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seroepidemiology of viral infections among intravenous drug users in northern california.intravenous drug users are frequently exposed to parenterally transmitted viral infections, and these infections can spread to the general population through sexual activity. we investigated the prevalence of serologic markers for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (hiv-1), human t-cell lymphotropic virus type i/ii (htlv-i/ii), hepatitis b virus (hbv), and hepatitis c virus (hcv) in intravenous drug users and their sexual contacts. of 585 drug users from northern california tested for these ser ...19921310362
molecular cloning and sequence analysis of an isolate of hepatitis c virus from southern california, u.s.a.we obtained a cdna clone representing a partial rna sequence of a human hepatitis c virus (hcv) isolate from southern california. rna was extracted from the liver tissue of a patient with post-transfusion hepatitis, and used for cdna synthesis and polymerase chain reaction (pcr) amplification using oligonucleotide primers specific for the prototype hcv rna. the cdna clone obtained contains 585 base pairs of hcv sequences and represents the region encoding the putative nonstructural protein ns3 o ...19921364214
prevalence of hepatitis c virus antibodies among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and risk factors for serological evidence of hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv). tests for anti-hcv antibody were carried out by enzyme-linked immunoassay (eia) on 101 hiv-infected patients from two university-based outpatient clinics. anti-hcv antibody reactive samples were tested by using a recombinant immunoblot assay (riba) for hcv antibodies. fourteen of 101 (13.9%) hiv-infecte ...19911715384
application of six hepatitis c virus genotyping systems to sera from chronic hepatitis c patients in the united states.serum samples from 139 us patients with chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection were studied using six different genotyping systems, including both molecular and serologic methods, to determine the applicability of these approaches and the prevalence of various hcv subtypes. the concordance of genotyping results based on the various systems (except for core polymerase chain reaction genotyping) was good (93.5%). subtypes 1a and 1b were prevalent (37.4%). subtypes 2a (2.2%), 2b (8.6%), and 3a ( ...19957844363
outbreak of hepatitis c associated with intravenous immunoglobulin administration--united states, october 1993-june 1994.on february 21, 1994, the food and drug administration (fda) was notified of 14 possible cases from three different countries of acute hepatitis c among persons who had received gammagard, an intravenous immunoglobulin (igiv) product manufactured by baxter healthcare corporation (glendale, california). the company removed gammagard from the worldwide market on february 23, 1994. the american red cross removed polygam (igiv manufactured by baxter healthcare from american red cross plasma) from th ...19948022396
evaluation of hepatitis b and c viral markers: clinical significance in asian and caucasian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the united states of america.in order to evaluate the roles of hepatitis b virus (hbv) and hepatitis c virus (hcv) and their clinical significance in asian-american and caucasian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) in the usa, 110 hcc patients, seen in a community-based teaching hospital in the los angeles area over a 10 year period, were enrolled. seventy-nine (72%) patients were asian-american and 31 (28%) were caucasians. of the 110 hcc patients, 69 (63%) were positive for serum hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsa ...19968912133
hepatitis c virus infection in patients with b-cell non-hodgkin lymphoma.several studies from europe have reported a high prevalence (9% to 32%) of chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection in patients with b-cell non-hodgkin lymphoma. it has been suggested that hcv plays a role in the pathogenesis of b-cell non-hodgkin lymphoma.19979312998
a four-year review of patients with hepatitis c antibody in department of veterans affairs facilities.hepatitis c virus [hcv] has recently been recognized as an emerging pathogen of surprising proportions. the clinical liver illness associated with hcv infection can be minimal or none, but in a notable number of persons it can ultimately cause debilitating chronic liver disease, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatic failure, and it is likely related to an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. from 1991 to 1994, an annual electronic census was sent to 168 veterans health administration faci ...19979358714
the role of needle exchange programs in hiv prevention.injecting drug users (idus) are at high risk for infection by human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) and other blood-borne pathogens. in the united states, idus account for nearly one-third of the cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids), either directly or indirectly (heterosexual and perinatal cases of aids where the source of infection was an idu). idu also account for a substantial proportion of cases of hepatitis b (hbv) and hepatitis c (hcv) virus infections. the primary mode of tran ...19989722812
characterization of anti-hepatitis c virus-positive sera not genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism or serology.the hepatitis c virus genome is extremely heterogeneous and has been classified into six major genotypes. genotyping of hepatitis c has been achieved through both direct molecular approach and indirect detection of host genotype-specific antibodies by serological methods. the purpose of this study was to characterize anti-hepatitis c positive sera samples that were not genotyped either by restriction fragment length polymorphism or by serology.199910207783
prevalence and correlates of hepatitis c virus infection among inmates entering the california correctional system.to estimate the prevalence and predictors of hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection among inmates, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 1994 among inmates entering six reception centers of the california department of corrections. discarded serum samples were tested for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (hiv), hcv, hepatitis b core, and hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag). of 4,513 inmates in this study, 87.0% were men and 13.0% were women. among male inmates, 39.4% were anti-hcv-positi ...199910214102
chronic infection with hepatitis g virus in relation to hepatocellular carcinoma among non-asians in los angeles county, california.the recently identified hepatitis g virus (hgv) is a hepatotropic rna virus belonging to the flaviviridae family. the virus causes chronic viremia, and exposure to blood products is a recognized route of transmission in humans. to the authors' knowledge there is scant information regarding the hepatocarcinogenic potential of hgv. the current study examined the association between hgv infection and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.199910491518
epidemiology of hepatitis c virus infection in american veterans.this study reports the findings of hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection in a large department of veterans affairs health care system in suburban northern california.200010710068
prevalence of hiv infection, sexually transmitted diseases, and hepatitis and related risk behavior in young women living in low-income neighborhoods of northern california.to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection, sexually transmitted diseases, and hepatitis and the associated sexual and drug-using behavior among women residing in low-income neighborhoods in 5 northern california counties.200010854379
hepatocellular carcinoma: an emerging problem with hepatitis c.hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) is emerging as a major problem in the united states, primarily due to the development of liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis secondary to the hepatitis c virus. the diagnosis of hcc in patients with underlying cirrhosis can be achieved at an early stage if appropriate diagnostic measures are pursued by primary care physicians and gastroenterologists. african americans are particularly vulnerable in developing hcc since their response to current therapy for chro ...200010992680
screening for chronic hepatitis b and c virus infections in an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic: rationale for integrating services.clients attending sexually transmitted disease (std) clinics are at risk for multiple infections (e.g., stds, hiv, and infectious viral hepatitis). risk assessment and serosurveys can document the need for hepatitis screening and vaccination services.200111289199
risk of infection from needle reuse at a phlebotomy center.this study determined infection risk for hiv, hepatitis b virus (hbv), and hepatitis c virus (hcv) from needle reuse at a phlebotomy center that possibly exposed 3810 patients to infection.200111291380
california approves compassionate release, viatical bill.governor pete wilson of california vetoed six of ten hiv-related bills approved by the democrat-led legislature. a plan to encourage people living with aids to return to work and a bill to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of public health care provision for hiv-positive patients whose disease has not progressed to aids were among those rejected by governor wilson. the governor did approve assembly bill 29, granting early prison release to terminally ill inmates who apply through the courts. as ...199711364781
hepatitis c virus infection and needle exchange use among young injection drug users in san francisco.young injection drug users (idus) in san francisco may be at high risk for hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection despite access to several needle exchange venues. the authors conducted a cross-sectional study from 1997 to 1999 in san francisco to estimate the prevalence and incidence of antibody to hcv (anti-hcv) among street-recruited idus under age 30, and to examine risk behaviors and sources of sterile needles. among 308 participants, the prevalence of anti-hcv was 45%. using statistical modelin ...200111431749
chronic hepatitis c in ethnic minority patients evaluated in los angeles county.the aim of this study was to compare demographic, clinical, and histological features of hepatitis c in four ethnic groups seen at the los angeles county/university of southern california hepatitis clinic.200111513187
bloodborne pathogen exposures in a developmental center: 1993-2000.in a developmental center, 257 potential bloodborne pathogen exposures (119 bites, 91 scratches, 30 sharps injuries, 17 mucosal breaks) occurred during 8 years (13,187 employee-years and 6,980 resident-years). of the residents, 9% were hepatitis b virus (hbv) surface antigen carriers. serological follow-up of exposed, susceptible employees and residents identified no transmission of hbv, hepatitis c virus (hcv), or human immunodeficiency (hiv) virus. this outcome has been due primarily to hepati ...200111519919
no direct role for epstein-barr virus in american hepatocellular carcinoma.epstein-barr virus (ebv) was recently linked to hepatocellular carcinogenesis in japanese patients. it is not clear whether ebv infection is also associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) occurring in american patients. we studied 41 cases of hcc from the los angeles area for evidence of ebv infection by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction methods. of 41 cases, 16 were seropositive for hepatitis b virus surface antigen (39%), 9 of 29 tested were seropo ...200111583956
action needed to stem hiv, hepatitis c in california prisons. 200111668826
hepatitis c virus infection in young, low-income women: the role of sexually transmitted infection as a potential cofactor for hcv infection.we evaluated risk for hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection in women residing in low-income neighborhoods of northern california.200211919070
a prospective study of the risk of transfusion-acquired viral infections.the risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infections may be estimated by several methods, but only prospective studies of transfusion recipients can directly measure the incidence, with associated 95% upper confidence bound, of these infections. from 1989 through 1995, 764 recipients of allogeneic or autologous red blood cell transfusions were enrolled; 486 (64%) provided both pretransfusion and 6-month follow-up specimens. both specimens were tested for anti-hbc, anti-hcv, anti-htlv-i and anti- ...19989800288
care of injection drug users with soft tissue infections in san francisco, california.illicit injection drug use results in serious soft tissue infections that are the number one nonpsychiatric reason for admission to san francisco general hospital (sfgh), san francisco, calif.200212413304
prevalence of hepatitis c infection in a large urban hospital-based sample of individuals with spinal cord injury.to examine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of hepatitis c infection in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (sci).200212422335
risk factors for hepatitis c virus infection among health care personnel in a community hospital.to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for antibody to the hepatitis c virus in hospital employees.19937694529
evaluation of screening criteria to identify persons with hepatitis c virus infection among sexually transmitted disease clinic clients: results from the san diego viral hepatitis integration project.the centers for disease control and prevention estimates that 1.8% of the us population is infected with hepatitis c virus (hcv), and most are unaware of their infection.200312671556
colonoscopes may spread hcv and hpv. 200312825588
hiv rate in ca prisons higher than in community.health officials in california have found that the hiv rate among the state's prison population has remained relatively stable since 1988. the most recent figures, which were gathered during a massive communicable disease screening of 118,000 inmates and employees of the state correctional system, indicate that 2.5 percent of male inmates and 3.2 percent of female inmates are hiv-positive. the health care workers were particularly concerned because both hepatitis b virus (hbv) and hepatitis c vi ...199611363237
trends in hepatitis c and hiv infection among inmates entering prisons in california, 1994 versus 1999. 200212409752
hepatitis c in a los angeles public hepatitis clinic: demographic and biochemical differences associated with race-ethnicity.the goal of this study was to uncover possible racial-ethnic differences in hepatitis c presentation in an urban hepatitis clinic.200415181612
frequent hepatitis c virus superinfection in injection drug users.the frequency of hepatitis c virus (hcv) superinfection with a divergent viral strain was determined in a cohort of recently infected young injection drug users (idus) with an hcv incidence rate of 25%. hcv was amplified, by use of polymerase chain reaction (pcr), from plasma samples collected from 25 hcv-infected individuals over an average period of 12 months, and their viral sequences were compared. phylogenetic analysis identified 5 idus with superinfection (20%) occurring after seroconversi ...200415378431
gender differences in sexual and injection risk behavior among active young injection drug users in san francisco (the ufo study).female injection drug users (idus) represent a large proportion of persons infected with hiv in the united states, and women who inject drugs have a high incidence of hepatitis b virus (hbv) and hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection. therefore, it is important to understand the role of gender in injection risk behavior and the transmission of blood-borne virus. in 2000-2002, 844 young (<30 years old) idus were surveyed in san francisco. we compared self-reported risk behavior between 584 males and 2 ...200312612103
seroprevalence of hepatitis c among a juvenile detention population.the seroprevalence and determinants of hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection among adolescents in juvenile detention centers in riverside county was assessed. among 728 participants, 16 (2.2%, 95% ci 1.1%, 3.3%) demonstrated serologic evidence of hcv infection. adolescents with a history of injection drug use (adjusted or = 10.8, 95% ci 2.6, 45.3, p < .001) were more likely to be hcv seropositive, however the frequency of reported injection drug use was just 4%, and only 12% of hcv infection could b ...200415581531
antiretroviral therapy, hepatitis c virus, and aids mortality among san francisco's homeless and marginally housed.mortality has declined in most hiv-infected populations yet remains high among those with barriers to accessing antiretroviral (arv) therapy. we sought to determine predictors of death in a group of hiv-infected homeless persons in san francisco. between 1996 and 2002, quarterly interviews and blood draws were conducted. hazards of death were compared by number of months of the prior 6 months that an individual took any arv, drug use, hepatitis c virus (hcv) status, and housing status. among 330 ...200515671804
factors associated with the initiation of alpha-interferon treatment in medicaid patients diagnosed with hepatitis c.we aimed to determine rates of treatment with alpha-interferon medication in patients diagnosed with hepatitis c virus (hcv), to ascertain the prevalence of selected conditions that could influence initiation of interferon treatment, and to examine the association between the presence of these conditions and interferon treatment. a nested case-control design was used in california medicaid (medi-cal) claims data covering the period from 1 january 1996 to 30 june 2002. interferon-treated cases an ...200515720533
knowledge of and interest in hepatitis c treatment at a methadone clinic.this study describes knowledge about hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection and interest in treatment among 110 opiate dependent patients from an opiate dependence treatment program in san francisco. none had been treated for hcv and only 30% had been evaluated for hcv treatment. while only 34% knew about hcv treatment, 54% of the sample became "definitely interested" in hcv treatment after hearing the risks and benefits. men were approximately five times more likely than women to know of some hcv tr ...200515780548
hepatitis c virus infection in san francisco's hiv-infected urban poor.to measure hepatitis c virus (hcv) prevalence, incidence, and initiation of hcv therapy in a representative hiv-infected cohort of the urban poor.200415061745
survival in patients with hiv infection and viral hepatitis b or c: a cohort study.to assess survival in patients with hiv and viral hepatitis co-infection.200415577625
hepatitis c virus infection among prisoners in the california state correctional system.incarcerated populations are at high risk for hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection, yet prisoners are not routinely screened or treated for hcv infection. understanding the risk factors of hcv infection among prisoners could help improve hcv interventions.200515983913
health indicators among low income women who report a history of sex work: the population based northern california young women's survey.we examined differences in demographic characteristics, hiv related risk behaviour, prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (sti), and hiv and other health concerns among women with and without a history of sex work.200516199746
hepatitis c and hospital outcomes in patients admitted with alcohol-related problems.alcohol is known to act synergistically with chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection to cause liver disease; however, their combined effect on outcomes in acutely hospitalized patients is less clear. we examined the impact of hcv infection on hospital mortality and length of stay among hospitalized patients with alcohol abuse problems.200616226823
clinical presentation and course of acute hepatitis c infection in hiv-infected patients.hepatitis c virus (hcv) has become a significant source of morbidity and mortality in hiv-infected patients. however, little is known about the clinical presentation and course of acute hcv infection in this population. this study reports the outcomes of acute hcv infection in 9 hiv-infected men. sex with men was the only reported risk factor for hcv infection in 6 of the subjects. clinical presentation of acute hcv ranged from incidentally discovered elevated transaminases to severe liver dysfu ...200616340470
liver transplantation for hepatitis b in the united states.to evaluate the impact of hepatitis b virus (hbv) on us health care system, we reviewed the organ procurement and transplantation (optn, formerly unos) hbv database.200516387118
cost-effectiveness of transfusion of platelet components prepared with pathogen inactivation treatment in the united states.the intercept blood system (ibs) for platelets has been developed to reduce pathogen transmission risks during transfusions.200314604745
molecular epidemiology of hepatitis c virus subtype 3a in injecting drug users.hepatitis c virus subtype 3a (hcv-3a) originates from asia and has spread widely among injecting drug users as well as other patient groups in industrialized countries. hcv subtype 3a infection remains highly prevalent and frequently transmitted in the population of intravenous drug users. the objective of this study was to understand better the mechanisms of the worldwide hcv-3a epidemics in drug users. ninety-three sera from hcv-3a-infected idus from france, the united states, brazil, argentin ...200616927280
human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis c virus testing services at syringe exchange programs: availability and outcomes.we described the availability and outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) and hepatitis c virus (hcv) testing services at syringe exchange programs throughout california, using interviews with 24 syringe exchange program directors and 560 syringe exchange clients. both hiv and hcv testing services were available in 62% of programs, 21% had hiv testing only, and 17% had neither. programs administered by health care/social service providers were more likely than independent syringe exchange ...200717481466
11th annual inflammatory and immune diseases drug discovery and development summit 12-13 march 2007, san francisco, usa.the strategic research institute (sri) hosted the 11th international inflammation and immune diseases drug discovery and development world summit in san francisco during 12-13 march 2007. the summit comprised keynote sessions and two parallel tracks and focussed on targeting mechanisms for drug discovery and development, which modulate the immune response and which have anti-inflammatory activity in a number of human diseases. indications included psoriasis, hepatitis c, allergic dermatitis, sys ...200717501702
hcv and hiv counseling and testing integration in california: an innovative approach to increase hiv counseling and testing rates.in california, injection drug users (idus) comprise the second leading risk group for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection and the majority of hepatitis c virus (hcv) cases. innovative disease screening and prevention activities are needed to improve disease surveillance and to guide appropriate public health responses. this study tested the hypothesis that offering hiv counseling and testing (c&t) concurrently with hcv c&t will increase hiv c&t rates among idus.200717542457
hepatitis c videoconferencing: the impact on continuing medical education for rural healthcare providers.this study compared the impact of multipoint videoconferencing (vc) versus standard lecturing (st) on primary care providers' (mds, nps/pas, and rns) education regarding hepatitis c virus (hcv). the hypothesis was that the educational impact of teaching through telemedicine is comparable to the traditional method. the aim was to provide participants clinically relevant information and knowledge about the natural history, diagnosis, and management of hcv. improved knowledge was scored from a 10-i ...200717603829
seroprevalence of hepatitis c virus and hepatitis b virus among san francisco injection drug users, 1998 to 2000.previous studies suggest that most injection drug users (idus) become infected with hepatitis c virus (hcv) and hepatitis b virus (hbv) soon after initiating drug use. the urban health study (uhs) recruited serial cross-sections of idus in the san francisco bay area from 1986 to 2005. in the current study, we determined the prevalence of antibody to hcv and hbv (core) among uhs participants during 1998 to 2000. to examine whether the time from onset of injection to acquisition of viral hepatitis ...200717657818
hepatitis b and c among veterans on a psychiatric ward.hepatitis b and c are public health problems. psychiatric patients may be at risk of hepatitis b and c exposure due to lifestyle and inadequate health care. we aimed to determine prevalence of hepatitis b and c virus exposure and associated risk factors in acutely hospitalized psychiatric veterans. a total of 234 individuals consecutively admitted to the psychiatric wards at the west los angeles veterans affairs hospital were asked to participate. a total of 129 patients consented and were scree ...200817932751
integrating hepatitis, std, and hiv services into a drug rehabilitation program.considering the difficulties in providing screening and vaccination services for inmates in short-stay incarceration facilities, an evaluation was conducted of the integration of prevention services in an alternative sentencing drug rehabilitation program (alternative to incarceration) in san diego ca.200515958248
increased all-cause, liver, and cardiac mortality among hepatitis c virus-seropositive blood donors.hospital-based studies suggest that hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection causes frequent cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality, but epidemiologic studies have shown less morbidity and mortality. the authors performed a retrospective cohort study of 10,259 recombinant immunoblot assay-confirmed, hcv antibody-positive (hcv+), allogeneic blood donors from 1991 to 2002 and 10,259 hcv antibody-negative (hcv-) donors matched for year of donation, age, gender, and zone improvement plan code ( ...200818203734
prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection among injection drug users in the united states, 1994-2004.to examine hepatitis c virus (hcv) seroprevalence among injection drug users in 4 us cities from 1994 through 2004.200818462109
higher rate of sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis c genotype 6 treated with 48 weeks versus 24 weeks of peginterferon plus ribavirin.infection with hepatitis c virus (hcv) genotype 6 is common in patients from parts of china and southeast asia. no study to date has examined the treatment response to peginterferon and ribavirin (peg ifn + rbv) in these patients, or the effects of treatment duration on sustained virologic response (svr) rates.200818477343
prevalence of infection with hepatitis b and c viruses and co-infection with hiv in three jails: a case for viral hepatitis prevention in jails in the united states.hepatitis b vaccination and targeted testing for hepatitis c virus (hcv) are recommended for jails with medical services available. this study estimates hepatitis b virus (hbv) and hcv infection prevalence among jail inmates, since most previous studies have been conducted among prison inmates. prison and jail populations differ: jails hold a wide spectrum of persons for an average of 10-20 days, including persons awaiting arraignment, trial, conviction, or sentencing, while prisons typically ho ...200918622707
provision and use of personal protective equipment and safety devices in the national study to prevent blood exposure in paramedics.paramedics are at risk for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis b virus, and hepatitis c virus infection from occupational blood exposure. this study examined how often paramedics are provided with personal protective equipment (ppe), sharps containers, and selected safety devices by their employers; the frequency with which paramedics use sharps containers and these safety devices; and paramedics' attitudes regarding this equipment.200818834754
alcohol use reduction program in methadone maintained individuals with hepatitis c virus infection.the purpose of this article was to investigate the personal and social barriers experienced by methadone maintained clients when seeking treatment for alcohol abuse along with strategies for engaging such clients in treatment programs. a qualitative design using semi-structured focus groups was used to obtain the perspectives of 41 methadone-maintained clients in los angeles, california. sessions were recorded, transcribed, and content-analyzed. attitudes of health care providers were considered ...200819042588
viral rna testing in hepatitis c antibody-positive veterans.chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection affects approximately 1.3% of the u.s. population. as up to 30% of hcv-antibody (anti-hcv)-positive patients have negative hcv ribonucleic acid (rna), indicating resolution of infection, va (veterans affairs) guidelines recommend rna testing on all anti-hcv-positive patients. as hcv rna testing is a prequel to treatment, perceived eligibility for treatment may influence the decision to order an rna test. this study was designed to determine the patient a ...200919162434
hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection among injection drug users in los angeles county, california.this study examined the prevalence of hepatitis a (hav), b (hbv), c (hcv), and human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) co-infection among injection drug users (idus) in los angeles county, california, and predictors of multiple infections in this population. six hundred seventy-nine idus were recruited from october 2002 through june 2004. participants completed questionnaires to elicit demographic, drug and sex risk information, and were tested for hepatitis a, b, c and hiv.a linear regression model ...200616785216
risk behaviors after hepatitis c virus seroconversion in young injection drug users in san francisco.the rationale for screening populations at risk for hepatitis c virus infection (hcv) includes the possibility of altering risk behaviors that impact disease progression and transmission. this study prospectively examined young injection drug users (idu) to determine if behaviors changed after they were made aware of hcv seroconversion.200919647375
treat early or wait and monitor? a qualitative analysis of provider hepatitis c virus treatment decision-making in the context of hiv coinfection.liver disease is a leading cause of death among patients with hiv coinfected with hepatitis c (hcv); yet, studies show that less than 10% receive hcv treatment, in part because of limited treatment response, high treatment toxicity, and psychosocial barriers to treatment readiness. using a process model framework, we sought to explore the factors and processes by which providers make hcv treatment decisions for hiv-coinfected patients. we conducted 22 semistructured interviews with primary care ...200919663714
response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in asian american patients with chronic hepatitis c genotypes 1 vs 2/3 vs 6.chronic hepatitis c is generally underappreciated in asian americans, and most pivotal studies were conducted in western countries and only included a small numbers of asian patients. our goal was to examine and compare treatment outcomes in these patients with genotypes 1 vs 2/3 vs 6. we performed a retrospective cohort study of 167 consecutive treatment-naïve asian american patients treated with pegylated interferon (peg ifn) plus ribavirin (rbv) at two community clinics in northern california ...201020002562
chronic hepatitis c in the state prison system: insights into the problems and possible solutions.the prevalence of chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) within the correctional system is estimated to be 10-20-times greater than that which is reported in the general population. high-risk behavioral patterns probably account for the greater estimates in this population. recent observations of more than 780 patient-inmates infected with hcv within the california department of corrections suggest a very high prevalence of advanced fibrosis in this population. observational studies performed in texas ...201020528122
pharmacy participation in non-prescription syringe sales in los angeles and san francisco counties, 2007.increasing sterile syringe access for injection drug users (idus) is one way to prevent hiv and hepatitis c virus (hcv) transmission in this population. in 2005, california senate bill 1159 allowed counties to adopt the disease prevention demonstration project (dpdp). where enacted, the dpdp allows pharmacies that register with the county to sell up to ten syringes to adults without a prescription. in the current study, we describe pharmacy participation in nonprescription syringe sales (npss) i ...201020549568
comparison of surrogate and direct measurement of insulin resistance in chronic hepatitis c virus infection: impact of obesity and ethnicity.studies using surrogate estimates show high prevalence of insulin resistance in hepatitis c infection. this study prospectively evaluated the correlation between surrogate and directly measured estimates of insulin resistance and the impact of obesity and ethnicity on this relationship. eighty-six nondiabetic, noncirrhotic patients with hepatitis c virus (age = 48 +/- 7 years, 74% male, 44% white, 22% african american, 26% latino, 70% genotype 1) were categorized into normal-weight (body mass in ...201020578127
clinical presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) in asian-americans versus non-asian-americans.the incidence of hcc is rising worldwide. studies on ethnicity-based clinical presentation of hcc remain limited. the aim is to compare the clinical presentation and stage of hcc between asian-americans and non-asian-americans. this retrospective study assessed ethnicity-based differences in hcc presentation, including demographics, laboratory results, diagnosis of underlying liver disease, and stage of hcc. of 276 patients, 162 were asian-americans and 114 were non-asian-americans. compared to ...201020890660
hepatitis c prevalence among hiv-positive msm in san francisco: 2004 and 2008.recent reports suggest the potential for an epidemic of hepatitis c among nonintravenous drug-using hiv-positive men who have sex with men. hiv-positive specimens from surveillance surveys in 2004 and 2008 were tested for hcv antibodies. among noninjection drug using men who have sex with men, hcv prevalence was 8.7% and 4.5% in 2004 and 2008, respectively. there was no evidence of a change in hcv prevalence between 2004 and 2008.201120938373
randomized controlled trial of pegylated interferon-alfa 2a and ribavirin in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis c genotype 6.hepatitis c virus (hcv) genotype is an important criteria in determining duration of therapy and predictor of sustained virologic response (svr) to pegylated interferon (peg ifn) and ribavirin (rbv) therapy. optimal duration of therapy for patients with hcv genotype 6 is not known. we conducted a multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial of patients with hcv genotype 6 at five gastroenterology clinics in the western u.s. patients were stratified by viral load and histologic stage and a ...201021038410
prevalence of hepatitis c virus antibody in newborn infants in southern california in 2003.the prevalence of hepatitis c virus (hcv) antibody in newborn infants in 3 counties in southern california in 2003 was found to be 2.5 per 1000 live births using dried blood spot testing. with advances in hcv antiviral therapy providing decreasing morbidity from chronic hcv infection, prenatal hcv screening to identify both mothers and at-risk infants should be reconsidered.201121394051
temporal changes in hcv genotype distribution in three different high risk populations in san francisco, california.abstract: background: hepatitis c virus (hcv) genotype (gt) has become an important measure in the diagnosis and monitoring of hcv infection treatment. in the united states (u.s.) hcv gt 1 is reported as the most common infecting gt among chronically infected patients. in europe, however, recent studies have suggested that the epidemiology of hcv gts is changing. methods: we assessed hcv gt distribution in 460 patients from three hcv-infected high risk populations in san francisco, and examined ...201121810243
changes in depressive symptoms and impact on treatment course among hepatitis c patients undergoing interferon-+¦ and ribavirin therapy: a prospective evaluation.objectives:accounting for severity of depressive symptoms at baseline (pretreatment), this study describes (i) depressive symptom change over the course of antiviral treatment among patients with hepatitis c virus (hcv), and (ii) the relationship of such symptom change to treatment duration and response.methods:depressive symptoms, measured with the beck depression inventory (bdi), were examined prospectively among 129 hcv patients (95% male) who endorsed minimal (n=91), mild (n=28), or moderate ...201121826113
prospective study of risk factors for hepatitis c virus acquisition by caucasian, hispanic, and asian american patients.commonly known risk factors for infection with hepatitis c virus (hcv) include blood transfusion, injection drug use, intranasal cocaine use, and body tattoos. we hypothesized that asian americans infected with hcv may not identify with these established risk factors present in caucasians and hispanics, and our aim was to conduct a survey of risk factors in hcv-infected patients in these ethnic groups. in this prospective study, 494 patients infected with hcv completed a detailed risk assessment ...201122239506
low prevalence of hepatitis c co-infection in recently hiv-infected minority men who have sex with men in los angeles: a cross-sectional study.geographic and sociodemographic characterization of hepatitis c virus (hcv) transmission amongst men who have sex with men (msm) has been limited. our aim was to characterize hcv prevalence, risk factors for hcv co-infection, and patterns of hiv and hcv co-transmission and transmitted drug resistance mutations (drms) in newly hiv-diagnosed los angeles msm.201526590028
hepatitis c augments cognitive deficits associated with hiv infection and methamphetamine.to examine the contribution of hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection to neurocognitive dysfunction in individuals with comorbid hiv infection or methamphetamine (meth) dependence.200515851720
prevalence and presentation of hepatitis b and c virus (hbv and hcv) infection in vietnamese americans via serial community serologic testing.the prevalence of hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection is reportedly high in vietnamese americans (vas), but most previous studies did not assess full hbv serology, and not the prevalence of hbv and hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection simultaneously. the aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of different hbv serologies and hcv infection in vas. this study was based on the data collected by testing for hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag), anti-hepatitis b core antibody (hbcab igg), anti-hbs ant ...201524474437
milan criteria versus san francisco criteria in hepatocellular carcinoma: our center's experience.liver transplantation (olt) represents the best treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) in advanced cirrhosis showing a 70% 5-year survival rate. our study sought to compare overall survivals among patients who underwent olt under milan criteria (mc) or san francisco criteria (ucsfc).200919376413
increasing hepatitis b testing and linkage to care of foreign-born asians, sacramento, california, 2012-2013.without medical intervention, about one-quarter of the 1.4-2.2 million americans chronically infected with the hepatitis b virus (hbv) will die of hbv-associated conditions, including liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. we report on a program in sacramento county, california, that offered hbv screening to at-risk adults, referred infected individuals to care, and vaccinated uninfected adults who were susceptible to hbv infection (i.e., individuals who tested negative for hepatitis b surf ...201727168671
barriers and missed opportunities to hiv testing among injection drug users in two mexico--us border cities.despite increasing hiv prevalence in cities along the mexico--us border, hiv testing among high-risk populations remains low. we sought to identify barriers associated with hiv testing among injection drug users (idus) in tijuana and ciudad juarez, the two largest mexican border cities located across from san diego, california and el paso, texas, respectively.200818034380
epidemiology of the viral hepatitis-hiv syndemic in san francisco: a collaborative surveillance approach.to describe the epidemiology of people coinfected with hepatitis b virus (hbv) or hepatitis c virus (hcv) and hiv in san francisco, the san francisco department of public health's communicable disease control and prevention section and the hiv epidemiology section collaborated to link their registries.201724385655
coinfection with hepatitis b and d: epidemiology, prevalence and disease in patients in northern california.with no report on the overall prevalence and ramifications of hepatitis delta virus (hdv) infection in the united states for more than two decades, the characteristics of chronic hepatitis b virus (chb) patients coinfected with hdv, including clinical presentation, rate of hepatitis c virus tri-infection, and hdv viral load, were assessed.201323574043
the role of e-health in optimizing task-shifting in the delivery of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis c.recently, we reported the successful application of task-shifting to improve the management of patients with chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection receiving treatment with direct-acting antiviral (daa) agents in underserved areas of california. we assessed the impact of e-health on task-shifting in our treatment model.201728375820
mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among persons who inject drugs in san diego, california.persons who inject drugs (pwid) might be at increased risk for mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and reactivation of latent tuberculous infection (ltbi) due to their injection drug use.201728284258
notes from the field: investigation of hepatitis c virus transmission associated with injection therapy for chronic pain - california, 2015.on november 26, 2014, the california department of public health (cdph) contacted cdc concerning a report from the santa barbara county public health department (sbphd) regarding acute hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection in a repeat blood donor. the patient, who was asymptomatic, was first alerted of the infection by the blood bank and had no traditional risk factors for hcv infection. the donor had a negative hcv nucleic acid test (nat) 56 days before the first positive nat test, and an investiga ...201627254396
hiv transmission and injection drug use: lessons from the indiana outbreak.a recent outbreak of hiv infection centered in the rural town of austin in scott county, indiana, was associated with widespread injection drug use and a socio-economically depressed population. control of the outbreak required coordinated efforts by state, federal, local, and academic institutions to implement and maintain on-site programs and services that included contact tracing, hiv and hepatitis c virus testing, insurance enrollment, syringe exchange, rehabilitation services, care coordina ...201727841978
hcv screening in a cohort of hiv infected and uninfected homeless and marginally housed women in san francisco, california.hepatitis c virus (hcv) screening has taken on new importance as a result of updated guidelines and new curative therapies. relatively few studies have assessed hcv infection in homeless populations, and a minority include women. we assessed prevalence and correlates of hcv exposure in a cohort of homeless and unstably housed women in san francisco, and estimated the proportion undiagnosed.201728173785
awareness of hepatitis c virus seropositivity and chronic infection in the hispanic community health study/study of latinos (hchs/sol).few population-based studies have assessed awareness of hepatitis c virus (hcv) seropositivity and chronic infection. we report awareness of hcv seropositivity and chronic infection and correlates of awareness in a multi-city (bronx, miami, chicago, and san diego) community-dwelling population sample of united states (us) hispanics/latinos recruited during 2008-2011. included were 260 hcv-seropositive participants, among whom 190 had chronic hcv. among those with chronic hcv, 46 % had been told ...201626864380
differences in response to antiretroviral therapy by sex and hepatitis c infection status.hepatitis c virus (hcv) co-infection and biological sex may each affect response to antiretroviral therapy (art), yet no studies have examined hiv-associated outcomes by both hcv status and sex. we conducted a cohort study of hiv-infected adults initiating art in kaiser permanente california during 1996-2011. we used piecewise linear regression to assess cd4 changes by sex and hcv status over 5 years. we used cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (hr) by sex and hcv status for hiv rna <500 co ...201526061798
concordance of risk behavior reporting within hcv serodiscordant injecting partnerships of young injection drug users in san francisco, ca.young injection drug users (idu, under age 30) often inject with other idu, creating an environment for risk of blood-borne disease transmission through sharing of needles and drug preparation equipment. epidemiologic studies rely on self reported injection behavior data for measures of transmission risk, therefore we sought to quantify the degree of concordance of reported injecting risk behaviors between injecting dyads.201425034898
individual and socio-environmental factors associated with unsafe injection practices among young adult injection drug users in san diego.unsafe injection practices significantly increase the risk of hepatitis c virus (hcv) and human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection among injection drug users (idus). we examined individual and socio-environmental factors associated with unsafe injection practices in young adult idus in san diego, california. of 494 idus, 46.9 % reported receptive syringe sharing and 68.8 % sharing drug preparation paraphernalia in the last 3 months. unsafe injection practices were associated with increased o ...201524920342
evaluating the impact of mexico's drug policy reforms on people who inject drugs in tijuana, b.c., mexico, and san diego, ca, united states: a binational mixed methods research agenda.policymakers and researchers seek answers to how liberalized drug policies affect people who inject drugs (pwid). in response to concerns about the failing "war on drugs," mexico recently implemented drug policy reforms that partially decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use while promoting drug treatment. recognizing important epidemiologic, policy, and socioeconomic differences between the united states-where possession of any psychoactive drugs without a prescripti ...201424520885
hospitalizations due to hepatitis c in los angeles county, 2007-2009: case characteristics and factors associated with mortality.morbidity and mortality due to hepatitis c (hcv) infection are rising in the united states as the highest risk cohort (those born between 1945 and 1965) ages. it is important for governments and healthcare providers to have timely, readily obtainable data to estimate the burden of hcv locally. demographic factors, hospital charges and comorbid conditions were summarized for los angeles county (lac) residents who had at least one hospitalization in california during 2007-2009 with hcv as a primar ...201323910647
explaining differences in hepatitis c between u.s. veterans and nonveterans in treatment for substance abuse: results from a regression decomposition.hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection is common among people with substance abuse histories and a burden for u.s. veterans in particular. this study compares self-reported hcv between 1,652 veterans and 48,013 nonveterans who received public-sector substance abuse treatment in los angeles between 2006 and 2010. a higher percentage of veterans than nonveterans reported hcv (6.5% vs. 3.8%, p < .0001). homelessness and mental illness explained, respectively, 8.6% and 7.1% of the difference in hcv betwe ...201323869458
the association between law enforcement encounters and syringe sharing among idus on skid row: a mixed methods analysis.the legal environment is one factor that influences injection drug users' (idus) risk for hiv and other bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis c virus (hcv). we examined the association between law enforcement encounters (i.e., arrests and citations) and receptive syringe sharing among idus in the context of an intensified policing effort. we conducted a mixed methods analysis of 30 qualitative and 187 quantitative interviews with idus accessing services at a los angeles, ca syringe exchange pro ...201323620243
correlates of hiv and hcv risk and testing among chinese, filipino, and vietnamese men who have sex with men and other at-risk men.asian americans are one of the more under-researched groups in the united states. this holds true with regard to research on risk assessment, screening, and testing for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) and hepatitis c (hcv). here, we address that lack by exploring correlates of risk and testing for the two diseases among chinese, filipino, and vietnamese men who have sex with men (msm) and other at-risk men in the san francisco bay area. we do so by analyzing findings from the study of a commu ...201323631718
distribution of hepatitis c virus genotypes in a diverse us integrated health care population.hepatitis c virus (hcv) genotypes influence response to therapy, and recently approved direct-acting antivirals are genotype-specific. genotype distribution information can help to guide antiviral development and elucidate infection patterns. hcv genotype distributions were studied in a diverse cross-section of patients in the northern california kaiser permanente health plan. associations between genotype and race/ethnicity, age, and sex were assessed with multivariate logistic regression model ...201222997077
hepatitis c infection among men who have sex with men, san francisco, 2011.serum specimens collected during the 2011 round of national hiv behavioral surveillance among men who have sex with men in san francisco were tested for hepatitis c virus antibodies. hepatitis c virus infection was found among men who have sex with men with a history of intravenous drug use and those who were already human immunodeficiency virus infected.201223191955
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