OK - I usually look through the new issues of Hepatology so I can post a digest of anything that looks interesting. It occurred to me that perhaps a more useful way of organizing all this information would be in the form of annotated bibliographies : eg a list of recent, peer-reviewd, publications for or against anti-fibrotic effects of IFN, or extended-tx, or bx alterantives, etc.
I saw my liver doc today and asked about the milk thistle. I was told that when the FDA has regulated it, the liver team at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago will probably prescribe it.
I think it helps a bit. (my opinion)
OK, so my typing post-tx really hasn't improved. Here's the first <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14987950&dopt=Abstract">link </a> I meant to type (see also "Related Articles") and here's the <a href="http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/cdd/journal/v10/n1s/abs/4401163a.html&dynoptions=doi1078792201">second</a>.
if you browse around on pubmed you'll find piles of papers documenting the effectiveness of sho-saiko-to (aka TJ-9) in inhibiting stellate-cell activation and thus reducing fibrosis. For example, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=PubMed">see. Also, this is a good <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12655347&dopt=Abstract">review</a> on complimenting/replacing standard tx with antifibrotic agents.
Can Dr. Hanbey write me a script for some? I've tried calling her office but someone breathing heavy and asking for a credit card number keeps answering. Help.