STD News

Survey finds baby boomers are in the dark about hepatitis C

Lisa Oldson, MD May. 16, 2012 May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Get ready for National Hepatitis Testing Day

Lisa Oldson, MD May. 15, 2012 When people hear about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), they probably imagine herpes, gonorrhea or syphilis before they think of hepatitis.
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Health officials concerned over hepatitis C rates in New York

Lisa Oldson, MD Apr. 17, 2012 When sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates suddenly spike in a region, it is up to health officials to determine why this is happening.
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Researchers find a high number of hepatitis C cases in Philadelphia

Michelle Sobel Mar. 19, 2012 Hepatitis C death rates have gradually increased in the U.S. since 1999 and now exceed the number of HIV deaths each year, according to a ...
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Conference to discuss new treatments for hepatitis C

Lisa Oldson, MD Oct. 31, 2011 Recently, advancements have been made in treatment and screening options for hepatitis C, a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
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Researchers make recommendations for screening HIV patients for HCV

Michelle Sobel Oct. 27, 2011 Many patients infected with HIV may not know that they may also have another sexually transmitted disease (STD).
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Hepatitis C is more likely to cause liver cancer than other disorders

Christopher Lynch, MD Sep. 27, 2011 Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) come with a variety of dangerous symptoms ranging from outbreaks of sores, to organ complications, to death.
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Compound in sharks may help fight STD

Lisa Oldson, MD Sep. 21, 2011 Researchers are constantly searching for more effective treatments for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and sometimes find them in unexpected places.
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Florida resident bikes to promote awareness of hepatitis C

Christopher Lynch, MD Jul. 28, 2011 Mark Nowatka, a resident of Lakeland, Florida, will be undertaking a bicycle journey to Gainesville in the hope of promoting hepatitis C awareness.
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WHO reports nearly one-third of global population infected with hepatitis

Christopher Lynch, MD Jul. 28, 2011 July 26 marked the release of startling data regarding the prevalence of hepatitis in the population of the world at large.
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HIV-infected MSM may be at risk for contracting hepatitis C

Lisa Oldson, MD Jul. 25, 2011 When physicians think about people who are at risk for contracting hepatitis C they often envision intravenous drug users or individuals who would likely be ...
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Middletown and Hamilton County health officials warn of STD 'epidemic'

Christopher Lynch, MD Jun. 28, 2011 Some Ohio counties like Middletown have experienced a notable uptick in the number of residents who are diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to ...
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Accelerated schedule for hepatitis B vaccine may be beneficial for at-risk pregnant women

Christopher Lynch, MD Jun. 28, 2011 Avoiding behaviors that can put a woman at risk for contracting transmissible diseases is especially important for those who are mothers-to-be.
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Gregg Allman raises awareness for hepatitis C

Christopher Lynch, MD Jun. 23, 2011 Many people are familiar with Gregg Allman as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and part of the Allman Brothers Band.
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Simple liver tests may predict health status of hepatitis C patients

Lisa Oldson, MD Jun. 15, 2011 Liver health is major concern for many people who have hepatitis C.
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Hepatitis C patients at risk for non-liver-related death

Michelle Sobel Jun. 10, 2011 When people think of health complications caused by hepatitis C, liver problems are often the first thing that comes to mind.
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Mice will provide new model for hepatitis C research

Lisa Oldson, MD Jun. 09, 2011 While hepatitis C has been studied in humans and primates, researchers have not been able to create a humanized mouse model of the virus that ...
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Study shows many women with hepatitis B do not receive proper healthcare

Michelle Sobel May. 11, 2011 A recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center indicated that many minority women living in New York have chronic hepatitis B infections ...
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Prevalence of hepatitis C increasing in Massachusetts due to intravenous drug use

Lisa Oldson, MD May. 09, 2011 Although blood screening technology has helped reduce the number of new hepatitis C infections over the past several decades, health officials in Massachusetts say that ...
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Safe-sex practices may be lacking among Chicago residents

Lisa Oldson, MD May. 05, 2011 In response to a recent report that revealed spikes in the prevalence of several sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Chicago health officials discussed the possibility that ...
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Researchers recommend more widespread hepatitis B testing

Lisa Oldson, MD May. 04, 2011 Current U.S. guidelines call for universal hepatitis B testing in areas of the country that have a prevalence of the disease that exceeds 2 percent ...
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Non-adherence to hepatitis B drugs may cause signs of treatment resistance

Lisa Oldson, MD Apr. 28, 2011 The resurgence of the hepatitis B virus in patients who use drug regimens to control the disease are often not related to medication resistance, according ...
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New hepatitis C drugs may be approved by the FDA despite potential side effects

Michelle Sobel Apr. 26, 2011 Although studies have shown that adding boceprevir to standard hepatitis C drug regimens improves an individual's chances of recovery, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ...
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Safe injection facilities may reduce transmission of HIV, overdose deaths among drug users

Christopher Lynch, MD Apr. 19, 2011 The availability of safe injection facilities to intravenous drug users may help reduce the number of overdose-related deaths and slow the spread of communicable diseases ...
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Antidepressants may improve patients' adherence to hepatitis C medications

Christopher Lynch, MD Apr. 14, 2011 Due to medical advancements, many individuals who suffer from hepatitis C have been able to reduce their symptoms and increase their chances of recovering from ...
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Death of hepatitis B discoverer highlights disease prevalence

Michelle Sobel Apr. 10, 2011 Baruch S. Blumberg, the first scientist to identify the hepatitis B virus and develop a treatment for the disease, died recently from a heat attack, ...
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A new hepatitis C treatment may maximize recovery potential

Lisa Oldson, MD Mar. 31, 2011 Researchers say that a new three-drug combination will provide more effective treatment for patients who suffer from hepatitis C than the standard two-drug regimen, according ...
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Antiviral treatment is unavailable to many hepatitis C patients

Lisa Oldson, MD Feb. 28, 2011 New research published in the journal Hepatology has revealed that U.S. patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are twice as likely to lack health ...
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Findings point to genetic basis for human sensitivity to certain STDs

Lisa Oldson, MD Dec. 28, 2010 Researchers at the University of Chicago said that genetic differences between humans and primates may be to blame for human susceptibility to HIV and hepatitis ...
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Baby boomers run sexual health risks, survey finds

Christopher Lynch, MD Nov. 16, 2010 According to a poll conducted by the Canadian Liver Foundation, 16 percent of baby boomers - those aged 46 to 64 - have unprotected sex.
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Clinics educate mature women on importance of STD testing

Christopher Lynch, MD Nov. 11, 2010 Sexual health centers in Vancouver are making a concerted effort to educate women about STD testing, the Times Colonist reports.
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Hepatitis B epidemic breaks out at North Carolina assisted living facility

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 29, 2010 North Carolina's Division of Public Health recently investigated a hepatitis B outbreak at an assisted living facility in which five patients tested positive for the ...
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FDA approves second part of hepatitis C treatment study

Lisa Oldson, MD Oct. 26, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Roche Molecular Diagnostics, a pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, to continue its research on treatments for hepatitis ...
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Teenage boy pushes back against fraudulent STD medication ad

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 25, 2010 A teenage boy from Wales has launched a internet-based initiative on Twitter to educate people about an alleged "miracle drug". Rhys Morgan, a 15-year-old who ...
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Hepatitis C treatment developers combine studies

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 22, 2010 Officials from Romark Laboratories, a biopharmaceutical company, and Intercell AG, a biotechnology corporation, recently announced that they will combine their current research to develop therapy ...
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Hepatitis B health experts finalize national pediatric patient treatment recommendations

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 21, 2010 In an effort to finalize a national hepatitis B treatment plan for pediatric patients, a panel of health experts has compiled a series of therapeutic ...
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FDA approves hepatitis B treatment for patients with decompensated liver disease

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 20, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Baraclude, a treatment that may prove beneficial for patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Developed ...
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Nonprofit organization launches HIV, hepatitis C health program for gay men

Lisa Oldson, MD Oct. 19, 2010 In an effort to improve healthcare opportunities for gay men who are infected with HIV and hepatitis C, the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has launched ...
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HIV spread continues, other STDs infections slow down in Australia

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 19, 2010 The number of Australians contracting HIV is the highest in the last 20 years, but health officials have found that the spread of other sexually ...
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Anti-hepatitis C medication may prevent further spreading of infection

Lisa Oldson, MD Oct. 18, 2010 Advancements in hepatitis C research may lead to a drug that can combat the virus, according to research conducted at Cardiff University in the UK. ...
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Hepatitis C progression associated with fat enzymes found in liver cells

Michelle Sobel Oct. 13, 2010 A newly discovered enzyme linked to fat storage in the liver may be needed for hepatitis C (HCV) to spread, according to findings published in ...
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Grey's Anatomy star hosts second annual hepatitis, liver cancer fundraiser

Christopher Lynch, MD Oct. 12, 2010 Sara Ramirez, an actress who portrays orthopedic surgeon Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy, was among several stars who took to the stage in New York ...
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New York among six locations awarded funding for STD research

Lisa Oldson, MD Oct. 12, 2010 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that $6.2 million in funding will be awarded to six major health departments across the ...
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Pamela Anderson opts for vegan diet to combat hepatitis C symptoms

Michelle Sobel Oct. 04, 2010 A People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) supporter and Baywatch blond bombshell, Pamela Anderson has launched an effort to raise awareness of the ...
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Hepatitis B prevention campaign stops by Rutgers University

Christopher Lynch, MD Sep. 30, 2010 In an effort to support the B HERE campaign, several Asian-American musicians whose claim to fame started with a YouTube video, recently performed at Rutgers ...
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Report: More hepatitis B and C patients are unaware of their status

Lisa Oldson, MD Sep. 27, 2010 The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases are renewing their efforts to stress the importance of ...
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Hepatitis C outbreak leads to growing concern in Minnesota

Lisa Oldson, MD Sep. 23, 2010 A total of 12 individuals residing in Hastings, Minnesota were recently connected to a hepatitis C outbreak, which may have been caused by the sharing ...
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Pennsylvania center receives grant to expand STD screenings

Christopher Lynch, MD Sep. 22, 2010 The spread of many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is rising nationwide. In fact, an estimated 19 million new STD infections are diagnosed in the U.S. ...
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National campaign supports hepatitis B prevention among Asian populations

Lisa Oldson, MD Sep. 15, 2010 A new health campaign has been launched nationwide to raise awareness of the high-risk of hepatitis B among people of Asian American or Pacific Islander ...
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Abbott Laboratories receives approval for new hepatitis B screening method

Lisa Oldson, MD Sep. 02, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of a new hepatitis B diagnostic test, which will be manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. ...
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Safer syringes may reduce STD infection among healthcare personnel

Christopher Lynch, MD Aug. 12, 2010 A newly designed syringe may reduce the number of medical employees contracting blood-born diseases from accidental needlesticks. Healthcare officials report that approximately 1 million related ...
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Study: Hepatitis B linked to increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Lisa Oldson, MD Aug. 11, 2010 New research has found that those infected with hepatitis B (HBV) are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), according to ...
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Antiviral drug introduced in hepatitis C treatment may improve outcomes

Christopher Lynch, MD Aug. 10, 2010 Incorporating an antiviral medication into hepatitis C treatments may improve the cure rate in patients, according to a study published in The Lancet.
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John Kerry proposes new legislation to reduce mortality rate, spread of hepatitis C

Christopher Lynch, MD Aug. 09, 2010 In an effort to improve treatments and slow the spread of hepatitis C across the country, U.S. Senator John Kerry recently presented the Viral Hepatitis ...
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Medical advancement may lead to slowing the spread of herpes

Michelle Sobel Aug. 05, 2010 In an effort to slow the spread of HIV in New York, Governor David Paterson has approved two bills that will improve the availability of ...
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Medical experts worry about scarcity of new STD research

Michelle Sobel Aug. 04, 2010 As a result of previous advancements in prevention and treatment methods for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), healthcare officials have voiced their concern over the scarcity ...
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Advocacy group criticizes hepatitis C screening suggestions

Michelle Sobel Aug. 02, 2010 A recently published article by the New York Times has caused controversy among healthcare officials, and was criticized by the National Virus Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) ...
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Asian and Pacific Islander population at increased risk of hepatitis B

Lisa Oldson, MD Jul. 30, 2010 A number of recent hepatitis B studies has led health officials in Washington to encourage at-risk populations to get tested for the virus. The trials ...
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Hepatitis C patients more likely to develop diabetes

Lisa Oldson, MD Jul. 28, 2010 A new study has found that people with hepatitis C may be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to findings published ...
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Fascination with vampire themes may lead to STD outbreak in teens

Michelle Sobel Jul. 27, 2010 As a result of the popularity of the vampire-themed Twilight books and movies, some fans are taking their infatuation with this trend to an extreme ...
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Anesthesia contamination leads to hepatitis B and C outbreak

Christopher Lynch, MD Jul. 26, 2010 A new report has found that contamination of anesthesia equipment led to a recent outbreak of hepatitis B and C cases, according to findings published ...
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Nonprofit officials include HIV and hepatitis treatment in prevention initiative

Christopher Lynch, MD Jul. 15, 2010 As part of the recent plans implemented in Washington, DC to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, representatives of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) have ...
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Virus in bats may be linked to hepatitis C

Christopher Lynch, MD Jul. 13, 2010 Healthcare experts report that following the discovery of a microorganism in bats, researchers may be closer to understanding the origins of hepatitis C.
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California school, national association to combat STDs

Michelle Sobel Jul. 09, 2010 Officials from the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research have announced a partnership with the University California Berkeley School of Public Health in order to slow ...
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Missouri-based hospital reportedly exposes more than 1,800 patients to HIV, hepatitis

Christopher Lynch, MD Jun. 30, 2010 A total of 1,812 patients may be at risk of developing hepatitis or AIDS after receiving dental treatments at the John Cochran Veterans Administration Medical ...
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Rapid results test for hepatitis C receives FDA approval

Michelle Sobel Jun. 28, 2010 A new blood test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) in individuals aged 15 ...
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Hepatitis B vaccinations still vital despite growing public awareness

Christopher Lynch, MD Jun. 24, 2010 Hepatitis B, an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a condition that affects an estimated 1.2 million Americans, according ...
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Activists hope hearing, ad campaign will spur hepatitis testing and prevention

Lisa Oldson, MD Jun. 21, 2010 Last week, a hearing on chronic viral hepatitis was held on Capitol Hill, and in conjunction with the event a non-profit advocacy group launched a ...
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