Dr. Gatell last night on TV (Barcelona local Channel)

[blondbeauty]

Dr. Gatell is leading the therapeutic vaccine research in Barcelona (Spain) with other doctors as Teresa Gallart. The program ended a 3.00 am but it was very interesting because 5 of the participants were HIV doctors. Here goes a summary:
One of the main concerns of these doctors was that almost 40% of the infected patients arrive too late to the NHS. But the worst of all is that half of them know about their status but they never go back to the hospital for further follow up until they suffer an OI.
This is because many of them donīt trust he NHS or the treatments for HIV. Dr's. wanted to stress that anti HIV treatments work. But on the other hand this is making people take risks having uprotected sex because they think HIV is not a great deal.
Evolution of HIV knowledge in the last 5 years. % years ago Dr's. knew HIV could be treated successfully indefinitely, but now they have learned that patients with major resistances can receive effective salvage treatments and achieve, again, undetectable viral loads.
About Africa. HIV is a big problem in Africa, but Malaria, TB and other infectious diseases cause even more deaths per year. developed countries only talk about the impact of HIV in Africa because they are only concerned by this disease because it is the only one that can not be cured in countries with a good health systems. If HIV had a cure we wouldnīt talk about it even if Africans were not receiving treatment for it, just as we do with other diseases or starvation.
Prevention. Dr. Gatell considers prevention can reduce the number of infections, but until there is no cure the epidemic will continue to increase. It has happened since the begining of humankind with all STD. Sex is a taboo and prevention will not work. A cure is needed.
Therapeutic Vaccine. Therapeutic vaccine has achieved a 50% efficacy. I donīt know what does that mean, but he said it will soon become a reality.
I have to go to have lunch now.
Hugs form Barcelona (Hotel Princesa Sofia)
http://www.expogrupo.com/hotel/princesa-sofia/index.html

[aztecan]

Hey Juan,
I think Dr. Gatell pretty much hit the mark on most areas, especially regarding prevention and sex taboos and how people view Africa and other developing areas of the globe when it comes to disease.

I don't know anything about a vaccine as yet. It would be nice, but I'll wait and see.

The Hotel Princessa Sofia looks like a posh place. Very nice!

HUGS,

Mark

[blondbeauty]

He didnīt say much about the vaccine, he was very reserved about it. Maybe is not working too well or maybe it is being very succesful...Anyway, he said it was closer and it would become a reality.
That hotel is the one in wich we stay in BCN together with other crews: Lufthasa, KLM, etc. Glad you like it . It is one of my favourites as well.