Suddenly, all these conflicting studies regarding HIV?

[Newguy]

Hi everyone

Lately there has been a lot of conflicting studies regarding the side effects of HIV infection and especially in gay men. For example, that HIV and has no effect on the brain, a Dutch study that claims that low bone density has nothing to do with HIV. Why now? Both studies question "life style factors" of SOME gay men like drug use, smoking, alcohol, obsessed body image? Any insights on this would be great.

Since my diagnosis, luckily I have not had any problems and the meds are fantastic. I hope it continues to stay this way!

[newt]

Studies about HIv are often conflicting, mainly because they are small, observational studies with lots of ifs and buts.

Also, a press release/news article about a study is not a report of a study, and some journals, especially online journals, have lower standards of peer review and strong conclusions get drawn in the headline (usually) from low quality data.

Research is dynamic, and conflicting results important to inform a debate/direction, but you need to read and understand a lot of science to get perspective on the low importance, low validity stuff.

On the two specific points you mention, the (ahem) headlines here are that it probably, usually don't matter which HIV regimen you take in terms of damping down HIV in the brain, and some gay men, HIV-negative or HIV-positive, have low bone density probably from a cause other than HIV. But obviously, if you have, say, PML, AZT and other super-brain penetrating HIV drugs might be a good idea, and only some gay men live by night, eat bad, take drugs, drink and smoke.

My rule with research is to never pay attention to press releases, especially the ones from drug companies and universities, read only the major studies or the really good reports of major studies (there are few sources for this). Plus my results are for me and accurate, so I pay attention to these more than the research. A study will never say exactly what will happen to me, or even on average.

- matt

[mecch]

that HIV and has no effect on the brain

Not sure I follow you here.
Unchecked HIV leads to AIDS and one manifestation is dementia.  HIV effects the brain!

[newt]

True for untreated HIV, but HIV treated with any combination probably knocks this on the head most times, regardless of blood-brain penetration of the meds. This is what I mean. You get?

- matt

[mecch]

I got you Newt I didnt understand what the OP had understood.

[Ann]

My rule with research is to never pay attention to press releases, especially the ones from drug companies and universities, read only the major studies or the really good reports of major studies (there are few sources for this). Plus my results are for me and accurate, so I pay attention to these more than the research. A study will never say exactly what will happen to me, or even on average.

^^ Good rule for all of us. ^^