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MySpace Offers
a Hip Way To Learn
About Hep C
Do you or someone you care about want to connect with other people who are affected by the hepatitis C virus? Hep C Connection has an option for you! MySpace is an alternative way to network with others around the world. MySpace offers convenient ways to get useful information like hard facts, medical tips, or a connection with other people who are in similar situations. Hep C Connection has a page on MySpace for people who are affected by the hepatitis C virus to correspond and share stories. Learn and experience from others by posting a question, sharing your story, and watching some cool videos. You can even listen to music, all at the same time. Try it out! Click here to start your MySpace experience. |
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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!
Welcome to this months edition of Hep C Connection's newsletter. May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month.
Nancy Steinfurth, Executive Director, speaks May 10th on 102.3 (KCUV) discussing Hepatitis C and the impact the virus has to Colorado residents. Learn about activities recognizing Hepatitis Awareness Month that include the Needle Drop-off project, the Ft. Collins Community Dinner, and more.
We welcome your comments and want to hear from you. Do you or your organization have hepatitis C news that you want to share with our readers such as wellness or medical information? Please share your stories with us. The deadline for article submission is now the 3rd Monday of the month. For submission and consideration, please e-mail your materials to Stewart Thomas, Medical and Marketing Liaison, at sthomas@hepc-connection.org. |
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We Want to Hear From You About Our Support Groups! |
Hep C Connection needs your help and we want to hear from you! We strive to make our hepatitis C support groups the best that they can be. In order to do this, we need to hear from you about how we can make that happen. The link below is to a survey that will take between five and ten minutes to complete (we promise - it's only 17 questions!). We would really appreciate it if you could take the time to complete the survey. All of your answers are confidential and the completed surveys will tell us how we can make our support groups throughout the state of Colorado even better. Thank you!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=LC7906ueceWCjymrwiTTYA_3d_3d |
| Doctors & Science |
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Factors Predicting Response to Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C
The evidence for the effectiveness of current established treatment guidelines for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is derived from multinational randomized controlled trials. Strategies for managing HCV, however, require an assessment of the effectiveness of interventions in routine clinical practice.
Researchers in the U.K. evaluated the outcomes of combination interferon-based therapy in a large cohort of chronic hepatitis C patients. The results of this retrospective study appear in the April 2008 Journal of Viral Hepatitis.
Results
· A total of 347 patients (113 with HCV genotype 1, 234 with non-1 genotypes) were treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin according to current guidelines.
· 42 patients (37.2%) with genotype 1 and 164 subjects (70.1%) with non-1 genotypes achieved sustained viral response (SVR).
· 39 patients (11%) withdrew from treatment prematurely.
· In addition to viral genotype, other factors predictive of a response to therapy were patient age at the start of treatment and disease stage on pretreatment liver biopsy.
· Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the effects of age per 10-year increment (P = 0.006) were confined to patients with genotype 1.
· A multivariate logistic model to predict the probability of SVR for subgroups defined by disease stage, genotype, and age at initiation of therapy revealed striking differences in predicted response rates between subgroups.
· The model provided a strong rationale for early treatment, particularly for those with HCV genotype 1.
Conclusion
Based on their findings, the study authors concluded, "Our study demonstrates that results comparable with those of randomized clinical trials can be achieved in clinical practice, and suggests that prediction of response rates based on probability modeling will provide a valuable adjunct to individual patient management."
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; MRC Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK; Nottingham University Hospitals (Queen's Medical Centre Campus), Nottingham, UK; Health Services Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. |
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Nancy Steinfurth, Executive Director speaks on KCUV |
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KCUV (102.3) radio May 10th features Nancy Steinfurth, Executive Director at Hep C Connection about how the hepatitis C virus (HCV) effects rock musicians as well as the citizens of Colorado. Listen live at 9 a.m. to understand more about how this silent virus impacts our community and what Colorado residents need to know.
For further questions and information regarding hepatitis C information and resources, please visit our website at www.hepc-connection.org or call us direct at (303) 860-0800. |
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Needle Disposal Drop-off May 19th |
Don't know what to do with your used needles? Hep C Connection and other local agencies have made it convenient and safe by partnering to create the Drop to Stop project. Drop to Stop is a 1-day community outreach project that encourages Denver residents to dispose of their used needles safely, preventing blood-borne infections like hepatitis C and HIV. Recognizing May as Hepatitis C Awareness Month, the Drop to Stop initiative will take place May 19th, which is also World Hepatitis Day.
To learn more, or to find a Drop To Stop participating agency near you, please call the Hep C Connection office at (303) 860-0800. |
| Ft. Collins Community Dinner |
Join us on May 28th for a community dinner and educational forum in Fort Collins! Dinner will be served and Dr. Everson from the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center will be speaking about living with hepatitis C. The event will be held at The Moot House (2626 South College) and will begin at 6:00 p.m. RSVP to Laura Ginnett by May 20th at (720) 917-3960 or lginnett@hepc-connection.org. |
| New Link to The Visible Human Journal of Endoscopy |
Hep C Connection has added a link to The Visible Human Journal of Endoscopy (VHJOE) to our web site so that physicians and people comfortable researching clinical information may learn more about the use of endoscopy and imaging with respect to the hepatitis C virus and its affect on the liver. The VHJOE is an electronic journal that provides a forum for the publication of original case reports which employ endoscopy and imaging. They emphasize the relation of clinical findings to normal human anatomy utilizing the Visible Human Database located at the University of Colorado at Denver. To learn more about this journal, visit vhjoe.org. |
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Advocating for Funding for Hepatitis C |
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Hep C Connection has been involved in significant statewide and national advocacy efforts to increase awareness about the difficult issues affecting those with chronic illness and to increase funding for the viral hepatitis program at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
On March 19, HCC and 22 other health nonprofits were recognized from the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives. Hep C Connection volunteers and staff visited State senators and representatives throughout the morning and we provided information to people walking through the state capitol about hepatitis C from our information booth. Our goal was to develop awareness among our State elected officials about the number of people affected by a chronic disease (1.25 million in Colorado) and that the issues we face are not being adequately addressed through insurance or other programs.
Hep C Connection's Executive Director, Nancy Steinfurth, went to Washington D.C. the beginning of April and met with the health care staff members for seven of our nine Congressional delegation members. At each of these meetings, basic information about hepatitis C was shared and she asked for support for a bill currently in the House Commerce Committee that would increase funding to the CDC for a nationwide surveillance system for chronic infections, hepatitis A and B vaccinations for those with risk factors for contracting C, and an increase in educational programs, among other programs.
It's important that we educate all segments of our society about hepatitis C. Advocacy efforts such as these increase knowledge among legislators and encourage questions about the scope of the virus and how great the need is for additional programs. If you would like to become involved in advocacy efforts, contact Ms. Steinfurth at 720-917-3965, or nsteinfurth@hepc-connection.org. |
| Meet Hep C Connection's Staff Member |
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New Staff
Hello, my name is Kara Armstrong and I am the new Help Line and Volunteer Coordinator. I have recently moved to Denver from Houston, Texas, and am looking forward to helping fulfill Hep C Connection's mission.
Upon moving to Colorado I completed my master's degree in Public Health with a focus in health promotion and behavior modification. My passions are in educating the public, and providing support services for patients with infectious diseases. My past experiences have included working with STD prevention and HIV/AIDs in multiple settings. I just completed my thesis on a volunteer driven program working with retention in care of HIV infected patients. I have been a long time volunteer and value the commitment and vital contributions of fellow volunteers and supporters in the mission to serve and educate. I am eager to be an active part of volunteerism with Hep C Connection.
I will be responsible for coordinating volunteer projects, increasing volunteer education, and maintaining our help line information and services to the highest standard. As a new member of the Hep C Connection team I am just beginning to build my knowledge base and to discover the needs of our community. I have much to learn and can't do it without your help! Please feel free to send me an e-mail at karmstrong@hepc-connection.org or call me directly at (720) 917 3972. I look forward to getting to know you and furthering the great work of Hep C Connection.
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