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The Best of the Week for You!
Friday, September-23-16
News Recap: September 16 – 23, 2016
• Clinical Trial in Canada by Abbvie is Recruiting
Effectiveness of Paritaprevir/r – Ombitasvir, ± Dasabuvir, ± Ribavirin in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C in Canada (AMBER). This is an observation study to find out the ‘real world’ effectiveness (cure) of AbbVie’s Holkira Pak (with and without ribavirin) in genotype 1 and 4 patients. This includes treatment-naïve and treatment experienced patients.
• Liver cancer risk influenced by blood selenium levels
Recent studies have shown that the risk of developing liver cancer may be significantly higher for people who have low levels of the nutrient selenium in their blood, suggests a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Up to 10 times greater liver cancer risk with low selenium levels”
• Canadian victims of tainted blood seek equal treatment
In an application for direction filed this week in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the pre-1986 and post-1990 victims asked that the money in the general compensation fund be transferred to the PELD fund so that some payments can flow to at least a fraction of those who are waiting for redress.
Ottawa has so far been unmoved by the calls for parity between victims. When Health Minister Jane Philpott was asked Wednesday whether she would consider the request to top up the depleted fund, her spokesman said the government recognizes the hardship experienced by those who suffer from hepatitis C but the settlements were deemed fair and reasonable at the time they were signed.
• Hepatitis C rate increased in Nova Scotia, national rate decreased
According to provincial government data, the rate (per 100,000) was 26.7 (250 cases) in 2005 and flip-flopped over the years before reaching 34.4 (323 cases) in 2014.
On the same dates, the Canadian rate went from 40.29 to 29.43, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
“I don’t necessarily think that there’s more cases. I think that’s there’s more people going out and actually getting tested,” said Alex MacDonnell, program co-ordinator for HepNS, which is described as a charity that supports people with and educates the public about the disease.
• Chinese Health Fair, Burnaby 2016
HepCBC Hepatitis C Education-Prevention and Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre joined forces this year at the Chinese Health Fair in Burnaby! We brought 3 wonderful volunteer interpreters, pamphlets, and 3 people who have been cured. VIDC brought Dr. Brian Conway plus 3 great staff, 85 oral Point-of-Care HCV tests (which were gone within 2-1/2 hours) and a Fibroscan Machine! It was an exciting and worthwhile day, both of our organizations agreed! THANKS to our generous sponsors, Lupin Pharma Canada Limited and Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc.
• HepCBC Info Booth — 55+ Lifestyle Show Vancouver 2016: September 22, 2016
This year the 55+ Lifestyle Show was held at the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition). We had a large corner to show why Baby Boomers should get tested for HCV. It was great to talk to the people who stopped by to ask, “Why does it say Born between 1945 and 1975?” (actually our posters say 1945-1965, though researchers say this should actually be 1945 – 1975 in Canada.) Our new pamphlets correct this.