Kenneth Bender, PharmD, MA

Universal screening for HCV infection is projected to be cost effective and provide greater benefit than the currently recommended birth cohort screening.

Reformulation of OxyContin to prevent it being dissolved and injected prompted switching to heroin and a surge in hepatitis C infections.

Largest observational study on antiepileptic treatment for poststroke epilepsy finds highest adherence to a less frequently prescribed drug.

Despite virologic cures of hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals, post-cure care is necessary to prevent liver disease progression and manage complications.

A delay in giving the first dose of an antiepileptic for pediatric status epilepticus is common and associated with increased seizure duration.

A prediction model helps determine the probability of childhood epilepsy in first consultation after a paroxysmal event.

New host-targeting agents might help to overcome challenges in treating hepatitis C that remain, despite success with direct-acting antivirals.

Three newly discovered strains of HCV genotype 7 in Africa, and a genotype 8 in India, complicate the World Health Organization's goal to eradicate HCV.

Novel epidemiological approach accounting for persons with undiagnosed HCV shows half of cases in US are in 9 states, including 5 in Appalachia.

A noninvasive and age-specific test could facilitate surgery for focal epilepsy in children.

Mapping techniques for tracking sexually transmitted bacterial disease can also identify core areas of HCV infection to guide treatment interventions.

A series of recently presented studies support the notion of treating hepatitis C in patients already on opioid substitution therapy.

Canadian investigators identified the role of media in both promulgating and mitigating stigma of PrEP for preventing HIV transmission.

Analysis of data from phase 2 and 3 trials supports an HCV genotype 3 indication for glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, and confirms its efficacy over 8 weeks.

Sustained virological response with the treatment of HCV infection is associated with reduced mortality from extrahepatic complications, accoridng to a new study.

Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproate is associated with increased risk for ADHD independent of its link to congenital malformations.

Antiepileptic drug levels that remain subtherapeutic—despite the correct dose and proper adherence—can improve with adjustment for pharmacokinetics.

A large Asian population study supports the link between HCV and parkinsonism in that region, and associated treating HCV with reduced risk.

Common infusion-associated adverse reactions with ocrelizumab for multiple sclerosis were substantially reduced with strategic premedication.

A sham-controlled trial demonstrated that a novel at-home administration of transcranial stimulation reduced fatigue in multiple sclerosis.

Higher incidences of epilepsy in children with congenital heart disease prompted a neurocardiology team to call for increased perioperative EEG monitoring.

The CDC found that "provider-advised deferral" of HIV antiretroviral therapy occurring less, but that US still far from goal of universal prescribing.

Modeling depicts scenarios of PrEP averting larger number, but smaller percentage of HIV infections in black than white at-risk adolescent males.

Regardless of the number of previous treatment failures or emergence of the single or double RAVs after the first treatment failure all patients achieved SVR at 12 weeks on the regimen.

Evidence for dietary, immunological, surgical, and other emerging treatments for pediatric refractory status epilepticus is found to be mostly anecdotal.

Patients with epilepsy who live in high crime areas of Chicago had 3 times the rate of seizures as those in low crime neighborhoods.

The decision to modify a disease-modifying multiple sclerosis therapy in the face of declining cognitive function could rest on whether the measure of decline marks worsening of disease.

Finalizing a changing diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome was associated with greater likelihood of a sustained seizure-free period, a new study has found.

Successful 8-week treatment of newly diagnosed HCV genotype 1 adds to evidence that early detection could enable shorter, less costly treatments.

HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells predicted relapse of HCV genotype 4 in cirrhotic patients who were non-viremic after treatment.