Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

A Preclinical Murine Model of Hepatic Metastases
06:51

A Preclinical Murine Model of Hepatic Metastases

Published on: September 27, 2014

30.4K

New horizons in hepatitis B and C in the older adult

Linda Kemp1, Kathleen E Clare1, Paul N Brennan1

  • 1Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical school, Dundee, UK.

Age and Ageing
|November 1, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C (HCV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) infections are increasing in older adults. New therapies now offer a cure for HCV and effective control for HBV, improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hepatitis C (HCV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) are blood-borne viruses causing acute hepatitis.
  • Chronic infection with HCV and HBV is linked to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
  • These viral infections are increasingly prevalent in older populations due to past exposure risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the natural history and epidemiology of HCV and HBV infections.
  • To discuss advancements in antiviral therapies for HCV and HBV.
  • To highlight the current treatment landscape for these chronic viral infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epidemiological data on HCV and HBV.
  • Analysis of current therapeutic strategies for HCV and HBV.
  • Synthesis of information on disease progression and management.

Main Results:

  • HCV and HBV infections pose significant risks for chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Risk factors such as intravenous drug use, multiple sexual partners, and men who have sex with men contribute to transmission.
  • Recent therapeutic revolutions enable HCV cure and complete control of HBV infection.

Conclusions:

  • Effective treatments are now available for both HCV and HBV, transforming patient management.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and natural history is crucial for targeting interventions in aging populations.
  • The advent of curative and controllable therapies marks a new era in managing viral hepatitis.

More Related Videos

A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor07:28

A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor

Published on: July 24, 2012

20.4K
Isolation and Primary Culture of Rat Hepatic Cells07:06

Isolation and Primary Culture of Rat Hepatic Cells

Published on: June 29, 2012

56.7K

Related Concept Videos

Schwarzschild Radius and Event Horizon01:21

Schwarzschild Radius and Event Horizon

No object with a finite mass can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. This fact has an interesting consequence in the domain of extremely high gravitational fields.
The minimum speed required to launch a projectile from the surface of an object to which it is gravitationally bound so that it eventually escapes the object’s gravitational field is called the escape velocity. The escape velocity is independent of the mass of the object. Merging the idea of escape...
2.7K
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
280
Hepatic Portal System01:21

Hepatic Portal System

The hepatic portal system, a critical part of our circulatory framework, transports nutrient-laden, deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. This ingenious system plays an indispensable role in maintaining our body's metabolic equilibrium.
At its core, the hepatic portal vein is the result of a confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins along with the splenic vein. Each of these veins has a unique role. The superior mesenteric vein is...
5.9K
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
244
Adult Stem Cells01:33

Adult Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
33.9K
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors01:16

Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors

The biliary system of the liver, crucial for bile secretion and drug excretion, comprises intrahepatic bile ducts that merge to form the common hepatic duct. This duct, carrying hepatic bile, combines with the cystic duct, draining the gallbladder and forming the common bile duct, which empties into the duodenum. Bile, produced by hepatic cells lining the bile canaliculi, is composed primarily of water, bile salts, pigments, electrolytes, and lesser amounts of cholesterol and fatty acids. Bile...
581