialized doctor, which I am doing tomorrow. I'll be curious to see what he has to say and the next step for analysis and treatment. As for how I got infected, other than the exposure at work, all I can figure is doing coke and sharing a straw with somebody I was partying with at the time. Scary part is I did not do the drug with strangers and if I got it how many of us out there are carrying the virus and not know it. I feel fine. No internal or external signs or symptoms. I would not have known I had HCV if I had not been working a bloody trauma on the side of the highway. Been sober for almost 3 years now and did cocaine twice in the past decade. Emotionally I'm doing alright. Sure you get bummed out, that's a normal response but I feel there is no need to get all worked up over HCV as that's not going to do a bit of good. Take care of business and hope for the best outcome possible. So, like I said before the Docs tomorrow and on from there. I'll keep you posted for
those who want to follow.
Dudley 3-18-2008"
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| Volunteer Update |
Happy Spring to all Volunteers! As has been said time and time again - and bears repeating - volunteers are the backbone of any fine organization. Hep C Connection has most definitely been blessed with dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. It has been a pleasure getting to know you in person and through email conversation. Thank you for all you do - not just for our organization but for society as a whole. Keep shining!
Click the link at the bottom and you will find the most updated schedule of health fairs and community events which are powered by volunteer time and energy. Please do be in contact if you are able to help out at any of these events. To find out about other volunteer opportunities, please check out our website (www.hepc-connection.org) or call our HelpLine and Volunteer Coordinator at 720.917.3972 Click here to see a schedule of upcoming Health Fairs. |
| Hepatitis Poster Contest |
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